If your WooCommerce store isn’t getting the traffic or sales you expected, chances are SEO is the culprit. Many store owners unknowingly make mistakes that hurt their rankings, visibility, and ultimately, their revenue. The good news? Most of these issues are easy to fix. Let’s break down the five biggest WooCommerce SEO mistakes and how you can turn things around.
1. Ignoring Site Speed (A Slow Store is a Dead Store)
Why This Kills Sales
A slow-loading store is a dealbreaker for both customers and Google. If your pages take too long to load, visitors bounce, and search engines push you down in rankings. Amazon found that even a one-second delay could cost them billions—so imagine what it’s doing to your WooCommerce store.
How to Fix It
- Use a lightweight theme – Avoid bloated themes with excessive features.
- Compress images – Use tools like TinyPNG or Smush to reduce image sizes without losing quality.
- Enable caching – Install a plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) – Services like Cloudflare can speed up loading times globally.
- Optimize your hosting – If you’re on shared hosting, upgrade to a WooCommerce-optimized host like SiteGround or Kinsta.
2. Poor Product Page SEO (Google Can’t Rank What It Can’t Understand)
Why This Kills Sales
Your product pages should be optimised for search intent, but many store owners skip this step. Without proper SEO, Google won’t know what your products are about, and customers won’t find you.
How to Fix It
- Optimize product titles – Include primary keywords naturally. Instead of “Blue Sneakers,” go for “Men’s Blue Running Sneakers – Lightweight & Breathable.”
- Write compelling meta descriptions – This is what users see in search results. Make it engaging and include a call to action.
- Use proper headings – Structure your pages with H1 for the product name and H2/H3 for descriptions, benefits, and FAQs.
- Add alt text to images – Google can’t ‘see’ images, so describe them properly in the alt text for better rankings.
3. Ignoring Mobile Optimization (Your Customers Are on Their Phones!)
Why This Kills Sales
More than 60% of online shopping happens on mobile, but many WooCommerce stores still offer poor mobile experiences. If your site is hard to navigate on a phone, expect higher bounce rates and fewer conversions.
How to Fix It
- Use a mobile-responsive theme – Most modern WooCommerce themes are mobile-friendly, but always test it.
- Check mobile page speed – Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to find slow-loading elements.
- Simplify navigation – Make sure menus, buttons, and checkout forms are thumb-friendly.
- Enable accelerated mobile pages (AMP) – Plugins like AMP for WooCommerce can help speed up mobile browsing.
4. Ignoring Structured Data (Google Loves Extra Info)
Why This Kills Sales
Structured data helps Google understand your product pages better and can make your listings stand out with rich snippets (star ratings, price, availability). Without it, you miss out on higher click-through rates.
How to Fix It
- Use an SEO plugin – Yoast SEO or Rank Math can generate structured data for your products.
- Implement WooCommerce Schema Markup – This ensures your products display rich results in Google.
- Test with Google’s Rich Results Tool – Make sure your structured data is working properly.
5. Not Fixing Broken Links (A Frustrating Experience for Shoppers)
Why This Kills Sales
Imagine a customer clicks on a product link, and it leads to a 404 error—they’ll likely leave and never return. Broken links not only frustrate users but also tell Google that your site isn’t well-maintained, hurting your SEO rankings.
How to Fix It
- Use a broken link checker – Plugins like Broken Link Checker or external tools like Screaming Frog can help.
- Redirect discontinued products – If you remove a product, set up a 301 redirect to a similar item or category page.
- Monitor Google Search Console – It alerts you about broken links and crawl issues.
Final Thoughts
Fixing these five common WooCommerce SEO mistakes will give your store a competitive edge, boost rankings, and ultimately, increase sales. SEO isn’t just about traffic—it’s about getting the right traffic that converts. Start with these quick fixes, and watch your WooCommerce store thrive.
Need expert help with your WooCommerce SEO audit? Get in touch, and let’s get your store ranking where it should be!
