Build E-Commerce Authority with Quality SEO and Backlinks

Why Quality Backlinks Matter for E-Commerce Growth (H2)

Acquiring quality backlinks is a top priority if you want Google to recognize and rank your e-commerce website. At Willis Candle Shop, we’ve partnered with Rhino Rank, a company specializing in quality link building specific to e-commerce niches. Rhino Rank offers curated links, visual links, and guest post links, ranging from $55 to $200 depending on domain rating and number of referring domains. These links signal to Google that other reputable sites trust your content, playing a major role in boosting your SEO authority.

Strengthening Authority Through Reciprocal Linking (H2)

Part of our SEO strategy involves linking back to the high-quality domains that mention us. For example, check out our mention on Nancy Rubin's blog. This two-way credibility encourages Google to see both sites as trustworthy. We also link internally to products like our 10 oz White Frosted Mocha Masquerade Candle to create tighter site architecture. Good internal links enhance site navigation, reduce bounce rates, and boost topical authority.

Key SEO Ranking Factors According to Google (H2)

According to SEO studies from Ahrefs and other industry leaders, Google ranks your website based on these major factors:

1. Number of quality backlinks
2. Referring domains
3. Fresh, updated content
4. Keyword density and optimization
5. Proper use of H1, H2, and H3 tags
6. Page load speed
7. Mobile friendliness
8. HTTPS security

Strong backlinks top the list, but without clean keyword optimization and organized structure, you won’t maximize your reach or authority.

How to Properly Structure H1, H2, and H3 Tags (H2)

Headers organize your page for both readers and Google's crawlers:

• (H1): The main title of the page
  ➔ Example: Build E-Commerce Authority with Quality SEO and Backlinks
• (H2): Major sections or chapter titles
  ➔ Example: Key SEO Ranking Factors According to Google
• (H3): Sub-points that sit under an H2 section

How Keyword Density Impacts SEO Health (H3)

This (H3) subheader would sit under the (H2) header "Key SEO Ranking Factors According to Google" to break down a specific subtopic.
Think of (H2) like a chapter title and (H3) like a subheading inside that chapter.

✅ Tip: Always have only ONE (H1) per page.
✅ Use multiple (H2) and (H3) tags to structure your content properly.

Choosing the Right Keywords: Short, Medium, and Long-Tail Examples (H2)

When targeting keywords, always understand SEO difficulty and search volume:

• Short-tail keyword (very competitive):
  ➔ scented candles (18,100 searches/month, SEO difficulty: 62)
• Medium-tail keyword (moderate competition):
  ➔ coconut soy candles (880 searches/month, SEO difficulty: 44)
• Long-tail keyword (low competition):
  ➔ candles made in the USA (720 searches/month, SEO difficulty: 33)

Tip:
SEO difficulty is measured from 0 to 100 — lower numbers are easier to rank, while anything over 70 can take years unless you're a huge brand.

Understanding Keyword Types (H2)

Here’s a simple way to think about keyword targeting:

• Short-tail keywords = High volume, brutal competition (broad terms)
• Medium-tail keywords = Balanced competition and volume
• Long-tail keywords = Lower volume, highly specific, easier to win

Choosing the right blend helps newer e-commerce brands build momentum without wasting years fighting impossible battles.

Why This Matters for E-Commerce SEO (H2)

Without a strong keyword strategy, even the best backlink profile can underperform.

• Short-tail drives massive traffic if you can break into page one.
• Medium-tail brings steady, qualified buyers.
• Long-tail brings targeted traffic and faster rankings.

Smart brands balance their keywords to capture a wide audience while building steady authority.

Monitoring Your SEO Health With Ahrefs and Ubersuggest (H2)

At Willis Candle Shop, we closely monitor our progress using Ahrefs and Ubersuggest:

• Ahrefs tracks domain rating, backlink profiles, and keyword movements.
• Ubersuggest shines at finding new keyword ideas, tracking SEO health, and identifying new content gaps.

Both tools give us different but valuable insights that help guide our backlink strategy and content updates month after month.

Always Include Photos and Use Proper Alt Text (H2)

Another critical SEO best practice is always including at least one relevant photo in your blog posts. A smart choice is to upload a product photo or a collection image that matches the internal link you’re using (for example, a photo of the 10 oz Mocha Masquerade White Frosted Candle, if that's your featured product). 

Most e-commerce platforms like Shopify allow you to insert photos either directly into the blog content section or upload them separately so they appear at the top of the blog post.

✅ Important Tip:
When you add images, always fill in the alt text field.

• Google’s crawlers cannot see images like humans do; they rely on alt text to understand what a picture represents.
• Without alt text, search engines basically "skip" your image and miss the opportunity to index it for search results.
• Good alt text improves your SEO visibility, especially for users searching Google Images for related products.
• Keep alt text around 120 characters or less and naturally describe what’s shown in the image.
• If possible, include one keyword to help tie the image back to your main SEO focus.
• Example: "Hand-poured coconut soy candle in white frosted jar with bamboo lid."

Properly filled alt text makes sure your images contribute to your SEO strategy instead of getting ignored by Google’s indexing system.