Maximizing SEO Potential: Does Google Crawl Rich Text Sections on Shopify Collection Pages?
For e-commerce store owners and SEO enthusiasts, understanding how search engines crawl and index content on Shopify is essential for optimizing product and collection pages effectively. A common question among Shopify store owners transitioning into SEO best practices is whether Google considers rich text sections placed outside the default description area, particularly on collection pages.
The Scenario: Enhancing SEO with Additional Rich Content
Many store owners aim to improve their collection pages by adding rich text content that enriches the user experience and boosts SEO. However, the default setup often includes a limited description section, which may not suffice for comprehensive SEO strategies. To avoid cluttering the top of the page, some consider placing extra SEO-rich content further down the page, such as in a dedicated rich text block positioned at the bottom.
Key Inquiry: Will Google Crawl Rich Text Sections Placed at the Bottom?
The critical question is whether Google’s crawler will detect and index these additional rich text sections if they are added below the main collection description, and whether properly formatted headings and internal links in these sections contribute to SEO. Specifically:
- Does Google crawl and index rich text content located in sections outside the default description box?
- Is the placement of content significant, or will Google treat it the same regardless of position?
- How should headings and internal links be formatted within these sections to maximize their SEO value?
Understanding How Google Crawls Shopify Pages
Google’s crawling behavior is highly flexible, focusing primarily on the content’s visibility within the page’s HTML and DOM structure. Shopify templates generate pages where different sections are rendered as part of the overall HTML content. As long as the additional rich text sections are part of the page’s source code — properly formatted with semantic HTML elements like headings (<h2>, <h3>) and internal links (<a href>), Google’s crawler will consider and index this content.
Best Practices for SEO-Optimized Rich Text Sections
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Placement Matters Less Than Content Visibility:
Google can index content outside the default description box, provided it’s embedded within the page’s HTML. Placing additional rich text at the bottom of the page is acceptable and can be effective. -
Use Proper HTML Structure:
Ensure headings are tagged appropriately with<h2>,<h3>, etc. This helps Google understand the content hierarchy and relevance. -
Internal Linking:
Include internal links within these sections