When you add a new product to your WooCommerce store, Rank Math will automatically test your product page for common on-page SEO issues. If any of these tests fail, Rank Math will provide you with a list of recommendations to help you fix the issue and improve your product page SEO.
In this knowledgebase article, we’ll show you how to use Rank Math’s content analysis tests for product pages and how to fix the issues that you may find.
Let’s get started.
To make it easy, we have created a table of contents below for easy navigation.
Table of Contents
- How to Use Rank Math’s Content Analysis Tests for Product Pages
- Adding Focus keywords
- Basic SEO
- Passing All Basic SEO Tests
- Additional SEO
- Passing All Additional SEO Tests
- Title Readability
- Passing All Title Readability Tests
- Content Readability
- Passing All Content Readability Tests
- Overall SEO Score 100/100
- Conclusion
1 How to Use Rank Math’s Content Analysis Tests for Product Pages
Rank Math’s content analysis tests help you identify and fix common on-page SEO issues with your product pages. To use these tests, simply create or edit a product in your WooCommerce store and then scroll down to the ‘Rank Math’ meta box.
Note: While the Rank Math SEO free version includes the default content analysis tests, Rank Math PRO offers dedicated SEO tests for WooCommerce products. So you could better optimize your product pages for SEO.
If you can not see the Rank Math meta box, then go to Rank Math SEO → Titles & Meta → Products.
Scroll down to find the Add SEO Controls option, and you should find this option enabled by default. If not, activate it as shown below and click the Save Changes button.
Now, let’s go through the tests and how you may improve your product page to pass them.
2 Adding Focus keywords
When you optimize your product page for a focus keyword, you are telling search engines like Google or Bing what the page is about. By adding relevant keywords in the Focus Keyword section, you can unleash Rank Math’s content analysis power. When you do this, Rank Math analyzes your product page and gives you specific, actionable advice on how to optimize your product page for search engines like Google or Bing.
3 Basic SEO
The Basic SEO section gives you an overview of how well your product page is optimized for the search engines. If any of the tests in this section fail, Rank Math will provide you with a list of recommendations to help you improve your product page SEO.
Let’s take a look at each of the recommendations in detail.
3.1 Use Focus Keyword in SEO Title
The first content analysis test is to add a focus keyword to your product page’s SEO title. Your product page’s SEO title is the title that appears in search engine results pages (SERPs). It should be unique and accurately reflect the contents of your page.
To pass this test, simply add a focus keyword to your product page’s SEO title. You can do this by scrolling down to the Rank Math SEO meta box. Click on Edit Snippet as shown below.
3.2 Use Focus Keyword in the Meta Description
The second content analysis test is to add a focus keyword to your product page’s SEO meta description. Your product page’s SEO meta description is the brief description of your page that appears in SERPs. Like your SEO title, it should be unique and accurately reflect the contents of your page.
Best of all, a good product description is key to a successful product page. If you want people to buy your products, you need to ensure that your product descriptions are clear, concise, and persuasive.
Our Content AI can help you with the exact keyphrases to use in the SEO Description.
To pass this test, simply add a focus keyword to your product page’s SEO meta description.
3.3 Use Focus Keyword in the URL
If you want your product pages to rank in Google, make sure you’re using your focus keyword in the URL. That way, you’ll let search engines like Google or Bing and potential customers know what your page is about.
To do this, click Edit Snippet under the Rank Math meta box. Then, optimize your product page URL by adding the focus keyword.
3.4 Use Focus Keyword at the Beginning of the Product Description
Apart from the title, description, and URL, it’s also important to have your focus keyword at the beginning of your product description, to re-assure the relevancy of the product. So, Rank Math checks for the presence of the focus keyword in the first 10% of your product description.
If your focus keyword is not present in the first 10% of your product description, Rank Math will give you the recommendation to help you improve. This is especially important for Google, which gives more weight to words appearing at the beginning of a page.
3.5 Use Focus Keyword in the Description
Rank Math also checks if your focus keywords are present in the product content as well. Since Rank Math attempts to optimize your product page for all your focus keywords, this test runs for all your focus keywords.
This is important because it helps Google understand your page and match it with relevant queries.
A good rule of thumb is to use it at least 1-1.5% of the time. Here’re some of the places where you can use your Focus Keyword:
- Product heading and subheadings
- Product description
- Product features and benefits
- Anchor text (text you hyperlink to other related pages on your site)
To pass this test, all you have to do is make sure that all your focus keywords appear in your product description. This shouldn’t be hard as the focus keywords should be the topic of the product as well, and you can naturally include them in the product description.
3.6 Overall Content-Length to Be Atleast 200 Words
The length of your product description is important for two reasons. First, descriptions split down into small paragraphs are easier for people to read and understand. Second, longer descriptions give you more room to include important information about your product.
Rank Math’s content analysis tests for product pages look at the length of your content to make sure it’s of an appropriate length. If your content is too short, Rank Math will suggest ways to increase its length.
A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 200 words of text, but more is almost always better.
Content AI: When you make use of Content AI for optimizing your product pages, Rank Math would sync this test with the word count recommendations from Content AI.
3.7 Use Product Schema
Product Schema is especially important for WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads products because it includes key information about the product, such as price, availability, and reviews.
This can be beneficial for two reasons. First, it can help your products show up in relevant search results. For example, if someone searches for “buy red shoes,” your product may appear in the search results if it has the appropriate Product Schema code. Second, it can help your products appear with rich snippets, which can increase click-through rates.
Rank Math automatically fetches the WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads product data and includes them in the Product Schema. As a result, you’ll pass the test.
You can also add it manually if the Product Schema is not added.
To do so, go to the Schema Settings by clicking on the Schema tab and then click on the Schema Generator.
Next, find the WooCommerce Product Schema from the list and click on Use to open the Schema Builder.
Note: In the case of Easy Digital Downloads, click on Use against the EDD Product Schema.
After that, in the Schema Builder, click on Save for this Post.
You can learn more about configuring WooCommerce Product Schema with Rank Math.
In addition, we’ve dedicated a knowledgebase tutorial to guide you with adding product data for Easy Digital Downloads.
4 Passing All Basic SEO Tests
Once you’ve followed all the recommendations and optimized your product page, the Basic SEO section of Rank Math should appear like this:
5 Additional SEO
There are a few additional things you can do to further optimize your product pages for SEO. Here are a few recommendations:
5.1 Use Focus Keyword in Image Alt Attributes
Alt attributes provide alternative information for an image if a user cannot view it. The Alt attribute is important from an accessibility standpoint and helps improve your SEO.
When adding images to your product pages, include Alt text with your Focus Keyword. This will help search engines like Google or Bing index your images and provide relevant results when users search for products like yours.
Alt text can also be helpful for visually impaired users and screen readers. By including Alt text with your Focus Keyword, you can help improve your product’s visibility and make it easier for potential customers to find what they’re looking for.
As we mentioned, to pass this test, you need to have your primary focus keywords in the ALT text of your product image. Here is how you do it if you don’t already know it.
When you click on the product image, a popup will open that looks like this:
You can add your Alt text here.
5.2 Ensure Optimal Keyword Density
While there isn’t an ideal keyword density, based on our experience, we recommend an optimal keyword density of 1% to 1.5%. Rank Math would look for the presence of both primary & secondary keywords in the product description, and if it exceeds 2.5%, you’ll notice a warning.
Content AI: When you use Content AI, Rank Math syncs this test with the keyword density of the first keyword suggested by Content AI.
5.3 Ensure URL Length is Less Than 75 Characters
This is a pretty straightforward test. You want your URLs to be as short and concise as possible while still being descriptive. After careful testing and consideration of real-world examples, the team at Rank Math has determined that the ideal URL length is 75 characters or less. So, if your product’s URL is equal to or less than 75 characters, you will pass this test.
5.4 Use Content AI for Optimization
Rank Math’s Content AI can help you improve your product pages by understanding the focus keyword and offering suggestions for how to optimize the product page. If you’re using Content AI for optimizing this product page, then you’ll pass the test.
You’ll find the Content AI panel below the publishing panel.
To use Content AI, simply enter the focus keyword, and Content AI will provide you with a list of recommendations.
As you research for any focus keyword, Rank Math takes the input and sends the request to our AI server. Our server collects the data from various sources using proprietary algorithms and uses our own AI to offer more relevant suggestions, such as how many words, headings, links, and media you should be using in your content based on what is currently ranking for that keyword.
You can learn more about using Content AI for on-page optimization.
5.5 Allow Customers to Leave Reviews
Customer reviews are a valuable source of information for potential customers. They can provide insights into the quality of your product, as well as the level of customer service you provide. Allowing customers to leave reviews on your product pages can also help improve your SEO by increasing the amount of content on your pages.
Rank Math checks if your WooCommerce store allows customers to leave reviews, and if you’ve configured it, you’ll pass the test.
In order to enable product reviews in WooCommerce, click on WooCommerce → Settings from the left sidebar.
This will bring you to the main WooCommerce settings page. Here, click on the Products tab, and then you’ll need to check the Enable Reviews checkbox.
Once checked, be sure to click on the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.
While the default WooCommerce review & Easy Digital Downloads review features are limited, users can consider using WP Review PRO to improve the review form and encourage customers to leave reviews.
6 Passing All Additional SEO Tests
Once you’ve followed all the recommendations and optimized your product page, the Additional SEO section of Rank Math should appear like this:
7 Title Readability
The readability of a title is important because it is the first thing a reader will see. A good title should be interesting and attention-grabbing and clear, and concise.
There are a few factors to consider when choosing a title, such as the length of the text, the audience, and the overall tone of the piece. A catchy title can make a big difference in whether or not someone decides to read your article, so it is worth taking the time to choose the right one.
Let us understand the Title Readability tests that Rank Math performs on your product page.
7.1 Use Focus Keyword at the Beginning of the SEO Title
In SERPs, your product page should capture the attention of the searchers as quickly as possible. So we recommend adding your focus keyword at the beginning of the SEO title (at least within the first 50%).
7.2 Use of Power Word in a Title
To further increase the chances of attracting searchers to click through the SERP title, we recommend using power words in the title.
To learn more about power words, we recommend that you read this amazing guide about power words.
8 Passing All Title Readability Tests
Once you’ve followed all the recommendations and optimized your WooCommerce product page, the Title Readability section of Rank Math should appear like this:
9 Content Readability
The next few tests help you organize and present your content in ways that delight your readers. It’s the last part of the optimization process, but it is as important as the others.
Let’s look at the tests.
9.1 Use Short and Concise Paragraphs
Product descriptions are meant to describe the benefits of your product & convert the leads to sales. Ironically, if the description is nothing short of large blocks of text, you can forget about sales conversion. So, Rank Math will check if these paragraphs are short for readers to read through them easily.
9.2 Use of Media in Your Products
High-quality product images and videos can increase your conversion and could grab the attention of searchers to click through. So Rank Math recommends adding at least 4 product images or videos to pass the test.
Content AI: Rank Math syncs this test with the media count recommendation from Content AI. So if the Content AI recommends not to use media in your product pages, then this test would be disabled.
10 Passing All Content Readability Tests
Once you’ve followed all the recommendations and optimized your WooCommerce product page, the Title Readability section of Rank Math should appear like this:
11 Overall SEO Score 100/100
If you’ve passed all the above tests, then you’ve successfully optimized the product for search results. But please note, these recommendations are only the best practices for increasing your chances of ranking & one shouldn’t have to follow them religiously.
12 Conclusion
That’s the entire process of optimizing your product page from 0 to 100 inside Rank Math. The process is the same for all types of product pages, be it simple products, grouped products, external/affiliate products, or variable products.
As always, if you have questions, doubts, or queries, we’re here to help. No matter how small your issue is, open a support ticket, and an expert from our support team will reach out to help as soon as possible.