In this blog post, I’ll show you how to build a solid SEO strategy specifically for activewear brands. Using an example brand, I’ll walk you through the steps to create a keyword database, optimize your content, and increase your website’s authority.
About the Brand
For this example, we’ll be looking at Jala Clothing, a brand that sells activewear like yoga pants and tops. Whether you sell similar products or focus on other types of activewear, these SEO strategies will be applicable to your brand.
Step 1: Building Your Keyword Database
The first step in any successful SEO strategy is building a keyword database. This is crucial because it helps you determine the right keywords to target. Without proper keyword research, any subsequent work will likely be ineffective, so it’s essential to get this right.
Start by identifying the existing keywords your website is already ranking for. Using tools like Semrush, plug in your website domain, and export the list of keywords that your site ranks for. Paste this data into a Google Sheet to make it easier to manage.
Finding Untapped Keywords
Once you have your current keyword list, the next step is to find untapped keywords—those that your competitors are ranking for, but you’re not. In Semrush, use the keyword gap tool to compare your site with up to four competitors. This allows you to identify new opportunities for keywords that could help you rank higher in search results.
After gathering your untapped keywords, add them to your Google Sheet, along with important metrics like search volume, keyword difficulty, and cost-per-click (CPC). You now have a comprehensive list of both current and untapped keywords to target.
Step 2: Prioritizing Your Keywords
With a list of nearly 3,000 keywords (in our example), it’s important to narrow it down to the most impactful ones. The goal is to focus on the keywords that will move the needle for your brand.
Sorting Your Keywords
To do this, sort your keywords by URL and select one primary keyword to target for each page. This process can take time, especially if you have a lot of products, but it’s critical for the success of your SEO strategy. Make sure each product or collection page has one targeted keyword that is most relevant to the content on that page.
Prioritizing for ROI
You should also prioritize your keywords based on factors like:
- Relevance: How closely does the keyword align with your products?
- Current Position: How close are you to ranking in the top positions for the keyword?
- Search Volume: While not the only factor, higher search volumes can bring more traffic.
- Keyword Difficulty: Lower difficulty means it’s easier to rank for.
- CPC: Higher CPC indicates that the keyword is valuable in paid search, suggesting potential profitability.
The goal here is to find a balance between quick wins (keywords where you’re already close to ranking well) and long-term opportunities that will bring the most traffic and ROI.
Step 3: On-Page Optimization
Now that you have a list of priority keywords, the next step is on-page optimization. This involves ensuring that each URL on your site is optimized for its target keyword.
Key Areas for On-Page Optimization
- Title Tags: The title tag is the clickable text that appears in search engine results. Ensure it includes your target keyword.
- Meta Descriptions: Although not a direct ranking factor, your meta description can help increase click-through rates by enticing users to click on your link.
- Headings: Use your target keyword in the main heading (H1) and subheadings (H2, H3) where relevant.
- Content: If your category or product pages have text, make sure the content is relevant to the keyword. It’s important not to overstuff keywords, but use them naturally.
For example, if your page is about “yoga leggings,” ensure that both the title tag and meta description clearly reflect that.
Step 4: Creating New Content
Now that you’ve optimized your current pages, it’s time to build content around your target keywords. Creating blog posts or articles that answer common questions related to your products helps establish your brand as an authority and improves your SEO.
How to Find Content Topics
A simple way to find content ideas is to search for your target keywords and scroll down to see questions people are asking in forums or on search engines. These questions can provide great inspiration for blog posts.
For instance, if you find people asking about “stylish and comfortable yoga tank tops,” you can write a blog post that answers this question and links back to your product pages. This not only helps your audience but also boosts your SEO by building internal links and topical authority.
Step 5: Building Authority with Backlinks
The final step in your SEO strategy is building authority, which involves acquiring high-quality backlinks. Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your site, signaling to Google that your content is trustworthy.
How to Get Backlinks
- Create Linkable Assets: One of the best ways to attract backlinks is by publishing content that other sites want to link to. For example, creating a post with activewear statistics can be a great resource for journalists or bloggers to reference.
- Use HARO or Quoted: Sign up for services like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or Quoted to respond to requests from journalists looking for expert input. If your quote gets used, they’ll link back to your site.
- Reach Out to Bloggers: Find relevant fitness or activewear bloggers and offer to contribute to their sites, either through guest posts or by getting your products featured in existing content.
Avoid spammy tactics like link directories or blog comments, as these can hurt your SEO efforts.
Conclusion
Implementing a well-rounded SEO strategy for your activewear brand involves building a strong keyword database, optimizing your website, creating relevant content, and acquiring authoritative backlinks. By following the steps outlined in this post, you’ll be able to improve your organic traffic and ultimately increase your sales.
