Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a magic formula nowadays. Everyone uses it. However, is it really so important? The answer is yes. And it is especially important, if you do most of your business online, such as selling using VirtueMart e-commerce solution. Continue reading, if you want to learn why you should care about VirtueMart SEO.
SEF URLs in VirtueMart
One of the targets of the SEO optimiziation is to make all URLs search engine friendly (SEF).
This means, the default format of URLs like:
index.php?option=com_virtuemart&category_id=xx&lang=xx&manufacturer_id=xx&page=shop.product_details&product_id=xx&Itemid=xx
to much nicer format, such as:
parent-category/subcategory/product-name
Such format is both preffered by humans, as it is easy to remember and understandably, and search engine crawlers, that prefer it as it includes keywords also to URL address. These SEF URLs are composed automatically, so everything works without need of user interaction. VirtueMart SEO extension for JoomSEF also allows you to select the preffered appearence of the URL by several configuration options (such as if category or manufacturer name should be included or not).
Automatic Metadata Generation for VirtueMart
Except creating SEF URLs, the JoomSEF SEO component is also capable of automatic generation of metadata for each VirtueMart product or category page.
The most suitable metadata are determined by analysing the product (or category) description fields. The metadata parameters, such as count, maximum length or words and terms to exclude can be easily configured via JoomSEF configuration GUI.
Customizable VirtueMart SEF URLs
Anyway, if desired, all search engine friendly URLs generated by JoomSEF can be manually customized, so the URL can have a form of arbitrary string. In the same way, the defaultly auto-generated metadata can be overriden.
Solution for VM SEO
Although more different SEO solutions for Joomla! CMS can be found, one of the most popular ones, with more than 350.000 downloads (in March 2010), proofed by time (introduced in 2005) is called JoomSEF. JoomSEF SEO component for Joomla will ensure your Joomla URLs will have SEF format and that allow you many configuration options.
JoomSEF also comes in a bundle with a special JoomSEF extension for VirtueMart SEO. This combination will help you save and increase the sales on your site.
