How to Clean an E-commerce Website for Better Performance & SEO

A cluttered e-commerce website isn’t just bad for aesthetics, it kills sales. Slow load times, broken links, outdated products, and security risks drive customers away. Cleaning up your site isn’t just maintenance, it’s a growth strategy. Let’s break it down step by step.

1. Audit Your Website for Issues

Before making changes, identify what’s broken. Use tools like: ✅ Google Search Console – Finds indexing issues and errors. ✅ GTmetrix & PageSpeed Insights – Checks speed and performance. ✅ Screaming Frog – Detects broken links, duplicate content, and technical SEO issues. ✅ Ubersuggest or Ahrefs – Identifies missing keywords or low-ranking pages.

Action Step: Make a list of all errors found—this will guide your cleanup.

2. Remove or Update Outdated Products

Why it matters: Old products with out-of-stock labels frustrate customers and clutter search results. ✅ Delete pages for discontinued products or redirect them to similar items. ✅ Update descriptions, prices, and images to ensure accuracy. ✅ Check category pages for missing or irrelevant items.

Action Step: If a product is gone forever, set up a 301 redirect to a relevant alternative.

3. Fix Broken Links & Redirects

Broken links harm SEO and user experience. ✅ Use a broken link checker (like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog). ✅ Set up proper redirects – Use 301 redirects for permanently moved pages. ✅ Fix internal links – Update old product URLs in menus and blog posts.

Action Step: Run a broken link scan monthly to keep your website healthy.

4. Optimize Website Speed

Fast websites convert better. Here’s how to boost speed: ✅ Compress images – Use tools like TinyPNG to reduce file size. ✅ Enable lazy loading – Load images only when needed. ✅ Minify CSS & JavaScript – Reduce unnecessary code. ✅ Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) – Speeds up global access.

Action Step: Test site speed regularly and fix slow-loading elements.

5. Improve Mobile Responsiveness

Most e-commerce traffic comes from mobile. Ensure: ✅ Buttons, fonts, and images adjust properly on all devices. ✅ Mobile-friendly checkout process – No zooming required. ✅ AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) – Loads pages faster for mobile users.

Action Step: Test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.

6. Clean Up Product Descriptions & Images

✅ Rewrite duplicate product descriptions (don’t copy manufacturer text). ✅ Add keyword-rich, engaging descriptions that answer customer questions. ✅ Update product images – Use high-quality, optimized images with alt text.

Action Step: Refresh outdated product pages and ensure all images load quickly.

7. Secure Your Website & Protect Customer Data

E-commerce sites handle sensitive payment data—security is critical. ✅ Ensure HTTPS encryption – If your site still runs on HTTP, upgrade ASAP. ✅ Update plugins & software – Outdated software is a security risk. ✅ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin accounts. ✅ Regular security scans – Use tools like Sucuri or Wordfence.

Action Step: Run a security check monthly and remove the outdated plugin

8. Remove Unused Plugins & Features

More plugins = slower site speed. ✅ Delete unused apps, scripts, and plugins that slow performance. ✅ Use lightweight themes – Avoid bloated e-commerce themes. ✅ Test checkout & cart performance – Remove friction for customers.

Action Step: Keep only essential tools and features for a streamlined experience.

9. Refresh & Optimize SEO Elements

✅ Update meta titles & descriptions – Use compelling, keyword-rich copy. ✅ Fix duplicate content issues – Canonical tags help avoid SEO penalties. ✅ Add internal links – Help search engines discover key pages. ✅ Check structured data (schema markup) – Improves visibility in search results.

Action Step: Use Google’s Rich Results Test to verify proper schema implementation.

10. Review & Improve Checkout Process

A complicated checkout process = abandoned carts. ✅ Test the entire purchase flow – From product selection to payment. ✅ Enable guest checkout – Don’t force account creation. ✅ Offer multiple payment methods – Include PayPal, Apple Pay, and BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later). ✅ Reduce form fields – Only ask for necessary info.

Action Step: Run a checkout usability test to remove friction in the process.

Effortless E-commerce Content with Blazewriter AI

Keeping your e-commerce website clean is essential, but maintaining fresh, optimized content is just as important. Blazewriter AI makes it effortless to create SEO-friendly, high-quality content that keeps your product pages, blogs, and landing pages updated. With AI-powered optimization, humanized writing, and keyword-rich content, Blazewriter helps your e-commerce store rank higher and convert better. Try Blazewriter AI today and take your e-commerce content to the next level! 🚀