Spice-Land Wholesale review for Sherpas: Smart SEO

July 31, 2024

Updated Review I initially had a number of concerns with the Smart SEO app while using it on the Business Plan, which I outlined in a previous review. However, after working with the Smart SEO team, I wanted to provide an updated assessment based on their responsive support and ongoing improvements. Here's a breakdown of my updated experience: Meta Tags Initially, I found the app's approach to meta tags overly simplistic, as it only scored tags based on character count rather than content relevance or focus keywords. However, Milen from the Smart SEO team has informed me that they are actively developing a feature to improve this aspect by integrating keyword density analysis and AI insights, which I'm looking forward to trying once it's released. Alt Image Attributes While the alt image feature seemed basic at first, the Smart SEO team has added a new AI-powered functionality that uses ChatGPT 4.0 to generate alt tags. This feature creates descriptions by analyzing images, product titles, and descriptions, which has significantly improved its usefulness. I appreciate that I can now customize alt tags with specific keywords, making this feature more practical for enhancing SEO. Page Speed Page speed is critical for SEO, and initially, the app didn't seem to make any noticeable difference. However, Milen clarified that Smart SEO focuses on user experience improvements by pre-loading pages when users hover over links, rather than affecting lab test results like Lighthouse. While I haven't observed a change in test scores, I'm hopeful for improved user experience and SEO benefits over time. JSON-LD and Structured Data I initially encountered issues with JSON-LD structured data, as errors frequently appeared in Google Search Console. The Smart SEO team promptly addressed these issues by fixing warnings related to the local business schema and ensuring proper implementation. The errors were primarily due to missing elements and incorrect country codes, which have since been corrected, improving our site's visibility in search results. Broken Links The broken links feature was initially a letdown, with thousands of issues reported in Google Search Console. Milen worked diligently to resolve these issues, exporting links and using automation to address them effectively. While it may take several iterations to clear all broken links, the team's proactive approach has already made a noticeable difference. Sitemap Functionality I had concerns about the sitemap functionality not submitting to Google Search Console. The team identified a recurring disconnection issue and successfully submitted the sitemap through their connected account. While the app's connection to my account occasionally drops, Milen has provided solutions to maintain connectivity, ensuring the sitemap submission works as intended. Overall Assessment Overall, my experience with Smart SEO has improved significantly due to the dedicated support from Milen. Although the app had its shortcomings initially, the ongoing enhancements and customer support have made a positive impact. I appreciate the efforts to address my concerns and am optimistic about the upcoming updates. I will continue using the Smart SEO app and look forward to seeing how the new features enhance my site's SEO performance. Given the improvements, I feel more confident in recommending Smart SEO to other Shopify users.