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more 2.0 plus seo content
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14 changes: 11 additions & 3 deletions CONTRIBUTING.md
Expand Up @@ -203,17 +203,25 @@ https://www.zen-cart.com/latest

## Renaming files

If it is necessary to rename a file, be sure to use [Hugo aliasing](https://gohugo.io/content-management/urls/) so as not break any external links to the page. You can see an example of where this was done in `change_header_logo.md`, which used to be named `change_powered_by.md`. The front matter of the file has an alias to the old name:
If it is necessary to rename or move a file, be sure to use [Hugo aliasing](https://gohugo.io/content-management/urls/) so as not break any external links to the page. You can see an example of where this was done in the `/user/taxes/tax_calc_wrong.md` page, which used to be named `/user/locations/tax_calc_wrong.md`. The front matter of the file has an alias to the old name:

```
aliases:
- /user/new_user_topics/change_powered_by/
- /user/locations/tax_calc_wrong
```

Aliases can sometimes cause problems, so an alternate approach is to create a crosslink only page, as described below.

## Crosslink only pages

A page with minimal content and mostly links is called a _crosslink only_ page.
These pages are like linked products - they ensure that someone browsing a category will see related content. An example is `/user/products/product_listing.md`.
These pages are like linked products - they ensure that someone browsing a category will see related content. An example is `/user/ezpages/ezpages_sidebox.md`.

The body of this page is just a link to the new page:

```
Please see [this page](/user/sideboxes/ezpages_sidebox/).
```

Crosslink only pages should have `noindex: yes` in their front matter.

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4 changes: 2 additions & 2 deletions content/dev/code/template_settings.md
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weight: 10
---

Starting with Zen Cart v2.0.0 there is a `tpl()` function that can be used to access site configuration settings that are customized to a specific template.
Starting with Zen Cart v2.0.0 there is a `tpl()` function which can be used to access site configuration settings that are customized to a specific template.

This means you can have the usual global settings configured in the Admin as usual, but allow for template-specific overrides which only take effect when a certain template is used.

One benefit of this for both storeowners and developers is the ability to try out a new template without destroying the existing configuration settings, so that your live site can function normally even while you're experimenting with new things.

It also allows template authors to distribute configuration settings with their template, without those settings messing with a store's already-configured settings.

> NOTE: This can be used in tandem with the `init_site_specific_non_db_settings.php` feature available since Zen Cart v1.5.8.
> NOTE: This can be used in tandem with the `init_site_specific_non_db_settings.php` feature available since Zen Cart v1.5.8 - see [Site Specific Overrides](/user/customizing/site_specific_overrides/).

## Requirements
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3 changes: 3 additions & 0 deletions content/release/whatsnew_2.0.0.html
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<li>Admin: Coupon Restrict dropdown only shows products not already selected.</li>
<li>Admin: Customers default address id bug fix.</li>
<li>Admin: Customers list will now show registration IP if set. This behavior may also be disabled; see <a href="https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/admin/site_specific_overrides/">admin specific overrides</a>.</li>
<li>Admin: Delete product checks to ensure product exists first.</li>
<li>Admin: Developers now have a [template settings](/dev/code/template_settings/) file to facilitate template switching.</li>
<li>Admin: Orders listing sidebox provides direct link to customer account.</li>
<li>Admin: Order details page provides a direct link to customer account.</li>
<li>Admin: Handle emails with embedded '+' signs.</li>
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<li>Storefront: Shipping modules now visible in Shipping Estimator when zone restriction and non-pulldown state setting is used.</li>
<li>Storefront: State dropdowns are now sorted alphabetically for all countries.</li>
<li>System: All "extra" folders are now loaded alphabetically. In prior releases, they were loaded in filesystem order, which would sometimes result in system-dependent issues.</li>
<li>System: The issue that caused the Uncaught IntlException: datefmt_create: invalid locale: U_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT_ERROR problem for users running PHP 8.1/8.2 no longer requires configure.php changes.</li>
<li>Database: Correction of known issues with zones.</li>
<li>Installer: Improved UI and progress reporting in zc_install.</li>
<li>All known v1.5.8/v1.5.8a bugfixes and security fixes are included in v2.0.0.</li>
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3 changes: 3 additions & 0 deletions content/user/customizing/site_specific_overrides.md
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and customize to taste. The settings that may be altered in this file are listed in the file `includes/init_includes/init_non_db_settings.php`.

## Related Links
- [Template Settings](/dev/code/template_settings/) file

2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion content/user/miscellaneous/can_zen_cart.md
Expand Up @@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ Yes - you can limit admin users to a subset of the superuser capabilities using
---

### Can Zen Cart create SEO friendly URLs?
The plugin [Ultimate SEO URLs](https://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=132) allows Zen Cart to create keyword-rich URLs.
Not by default, but plugins are available. Please see [SEO URLs](/user/seo/other_topics/#seo-urls).

---
### Can Zen Cart allow me to edit an order after it was placed?
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2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion content/user/running/traffic.md
Expand Up @@ -18,5 +18,5 @@ The [sitemap plugin](https://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=367) allo

- Participate in forums in your area of business, and add your URL to your forum signature. For example, if you sell plants, participate actively in gardening forums. Just be sure to follow community standards (don't spam the forum with ads for your products, for example).

Also be sure you have done all the possible [SEO Optimization](/user/search/optimizing_seo/) possible for your site.
Also be sure you have done all the possible [SEO Optimization](/user/seo/optimizing_seo/) possible for your site.

2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion content/user/search/_index.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
---
title: Search
description: Customer Search, Admin Search and SEO
description: Storefront Search and Admin Search
weight: 100
layout: docs
---
120 changes: 5 additions & 115 deletions content/user/search/optimizing_seo.md
Expand Up @@ -3,120 +3,10 @@ title: SEO Optimization
description: Guidance for improving ranking in search engines
category: search
weight: 10
index: false
noindex: yes
---

## Best Practices for Optimizing SEO

First and foremost, make sure you understand who your customers are, how they write their search terms when seeking for something you offer, and what their real needs/wants are.
Specifically, understand what problems your products actually solve and how your customers will feel after they buy the product you offer for solving those problems.

Then use that information in your category, product, page content and metatags.

Specific areas to focus on:

- product descriptions and titles. Make sure that the most-likely search terms for each product are reflected in title and description. Ideally 2-3 times on the page. (Never "stuff" keywords dozens of times on a page.)
- product [metatags](/user/admin/meta_tags/): title, description, and keywords. Make sure to optimize these for search engines to show in search results.
- category names and descriptions and metatags. Make sure that the common search terms for each category's products are found in the category description and metatags

## Keywords: defined
"keywords" = "popular search terms", specifically the terms used to shop for any specific product or research a certain category of products.

To clarify again, the point here is: when you think about "keywords", don't think about "a magical term". Think about "the phrases people search with" when they're shopping for a solution to their problem, for which your product provides a solution.

Think in the mind of the customer who is looking for an answer to a problem. This is the added "edge" that a lot of people never consider, and adjusting to this can boost your results.


## Assessing
Consider that the **category/subcategory** pages drive most of the visitors to your site from search engine results. You should find a lot of traffic to these pages.

Secondarily you also want to see a decent share of traffic coming to product pages from long-tail search terms/phrases (longer, more product-specific search queries).

Analyze performance (which products/pages get decent traffic) 3-6 months after making changes. Then go through and adjust. Even consider removing things that don't get traffic or don't sell.


### Content
For EVERY INDIVIDUAL page, category, product on your site, look at these parts:

Parts To Look At |
-----------------|
Page Title (Product/Category Name, or EZ Page Title) |
Page Content (eg: Product/Category description, or Article text) |
Metatags Title (This will be shown in search results) |
Metatags Description (This is the sub-text shown in search results) |
Metatags Keywords (These are used by your own store's search, and can be partially helpful to search engines) |
Images |

And ask yourself these questions:

Questions To Ask About EACH Part |
---------------------------------|
Is it helpful? |
Is the content Unique? (Not the same as on any other website) |
Does it use phrases a customer would search with? |
What problem does it say it solves/answers for a buyer? Is that what the customer would ask a search engine? |
For images, do they provide value to the shopper? Are they unique (not the same as on any other website)? |
Why do customers want to buy your products/services? (Ask them directly!) Work those answers into content on your site. |
Do customers think in the same "terminology" words that I'm writing on my website and products and category names and descriptions? |


### Category pages
Good quality category pages that line up well with popular search terms is key, as that’s where the bulk of traffic comes in on ecommerce websites.

Find out what popular keywords your site is already ranking for on pages 2 or 3 of Google and other search engines.
Make sure that your category and subcategory pages line up with those keywords, by building those search phrases into your category descriptions and metatags.

And then work on ways to establish good links to those pages from other websites. (See "backlinks" below).


### Product pages
Focus first on your top 10 to 50 products.

Identify the popular (high search-volume) search terms for each product you sell. Not only on your own website, but everywhere.
Then optimize your product pages for those search terms by building those phrases into your content.

Make sure that you write unique valuable text on these pages – DO NOT use stock manufacturer text that could be found on any other website.

Be sure to have a paragraph of three or four sentences and build in the primary keyword (search phrases) into that text at least twice, in a way that feels totally human and natural.

If there are a lot of different keywords/phrases that relate to your product, consider writing Articles/Blogs that use those words/phrases more heavily than your product descriptions do. The "authority" given to your product by the "other page" can be more beneficial than having too many of those words in the product description itself.


### Backlinks are important!
Links to your site, from other sites, are important. While it's ideal if those other sites are in the same industry that's not always important.
If what you sell is useful then there are certainly related sites out there writing about "how to use" your products, etc.

Consider being a guest on a popular podcast whose listeners would use your products, as "links to your site in their site's show notes" can be beneficial.

You could publish YouTube videos related to your products, such as how-to-use them, what exact "real world problems the product solves", etc. Be sure the videos contain meaningful content, and aren't posted just to create a link. Remember: **meaningful content** is more important than just creating links or stuffing keywords.

Be creative about other similar possibilities.


### Internal Linking
Zen Cart cross-links product and category pages extensively in a way that's logical for most visitors

However, if you write content on EZ-Pages or other places on your site, you should include links to the specific products that your page content is referring to.

And, if you have products that are related to other products, where it feels like it would be logical to link to another product from its description, add links to connect them.


### Articles and other content
EZ Pages can be a place to write articles that can educate customers, celebrate creative uses of your products, and highlight success stories.

Articles should contain keywords (phrases) that your customers are searching for. And these articles should contain links to the products that your articles are referring to.

Work on getting backlinks to your articles which line up with popular search terms for your site or the products discussed on those pages.



### Related resources
Consider some of the following references:
- [Create Good Titles And Descriptions](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/35624)
- [Content Optimization Tips for SEO](https://www.link-assistant.com/news/content-optimization/)
- [Non-Technical Strategies for Ranking Well With Your Article Content](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBTSGREx5A) (video)



## Plugins To Consider
- [XML Sitemap](/user/search/xml_site_map/)
- [Structured Data](https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?221868-Structured-Data-Markup-for-Schema)
```
This content has moved. Please see [this page](/user/seo/optimizing_seo/).
```
6 changes: 6 additions & 0 deletions content/user/seo/_index.md
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---
title: SEO
description: Information about Search Engine Optimization
weight: 100
layout: docs
---
9 changes: 9 additions & 0 deletions content/user/seo/deleted_product_redirects.md
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---
title: Deleted product redirects
description: Using .htacces redirects for deleted products
category: seo
weight: 10
---

content coming soon!

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