Greetings, health store proprietors! I want to talk today about something that has been on my mind in the recent past – how to drive more eyeballs online to your amazing supplements.
I have been in this game for quite some time now,and our SEO agency has witnessed how a concrete small business SEO strategy could convert a failing online store to a flourishing business.
So, put on a kettle and pour yourself a nice cup of your favourite herbal tea and let’s get into it with some tried and tested tactics that’ll elevate your health supplement store in the search engine rankings.
- How to do Keyword Research to Drive Your SEO Success
Imagine this: You’re at a busy farmers market and overhear someone asking where to find the best organic turmeric supplements. This is what keyword research is, in a nutshell — knowing what kind of stuff your target customers are looking for online.
When I first began working with Sarah, a client who owns a small health store in Portland. She was an expert on her products but couldn’t find online customers. One rainy afternoon (because Portland, of course), we sat down and did some keyword research.
We found that search terms like “organic supplements” had high competition, but “vegan protein powders for athletes” had relatively low competition and a decent search volume.
Some initial steps in keyword research:
- To search for relevant keywords, use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest.
- Search for long-tail keywords (longer, more specific phrases) that are less competitive
- Consider search intent — are people seeking to purchase, or simply get information?
Pro tip: Don’t only optimise for product keywords. Instead, consider the propositions your supplements offer! For instance, if you sell sleep aids, look to target phrases such as “natural ways to improve sleep quality.”
According to a study by Ahrefs, 95% of all search queries are long-tail keywords. That’s a wealth of potential for smaller stores like yours!
- Create High-Quality, Valuable Content
Now, let’s talk content. You know how infomercials just scream “Buy! Buy! Buy!”? Yeah, don’t put that on your website. Instead, consider yourself like a friend who happens to know a bit more about health supplements than most people do.
I used to work with Mike — he owns an online store that sells adaptogenic herbs. He was initially skeptical about creating content that wasn’t directly selling his products. But we tried, and the results were illuminating.
We launched a blog series, “Stress-Busting Sundays,” wherein Mike shared his weekly tips on how to manage stress naturally. Some of the posts included his products, others didn’t.
But you know what? In three months, traffic to his site grew by 150%. Nobody looked at him like that anymore; people began to think of him as this authority in the stress-management space.
To help you get started, here are some content ideas:
- How-to articles (e.g., “How to Choose the Right Multivitamin for Your Needs”)
- Articles that debunk myths (i.e. “5 Common Misconceptions About Probiotics”)
- Interview some well-informed people like nutritionists or herbalists
- Testimonials from customers (with their permission, of course)
Google loves new original content, just remember that. At least one new piece of content every week. And be sure to optimize for your target keywords!
According to a study published in the Journal of Marketing Research, educational content can boost purchase intent by as much as 131%. Yes, your helpful blogs may turn into sales!
- Optimize Your Product Pages
Alright, time for the nitty-gritty — your product pages. This is your online store’s bread and butter, so we really need to make them palatable to search engines and potential customers alike.
Once, I helped an entrepreneur, Lisa, who owned a small online business, selling herbal teas. Her product pages were … let’s just say they could use some love. So we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. The result? Organic traffic to her product pages soared 75% in two months.
Here’s what we did:
- Crafted unique, detailed product descriptions for each item
- Used descriptive, keyword-rich titles (e.g., “Organic Chamomile Sleep Tea – 30 Biodegradable Sachets”)
- Added alt text to all product images
- Included customer reviews (which also adds fresh content to your pages)
- Created a FAQ section for each product to address common customer queries
Pro tip: Don’t forget about technical SEO. Make sure your product pages load quickly and are mobile-friendly. Google cares about user experience, and so should you!
A case study by Search Engine Journal showed that optimizing product pages led to a 116% increase in revenue for an e-commerce site. Not too shabby, right?
- Build High-Quality Backlinks
Now fuel your brain with something which may sound scary but is really important for the success of your SEO – backlinks. Consider these virtual high-fives from other sites. And the more reputable sites that link to yours, the more Google says, “Must be a health supplement store that knows their stuff!”
One was a guy named Tom, who I remember had a mini online store that sold organic protein powders. He was reluctant going after backlinks by contacting other website owners. “Won’t they think I am competition?” he asked. But we tried it out, and the outcome was stunning.”
So we began with a super-comprehensive guide to plant based proteins for athletes. Then, we contacted sports bloggers and fitness websites and invited them to use our guide as a resource in their articles. A lot of them enjoyed it and referenced us. In 6 months, Tom’s domain authority climbed 15 points and his organic traffic doubled.
Here are some ways to build quality backlinks:
- Create shareable content (infographics, studies, comprehensive guides)
- Guest post on relevant health and wellness blogs
- Get listed in online directories specific to health stores
- Collaborate with influencers or other brands for co-created content
Remember, it’s quality over quantity. One link from a reputable health website is worth more than ten links from random, low-quality sites.
A study by Backlinko found that the number one result in Google has an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than positions #2-#10. So, start building those connections!
- Leverage Local SEO (Even for Online Stores!)
Finally, we will go through local SEO. Now I know what you are probably thinking – “But I’m an online store! Why do I need local SEO?” You’ll be shocked at how much this can help, especially if you are trying to dominate a certain area or if you have an actual storefront as well as an online store.
Take Jenny, for instance. She operates an online health store but also a small store in Austin, Texas. When we began collaborating, she was flummoxed that her online store was not appearing for local searches like “health supplements in Austin.”
We execute a local SEO campaign, and three months later, Jenny’s store was showing up in the highly sought after “local pack” (those three business listings with maps that show up at the top of local search results) for multiple relevant keywords.
Here’s what we did:
- Created and optimized a Google My Business listing
- Got listed in local online directories
- Encouraged customers to leave Google reviews
- Created location-specific content (e.g., “Top 5 Hiking Trails in Austin and the Supplements You Need for Each”)
- Used local keywords in website content and meta descriptions
Even if you are exclusively an online retailer, you can utilize location-based keywords to reach customers across borders. For instance, “best vitamin D supplements for Seattle winters.”
According to a Go-Globe study, 46% of all the Google searches are looking for local information. That a big potential market you don’t want to lose out on!
Finding the time to grow your store through SEO might feel daunting — especially as you search for the right balance among inventory management, customer service, and everything else that comes with running a health supplement store. But trust me, it’s worth it.
Remember Sarah from Portland? As a result of these methods, her online sales rose 200% in the first year. Tom’s protein powder store? They are now shipping their products nationwide and have doubled their product line. And Jenny in Austin? She was able to hire two new employees since the demand was more than she could handle from both her online and physical stores.
The key is to start small. To give yourself time to experiment, choose one strategy and dedicate a month to it. Once you’re comfortable with one, go to the next. In no time, you’ll be an SEO master, and the visibility of your site will be sky high!
Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to give it time but when you do — it’s well worth it. You are constantly adding value to your customers and they appreciate those amazing health supplements of yours, so just keep at it and be patient, you will make it.
So, what are you waiting for? This is the moment to give your online health supplement store the SEO push that it deserves. Your future customers are out there looking for you — let’s ensure that they can discover you!