The post Case Study: Product-Focused SEO to Capture Thousands of Seasonal Shoppers appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>The online visibility of your products directly affects how much revenue you generate, especially during seasonal peaks.
Competition for seasonal keywords gets tougher every year, and relying solely on existing rankings or generic SEO tactics usually isn’t enough. A focused SEO approach helps you pinpoint which search terms will attract more visitors when it matters most. Here’s our strategy for one of our clients.
We implemented a targeted SEO program for a major premium wine distributor. Recognizing the substantial impact of seasonal searches on their revenue, we worked on increasing visibility during key sales periods in November and December.
The client wanted to capitalize on seasonal opportunities, so we identified valuable gift-related search terms and strategically optimized multiple pages. Additionally, we improved existing pages targeting highly specific seasonal products.
The client knew from experience that gift-related searches spike during November and December, mainly due to Christmas shopping. They suggested prioritizing gift-related pages to capture this seasonal demand.
Before planning the content, we reviewed the client’s products to identify their strongest offerings—products that were clearly better or different from competitors. We also picked out items ideal for gift pages. A product review gave us a clear sense of which products to highlight in our SEO strategy.
We carried out keyword research to get the exact phrases users typed when looking for wine gifts. We grouped these keywords into clusters, including synonyms and related terms, and measured their total search volume to spot the biggest opportunities.
We also analyzed top-ranking competitor pages, checking carefully for weaknesses or gaps. This way, we could see exactly where we had room to create stronger content that outranked existing competitors.
After the research phase, we created a detailed pillar page outline. This outline clearly listed the most important topics and subtopics. We based this directly on product strengths, competitor analysis, and keyword findings.
The outline included:
Once we delivered the pillar page outline, the client created supporting cluster pages. They linked these cluster pages back to the pillar page strategically, helping users and search engines easily find related content.
The client followed our SEO recommendations to create the new gift pages with the following:
For advent calendar-related searches, the optimization was straightforward but delivered big results quickly.
We found the client already had a live page for advent calendars, but it wasn’t fully optimized for key search terms. The page had potential but wasn’t visible enough in search results.
We adjusted the page’s meta titles and descriptions to better align with important advent calendar keywords the page aimed to target. The quick metadata changes immediately improved the page’s relevance to search queries.
Our strategic SEO approach delivered major YoY improvements for seasonal keywords, increasing the brand’s visibility, traffic, and revenue.
This product-led approach for gifts secured the #1 position for a highly competitive keyword with 3,000–4,000 average monthly searches, peaking at 20,000–30,000 during the holiday season. Additionally, the page ranked in the top 3 positions for over 75 related keywords, further increasing traffic and revenue.
Gift-related searches
The quick metadata improvements nearly doubled the clicks and significantly increased impressions. Due to this rapid increase in visibility, the advent calendar sold out faster than in previous years, running out of stock before the end of November.
Advent calendar searches
Our takeaway? Strategic SEO can dramatically boost seasonal traffic and sales. Small but targeted changes, like metadata updates, can quickly deliver strong results. For this project, close collaboration between our SEO team and the client made it possible to spot valuable product opportunities and implement effective content optimizations.
Want to capture more traffic with strategic SEO? Reach out to scandiweb—we’ll create a personalized strategy to grow your revenue!
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]]>The post BOPIS: How it Works and Why You Need It appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>A customer browses your online store during their lunch break. They find what they need and select in-store pickup. On their way back from work, they swing by, skip the checkout lines, and grab their purchase—no shipping fees, no waiting days for delivery.
Today’s customers expect this level of convenience, speed, and flexibility in every shopping experience. Whether they’re ordering groceries for same-day pickup or buying high-demand apparel, customers want the option to buy online and collect their purchases on their terms. Due to this, businesses are increasingly turning to buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) as a key fulfillment strategy.
In this article, we’ll explore how BOPIS is shaping the future of retail, from its growing adoption to its impact on consumer behavior. We’ll also dive into the steps and challenges of implementing a successful BOPIS strategy, along with emerging trends that are redefining how businesses approach in-store pickup.
BOPIS is a retail fulfillment method that allows customers to purchase products online and collect them from a physical store rather than waiting for home delivery.
This approach offers the best of both worlds—the ease of online shopping with the immediacy of in-store pickup. For retailers, BOPIS is a powerful strategy that reduces shipping costs, increases foot traffic, and encourages additional purchases. For customers, it eliminates delivery wait times, saves on shipping fees, and provides greater control over when they receive their orders.
However, implementing in-store pickup comes with a unique set of challenges, like managing real-time inventory updates and ensuring an efficient in-store pickup process. Retailers must be prepared to address these complexities to deliver a smooth and efficient experience for their customers.
BOPIS has gained popularity among consumers due to its speed, convenience, cost savings, and even security.
Many shoppers prefer in-store pickup over standard shipping because they can avoid delays and receive their items within hours of placing an order.
Consumers also appreciate the ability to bypass shipping fees. In many cases, retailers offer exclusive discounts or promotions for in-store pickup, further incentivizing shoppers to use the service.
Security and flexibility are additional factors influencing consumer preference. With BOPIS, customers can avoid the risk of lost or stolen packages and choose a pickup time that fits their schedule.
BOPIS has rapidly evolved from a convenience-driven feature to a mainstream expectation in modern retail. In recent years, adoption has surged, with over 82% of major retailers now offering in-store pickup. The service has been particularly successful in categories where customers prioritize fast access to products such as apparel, home improvement, electronics, and groceries.
The demand for BOPIS spikes during peak shopping seasons. During the holiday rush, nearly one in five online orders is fulfilled through in-store pickup, with the highest usage occurring in the final days before major holidays.
Successfully integrating BOPIS requires aligning digital, operational, and in-store processes to ensure a smooth customer experience. While businesses must take specific actions to optimize BOPIS, each stage comes with challenges that must be addressed.
To implement BOPIS effectively, businesses need a real-time inventory tracking system that updates stock levels across online and in-store channels. Customers should only be able to purchase items for pickup if they are actually available at their selected location. Product pages should display stock availability and estimated pickup times to set clear expectations.
When stock updates are delayed or inaccurate, customer dissatisfaction and cancellations occur. This is especially difficult for retailers managing multiple locations or high turnover inventory. To minimize errors, businesses need real-time synchronization, store-level stock verification, and contingency plans—such as offering substitutions or alternative pickup locations if an item becomes unavailable.
A smooth BOPIS experience begins with clear pickup options integrated into the online shopping journey. The ability to select a pickup location should be visible on product pages, with estimated availability displayed before checkout. The process should be intuitive, with automated notifications confirming orders, providing pickup instructions, and alerting customers when their items are ready.
Businesses often struggle with customer confusion if pickup options are unclear or notifications are inconsistent. Some shoppers may abandon their orders if they don’t fully understand how or when they can retrieve their purchase. To address this, retailers must ensure consistent messaging across all touchpoints, including the checkout page, email confirmations, and SMS alerts.
Fulfilling BOPIS orders efficiently requires a structured in-store process. Businesses should designate a pickup area—such as a service counter, shelves, or self-service lockers—to avoid congestion at regular checkout lines. Staff must be trained to process and organize orders quickly, using mobile scanners and tracking systems to ensure accuracy. Allocating extra resources during peak hours prevents backlogs and provides a seamless pickup experience.
However, handling BOPIS fulfillment alongside regular store operations can be challenging. Without proper planning, increased order volume can slow down in-store service, frustrating both pickup customers and in-store shoppers. To mitigate this, businesses must establish order prioritization workflows, train employees to balance in-store and online orders efficiently, and analyze peak-hour demand to adjust staffing accordingly.
Multiple methods like curbside pickup and self-service lockers offer more flexibility and attract a broader range of customers. Allowing shoppers to modify their pickup method post-purchase can further improve their experience, while scheduling pickup slots can help manage store traffic during peak times.
Adding multiple methods, however, introduces operational complexity. Curbside pickup requires real-time coordination between staff and customers, while locker systems demand upfront investment and space allocation. If not appropriately managed, multiple fulfillment methods can lead to bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
Retailers across various industries have successfully implemented BOPIS as shopping habits continue to evolve toward customer convenience. The following examples showcase how leading businesses have structured their in-store pickup solutions to meet these changing demands.
Sportland lets its customers select their pickup store directly on the product page. As customers browse a product, they see an additional call-to-action next to the standard ‘Add to Cart’ option.
Clicking the CTA opens a selection interface where customers can choose their preferred Sportland store for pickup. The interface shows stock availability at different locations, along with store hours and addresses. Sportland ensures customers have all the information they need for a smooth and convenient pickup process.
Learn more about our custom solution that made store pickup possible for Sportland.
Byggmax online customers can check product availability at their local store and choose in-store pickup during checkout. Real-time inventory updates ensure that stock information is always accurate, setting clear expectations for shoppers.
To enhance the experience for mobile users, Byggmax has optimized the store selection process with a store selector icon in the main navigation. When selected, a pop-up appears with the nearest store pre-filled based on the user’s location while still allowing for manual changes. The pop-up also displays key store details, including operating hours and contact information.
Read more about delivering a unified customer shopping experience for Byggmax.
Outdoor retailer REI focused on making BOPIS more flexible by giving customers the option to choose between in-store and curbside pickup throughout the shopping journey. REI’s product pages allow shoppers to see real-time stock levels at their selected location, while the checkout process emphasizes expected pickup times to set clear expectations.
REI also lets their customers choose between in-store pickup and delivery directly on the product page, displaying estimated pickup and delivery times. Additionally, customers can update their store selection if an item is unavailable at the store they initially chose.
Target recognized that some customers were unfamiliar with in-store pickup and created a dedicated landing page explaining how BOPIS works. The page includes a step-by-step guide on selecting pickup at checkout, receiving pickup notifications, and retrieving orders in-store or via curbside pickup.
To encourage additional purchases, Target also integrated personalized product recommendations on the landing page, showing frequently bought items based on the customer’s selected order.
JYSK Canada’s BOPIS implementation offers a shopping process that begins online and leads the customer to their nearest store. Customers are prompted to choose a pickup location through an intuitive store locator that suggests the nearest JYSK store based on their geographic location.
At the store, customers can use the JYSK app to navigate the store layout, locate products, and verify stock availability in real time. If customers choose to shop more during their visit, the app assists in creating a seamless link between online browsing and in-store purchasing, encouraging repeat visits.
Read more about our omnichannel solution for JYSK’s 50+ stores across Canada.
Implementing in-store pickup is a process uniquely tailored to each individual business based on industry, customer needs, and available resources.
While the BOPIS strategy is tailored to each business, our team follows a proven optimization approach to drive growth. scandiweb’s process includes gathering business requirements, designing UX/UI, conducting user testing, and handling full implementation.
scandiweb begins with an alignment session with stakeholders to define business requirements, technical constraints, and the desired BOPIS functionality. If any requirements are missing, additional research is conducted to fill the gaps before moving into UX/UI design and development.
Once the requirements are set, we create high-fidelity UX wireframes that outline the structure, layout, content, features, and key functionalities. These wireframes help identify potential usability issues early, with each of them including notes on expected element behavior, planned extensions, and technical challenges.
We develop the final UI & UX design based on the confirmed wireframes and company brand guidelines. This phase focuses on the visual representation, ensuring a user-friendly and consistent experience across desktop and mobile.
The design phase includes a pattern library of interface elements, finalized layouts, and detailed documentation of intended behavior. Each element is refined to create an intuitive shopping and pickup experience before moving into development.
We test the BOPIS journey on both desktop and mobile to see how real users interact with the design and identify any issues. This helps catch and fix problems before the final rollout.
The results are compiled into an executive summary with key insights like task success completion rates, user behavior patterns, and design feedback. From there, we make any UX/UI adjustments needed to ensure a smoother and more intuitive experience.
Once the wireframes are complete, the support team estimates the scope of work needed to implement BOPIS. After getting approval from stakeholders, the development team moves forward with the build. Once the scope of work has been defined, the development team begins the estimation process and proceeds with implementation.
In today’s modern retail environment, your business should look to bridge the gap between online and in-store experiences. BOPIS is no longer just a convenience—it’s an expectation.
However, making BOPIS work requires more than just offering the service. Retailers need a smooth fulfillment process and customer-friendly experience to deliver on shopping demands. If these elements aren’t properly implemented, BOPIS can quickly become a source of frustration rather than a competitive edge.
Whether you’re implementing BOPIS for the first time or looking to improve an existing system, now is the time to ensure a smooth pickup process for your shoppers. Get BOPIS right today, and your customers will keep choosing your business for years to come.
Looking to increase in-store traffic and customer satisfaction? Schedule a free consultation to explore the necessary steps for seamless BOPIS integration.
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The post Webinar Highlights: Growing Online Sales for Brick-and-Mortar Stores in 2025 appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>Retail is changing fast, and eCommerce is no longer optional for brick-and-mortar stores. But many retailers still struggle to connect online and offline sales, invest in the right digital tools, and get the whole team on board with omnichannel strategies.
We spent the past year talking with retail executives in London, New York, and Sydney, uncovering the biggest roadblocks and solutions that actually work. In our latest webinar, we broke down the top challenges for 2025 and how retailers are tackling them. Here’s what you need to know.
Watch the full webinar in the video above, or read more for key takeaways on the biggest challenges and solutions shaping retail in 2025.
Many retailers can’t deliver a consistent, personalized experience across web, app, and physical stores. Teams run separate campaigns. Offline data is rarely used to refine online tactics. No one has a clear view of all customer touchpoints in one place.
This is common, as only 35% of companies say they’ve nailed omnichannel personalization. That means there’s a significant competitive advantage for those who get unified commerce right.
Give both online and offline teams shared KPIs. If store managers help online sales, reward them. If online promotions drive more store traffic, give them credit. Keep prices and deals the same across channels to avoid confusing shoppers.
Use a Customer Data Platform (CDP) to gather info from Point of Sale (POS), eCommerce, apps, and even live chat, building a complete profile of your shopper.
When data and teams come together, retailers can turn scattered touchpoints into a single conversation. You’ll know who’s browsing online, who’s shopping in stores, and how to speak to each shopper individually, increasing customer engagement and loyalty.
Retailers pour money into digital ads, but struggle to prove if those campaigns actually bring people into stores. Tracking which online channels drive sales is already tough. Adding offline only makes it harder, with scattered data making it nearly impossible to connect online behavior to in-store purchases.
Only 32% of companies have unified online and offline data, and fewer than 3% actually use that data to optimize marketing spend.
Tracking tech helps connect digital ads to in-store behavior. Each option has pros and cons, so choose what fits your needs.
Mobile apps collect more data than websites, and they’re also a powerful way to track in-store shopping. Encourage customers to check in or scan items through the app by offering discounts, loyalty points, or special deals. While this makes shopping more enjoyable for your customer, it also links in-store purchases to their online profiles for more accurate insights.
Centralizing data from POS, eCommerce, and mobile apps is critical—especially in the age of AI, where accurate insights depend on complete datasets.
Consider a Microsoft Fabric implementation to unify and analyze data across channels, paving the way for better targeting and personalization.
If a customer sees an ad online, clicks through to your website, but then visits your store a week later to buy, how do you know what really influenced their decision? Without proper attribution, you’re guessing which channels work and where to invest your budget.
A working offline-to-online attribution system needs three key components:
Bringing these together creates a full-picture model for tracking and optimizing marketing spend. It’s a big project, but starting with a solid data foundation, for example, adopting Microsoft Fabric, is a good first step.
Online-first brands are winning customers with low prices, fast shipping, and effortless checkouts. Meanwhile, many traditional retailers still treat eCommerce as an afterthought, missing major growth opportunities.
To put it in perspective, 64% of shoppers now buy straight from brands, skipping stores entirely. If your digital strategy isn’t a priority, you’re already falling behind.
Without real data on who your customers are and how they shop, you’re just guessing.
Just like a great salesperson, a product page should tell a compelling story and help customers see how the product enhances their life.
Generic marketing no longer works. Shoppers expect brands to know what they want and deliver relevant offers, content, and recommendations.
Some popular SaaS solutions for personalization include Klevu (search, product recommendations, voice search), ConvertFlow (personalized offer quizzes), Popupsmart (lead generation pop-ups for data collection), Algolia (smart bundles, voice search), Nosto (dynamic bundles), Dynamic Yield, and Bloomreach.
Shoppers who feel valued and rewarded will choose you over cheaper competitors, and keep coming back.
Store managers often worry that eCommerce will take revenue away from physical stores. And in many cases, it does, but only when the strategy is flawed.
About 75% of retailers say online sales cut into store revenue, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In truth, a strong omnichannel strategy increases total purchases by giving customers more ways to buy.
This is the essence of the phygital approach—treating physical and digital experiences as one seamless journey rather than competing forces.
Retail executives hesitate to fund digital projects. And for a reason. They want proof that the investment will pay off, and often worry about risk, cost, and disrupting what already works. Strategic innovation must be backed by clear ROI, and the key is to approach it methodically.
Online and offline teams need shared goals. A unified omnichannel strategy keeps everyone focused on total revenue growth instead of protecting their own turf.
Instead of a full rollout, test on a small scale first. A PoC minimizes risk while providing real data on what works before making a major investment.
Measure ROI with A/B testing and real-time analytics to see what drives results. Scale up what works. If something fails, refine and retest.
Keep track of important unified commerce metrics like Customer Retention Rate (CRR), Average Order Value (AOV), and others.
A retailer tested product page improvements to drive conversions:
After successful and rapid testing, the winner from A/B testing delivered a 19% increase in add-to-cart rate and 39% more transactions.
To win in 2025, retailers need to shift from seeing online and offline as separate entities and embrace a truly integrated omnichannel strategy.
To put it another way, retailers that act now to unify their digital and physical experiences will be the ones leading the industry in the years ahead. Will you adapt or fall behind?
Want a strategy that actually works? scandiweb helps retailers connect online and offline, personalize customer experiences with AI, and build a digital roadmap that drives real results. Get in touch with us and let’s talk about your next 3-5 years.
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]]>The post Google Recognizes scandiweb as Premier Partner for 2025 appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>We are excited to announce that scandiweb has been officially recognized as a Google Premier Partner for 2025! This is the highest tier in the Google Partners program, placing us among the top 3% of agencies globally and one of only four companies in Latvia to earn this recognition.
This recognition proves our expertise and ability to drive outstanding results for our clients through Google Ads and performance marketing. It also marks an exciting new chapter for scandiweb, opening up even more opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Earning Google’s highest recognition means you’re working with a team that meets the most rigorous standards for ad performance and strategy. Our top 3% global ranking confirms that we are among the world’s leading digital marketing agencies, dedicated to delivering the best possible results for your business.
Our Premier Partner status is proof of our ability to drive success through Google Ads. We use data-backed strategies, industry best practices, and performance insights to optimize your campaigns for sustainable profitability. Becoming a Google Premier Partner also means we are committed to maintaining this high standard of excellence for our clients well into the future.
As a Premier Partner, we gain early access to Google’s newest offerings, from beta tools to exclusive training opportunities. Partnering with us means your business gets cutting-edge advertising solutions long before they’re widely available. We’ll be working closely with Google experts to fine-tune and maximize your results using the latest AI-powered optimization tools and strategies.
This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our entire team. It represents our hard work and determination to go beyond limits for our clients.
We are incredibly proud of this recognition and excited about the opportunities it brings. With this momentum, we look forward to achieving even greater success for our clients across the globe!
Here’s to an exciting year as a Google Premier Partner!
Want to work with a Google Premier Partner in the top 3% worldwide? Our team is ready to help you get the most out of Google Ads with expert strategies and exclusive insights. Get in touch with us today to explore how we can drive better results for your business!
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]]>The post How Moto Machines Increased Their Social Media Reach by 404% appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>Moto Machines is a US-based eCommerce retailer specializing in high-quality motorcycle accessories. Serving a niche market of motorcycle enthusiasts, they heavily rely on social media to drive website traffic. The retailer noticed a gradual decline in Instagram engagement, eventually leading to an unexpected shadowban that severely impacted their visibility and revenue.
As Moto Machines had already established a long-term partnership with scandiweb on PPC management, they trusted us to help resolve their social media challenges as well. By swiftly identifying the root cause and implementing platform-specific best practices, scandiweb successfully helped Moto Machines recover from the shadowban, resulting in a 38.9% increase in profile visits and a 404% growth in accounts reached.
Moto Machines noticed their Instagram account had steadily declining engagement over several months. Initially subtle, the issues became more evident due to inconsistent posting and the absence of a clear social media strategy. Posts were published irregularly to their 7000 followers, negatively affecting the accounts’ credibility with Instagram’s algorithm.
Eventually, Moto Machine’s account got shadowbanned, severely restricting their visibility. Posts no longer appeared under hashtag searches or on Instagram’s explore page. Moto Machines urgently required expert guidance to overhaul their social media marketing strategy.
We aimed to establish consistent posting and experimented with different content types to identify what resonated most with Moto Machines’ audience and delivered the best results. Here’s how we approached this:
scandiweb immediately recognized that inconsistent posting was negatively impacting Moto Machines’ performance on Instagram. We implemented a structured and predictable posting schedule to address this, signaling that Moto Machines was an active and credible account.
As a critical step in reworking their social media strategy, Moto Machines temporarily suspended the use of hashtags. This targeted action provided the algorithm sufficient time to recalibrate and lift restrictions imposed by the shadowban.
While not standard industry practice, scandiweb proposed an unconventional solution for Moto Machine’s social media problems—memes. This approach significantly increased post views and engagement, especially among users who didn’t previously follow the account.
Finally, scandiweb recognized the importance of authentic audience engagement and helped establish targeted collaborations with relevant industry influencers. These influencer collaborations expanded Moto Machines’ audience, driving higher engagement rates and attracting new followers to their Instagram account.
The strategic measures implemented by scandiweb effectively lifted Moto Machines’ shadowban, quickly restoring their complete Instagram visibility. The most notable results include:
If you’re facing content engagement or audience growth challenges, scandiweb’s social media experts can help. Contact us today to discuss how our team can strengthen your brand’s online presence and deliver tangible results.
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]]>The post Introducing Satoshi: Hyvä’s First Open-Source Theme appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>We’re excited to announce that Hyvä is getting its first open-source theme. Satoshi for Hyvä is here to set a new standard for user experience while maintaining the unparalleled performance of the Hyvä frontend.
Satoshi, already available on Shopify, is coming to Hyvä! We’ve made a production-ready theme, combining conversion-driven UX with the speed and flexibility Hyvä is known for. Available to all Hyvä users, it offers a seamless way to enhance store navigation, interactions, and overall shopping flow without starting from scratch.
View Satoshi theme highlights in action in the video below:
Satoshi prioritizes usability and aesthetics and doesn’t compromise performance. Users can enjoy the smoothest page transitions, intuitive shopping flow, instant loading, and more. Every design choice is backed by research and field tests, ensuring a frictionless shopping journey while keeping merchants in control of their brand’s look and feel.
Also read:
UX never felt this good: Technology behind Satoshi
Satoshi for Hyvä is a big contribution to the community. Developed from real-world experience, it’s designed to help developers and merchants create better eCommerce experiences with less effort. By leveraging tested UX best practices, Satoshi provides a strong foundation for brands looking to transform their online presence while staying within the Hyvä framework.
At scandiweb, we see this as our way of giving back to the community. We’ve tested, failed, tested again, and put the best UX patterns into Satoshi so you don’t have to. And we’re not keeping it to ourselves—Satoshi is open-source because great UX should be for everyone.
Alfreds Genkins
scandiweb’s CTO and Satoshi creator
Alfreds took the stage at Hyvä Developers Paradise 2025 to share the story behind Satoshi. Our presentation resonated with the Hyvä team and community—we had meaningful conversations about Satoshi’s performance and usability, and we’re certain the event strengthened our relationship with Hyvä for future collaborations.
Join the waitlist and be among the first to access Satoshi for Hyvä. You will receive the roadmap announcement, be able to vote for upcoming features and get early access to the theme.
Meanwhile, check out the live demo at hyva.satoshitheme.com.
If you have any questions or need to implement Hyvä first, reach out to us—we’d be happy to help!
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]]>The post What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)? appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>The era of traditional search engine dominance is coming to an end.
Gartner predicts that by 2026, traditional search traffic will decline by 25% as users increasingly turn to AI-driven answer engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity. There are over one billion AI-assisted searches daily, and companies that optimize their content for AI answer engines early will gain an advantage, while others risk falling behind.
ChatGPT recently introduced search operators, allowing AI to perform tasks like filling out forms or making purchases. These capabilities transform AI from merely answering questions to actively engaging with web content. Brands now need content structured not just for clarity but also for actionable AI interactions.
With AI becoming more proactive and capable of directly interacting with websites, one critical question emerges: when users ask for recommendations, will AI recommend your products or your competitors?
Answer engine optimization (AEO) is the process of optimizing your content to rank within AI-driven conversational platforms. Instead of presenting lists of website links, answer engines respond directly to user questions with concise, structured answers pulled from authoritative sources across the web.
AEO works by making your content easily discoverable and understandable for conversational AI. Structured data markup, clear and direct responses to frequently asked questions, and credible external references help AI models accurately extract and present your content.
Unlike traditional SEO, which emphasizes keywords and backlinks to rank higher in search results, AEO prioritizes natural language clarity, structured information, and credibility to ensure AI consistently chooses your answers.
Although search engine traffic is in decline, it is far from dead. Billions of people still use Google for their search queries. On the other hand, many ask voice assistants like Alexa complete questions, and others consult AI chatbots for advice. Using SEO and AEO together means you’re present wherever your audience searches, and users can get the information needed without leaving your site.
Adding structured data like product, review, and FAQ schemas improves how search engines and AI platforms interpret your content. This structured data helps accurately categorize your content, enhancing visibility across multiple search and AI channels.
For SEO, schema markup enriches your results, displaying additional details such as ratings, prices, and answers directly in search listings.
For AEO, structured data ensures AI tools can effectively extract key points, increasing your content’s chances of being chosen in conversational responses.
Clearly structured internal linking through semantic mapping and intuitive navigation boosts your website’s usability and helps engines interpret content relevance and relationships.
For SEO, strategic internal linking boosts your site’s crawlability and distributes page authority efficiently.
For AEO, clear internal links guide AI platforms in finding relevant information quickly, increasing your content’s visibility in AI-generated answers.
Producing conversational, user-focused content aligns your brand naturally with the questions users ask, especially through voice and AI-driven searches.
For SEO, conversational content drives targeted organic traffic by helping your content rank higher for long-tail queries.
For AEO, concise answers optimized for natural language make your content highly relevant for AI-generated snippets, voice results, and zero-click answers.
Acquiring backlinks from reputable websites establishes strong domain authority, significantly boosting your visibility in traditional search rankings.
For SEO, backlinks from authoritative domains directly improve your organic rankings by signaling strong trustworthiness and relevance to search engines.
For AEO, credible backlinks enhance your brand’s authority and recognition, increasing the likelihood that AI platforms will reference your content.
Although SEO and AEO share many common elements, they differ in key aspects. SEO delivers short-term ranking improvements, while AEO builds a sustained presence over time. Additionally, SEO optimizes entire web pages with keyword-driven content, mainly targeting transactional queries. In contrast, AEO prioritizes specific chunks of content optimized for nuanced, conversational, and long-tail queries.
SEO emphasizes indexation, backlinks, and site speed. On the other hand, AEO primarily focuses on structured data and clear formatting. Lastly, backlinks play a crucial role in SEO rankings but are less influential in AEO, where content authority carries greater weight.
SEO broadly addresses general user intents, while AEO specifically anticipates detailed and multi-layered user questions. Furthermore, SEO provides clear, measurable rankings via tools and analytics, while AEO visibility is dynamic and harder to quantify.
Optimizing your content for answer engines involves content structuring, technical optimization, and external credibility. Here’s how to address each aspect to boost your brand’s visibility in AI-generated responses.
Start by identifying key topics and questions directly from customer queries. Next, determine who the top-performing competitors are and adjust your approach accordingly. This involves optimizing your content formats—such as FAQs, comparisons, and how-to guides—to align closely with what AI engines favor.
Identifying topics, markets, and languages through search query data unifies your SEO and AEO strategies. Using data from Google or Bing helps you pinpoint high-value questions and conversational queries.
However, answer engines don’t generate answers out of the blue. Instead, they rely on a combination of signals to decide which ones to mention. The graphic below illustrates these signals and how they influence brand visibility in AI results.
Make your site AI-ready with clear headings, structured tables, FAQs, and internal links. Ensure your site loads quickly, works well on mobile devices, includes schema markup, and is easily crawlable by AI engines. Create concise, 40 to 60-word answers tailored specifically for AI snippets, and build dedicated resourceful pages like “Top Questions About [Your Product]” and comparative guides.
Collaborate with influencers, niche blogs, and relevant platforms through guest posts and data sharing to increase your reach. Secure PR partnerships to earn placements in reputable media outlets and distribute unique research and comparative content to get backlinks and citations. Lastly, amplify your content by actively sharing it on platforms such as LinkedIn and Quora.
Constantly refine your AEO strategy by monitoring key metrics and identifying gaps in AI coverage—topics and questions where your brand isn’t currently appearing in AI-generated answers. Prioritize your best-performing tactics and continually adapt to evolving AI search trends.
One significant challenge is the continuous evolution of conversational AI models. New features and platforms launch frequently—ChatGPT alone introduces updates almost weekly. A strategy effective today may quickly become obsolete tomorrow, and brands need agile processes to swiftly respond to the newest updates.
Unlike traditional SEO, the exact factors influencing AI-driven search aren’t transparent. Crafting concise, informative, and conversationally natural answers requires expertise beyond traditional keyword optimization. Brands accustomed to traditional SEO tactics may struggle to write content optimized for AI queries.
Without clear guidelines, companies often resort to trial-and-error, spreading resources across multiple tactics without understanding which ones contribute to visibility. This shotgun approach can result in wasted effort and resources, as it becomes difficult to identify which tactics genuinely impact AI visibility.
Robust schema markup is essential to AEO, but many brands lack comprehensive structured data. Implementing structured data typically requires dedicated technical resources or support from experienced developers. Without these resources, brands struggle to provide AI engines with clear, structured content for accurate recommendations.
Securing backlinks and mentions from trusted outlets requires focused PR activities, strategic partnerships, and targeted outreach. Companies that lack the ability and resources to establish these mentions will find it difficult to be visible within AI-generated responses.
Monitoring how frequently and positively your brand is mentioned by AI compared to competitors helps you measure your position within the industry. Tracking these mentions allows you to see exactly where you stand—both in the frequency of mentions and sentiment—relative to your competition.
Analyzing your website traffic through tools like Google Analytics helps identify visits originating from AI-generated responses. By tracking referral sources and examining user engagement from these visits, you can measure how well your AEO strategy performs and adjust accordingly.
scandiweb’s AEO implementation starts with a holistic audit covering keyword analysis, competitor visibility, and brand sentiment within AI-driven search results. This audit identifies your brand’s position across conversational AI platforms.
Next, scandiweb creates a detailed strategy and action plan tailored to your market opportunities and specific KPIs. Optimization prioritizes low-hanging fruits, such as enhancing existing pages with structured content, improved layouts, and relevant schema markup to increase immediate visibility.
After initial optimizations, scandiweb’s monthly program focuses on sustained growth. This includes building credibility by securing backlinks from authoritative sources and producing conversational, AI-optimized content aligned with market trends and user intent.
Also read:
Answer engine optimization represents a strategic shift in digital marketing. With AI increasingly guiding consumer interactions, brands must proactively optimize content for conversational AI platforms to maintain visibility and drive consistent referral traffic. Successfully navigating AEO requires adaptability and consistent optimization guided by AI-specific metrics.
Ready to lead in AI search? Contact us for a tailored AEO solution built to meet your business goals.
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The post PCI DSS SAQ A 2025 Updates: What eCommerce Merchants Need to Know appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI DSS) compliance process has been simplified for eCommerce merchants using iFrames or Redirects. But if your checkout doesn’t rely on these processing methods, you’ll need to adjust before March 31, 2025.
The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) updated the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) A on January 30, 2025. SAQ A applies only to merchants who fully outsource payment processing to PCI-compliant providers, meaning they do not store, process, or transmit cardholder data.
While PCI DSS 4.0.1 remains unchanged, the SAQ A requirements have been modified. Two security controls, Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1, have been removed. Previously, these required merchants to monitor third-party scripts on their checkout pages and detect unauthorized modifications to the payment form. Instead of enforcing these controls, the PCI SSC has introduced a new eligibility criterion: merchants must now confirm that their site is not vulnerable to script-based attacks.
This change eliminates complex and costly monitoring requirements while still holding merchants accountable for their website security. For many SAQ A merchants, compliance will now be faster and easier since they no longer need to track and validate external scripts on their payment pages.|
The PCI SSC removed requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1 because enforcing them created unnecessary complexity and costs for SAQ A merchants. Tracking third-party scripts is difficult and time-consuming, as there are no automated solutions to simplify it.
Another reason for the change is that SAQ A merchants already minimize security risks by outsourcing payment processing. When an iFrame or Redirect is used, all payment data is handled by a PCI-compliant third party, meaning sensitive information never touches the merchant’s servers. Since these businesses do not store, process, or transmit cardholder data, enforcing constant script monitoring on their checkout pages was deemed excessive.
The SAQ A update affects two main groups of merchants: those who will benefit from the changes and those who must take action before March 31, 2025, to remain compliant.
Merchants who use iFrames or Redirects for payment processing will find compliance simpler. They no longer need to implement script integrity monitoring on their checkout pages, making SAQ A validation easier and requiring fewer technical resources and manual oversight.
However, merchants who do not use iFrames or Redirects will lose their eligibility for SAQ A. If their checkout form directly interacts with payment data before sending it to a third-party provider, they must transition to a more stringent SAQ type.
SAQ A-EP applies to merchants who manage their checkout page but do not store cardholder data, requiring security measures like vulnerability scans and penetration testing. SAQ D, however, applies to businesses that store, process, or transmit payment card data, and require full PCI DSS compliance.
Failure to transition to the correct SAQ type by the end of March could result in non-compliance, higher processing fees, potential fines, or even the loss of the ability to process online payments.
ReadyMage is a fully managed Magento hosting solution developed by scandiweb that provides a streamlined and secure environment for eCommerce stores. It simplifies Magento deployment, hosting, and security, ensuring merchants have a PCI-compliant infrastructure while maintaining high performance. Since ReadyMage merchants often integrate with third-party payment providers, the recent PCI DSS SAQ A updates may impact their compliance process.
ReadyMage merchants using iFrames or Redirects now have a simplified SAQ A validation process, as script monitoring is no longer required. However, for merchants who do not use these methods, compliance will become more complex, requiring a transition to SAQ A-EP or SAQ D. This means implementing new security controls and ensuring their infrastructure meets higher PCI DSS standards.
The first step is to review your payment processing setup. If your checkout relies on iFrames or Redirects, your SAQ A validation will remain simple, and no additional action is required. However, if your checkout does not use these methods, you must prepare for a more complex compliance process.
Merchants should also ensure their websites are secure against script-based threats. This includes updating their Magento store and third-party integrations, using only trusted scripts, and implementing security measures such as Content Security Policies (CSPs) and security headers. These steps will help reduce the risk of malicious scripts compromising the checkout page.
Finally, merchants must update their SAQ A documentation for 2025 assessments. Those moving to SAQ A-EP or SAQ D should work with PCI compliance experts to ensure a smooth transition without disruptions to their payment processing.
Our team is ready to assist if you need guidance on SAQ A eligibility, a compliance-friendly payment setup, or security enhancements. Contact us today to ensure your store is fully compliant and ready for the 2025 PCI DSS changes.
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]]>The post PPC Case Study: Costs Cut in Half During Winter Sales appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>Kanuk is a luxury outerwear brand based in Montreal known for its premium coats and jackets designed to withstand Canada’s severe winters. Since the 1970s, Kanuk has evolved from a local favorite into a globally recognized name in luxury cold-weather apparel.
The company had previously paused advertising efforts due to a recent acquisition. However, they wanted to resume campaigns by mid-November, in time for the critical winter season. This timing was strategically set to align with peak shopping periods, including major sales events crucial for maximizing visibility and sales.
Expectations
The primary goal was to jump-start the paused campaigns to drive significant revenue increases, capitalizing on the high consumer buying intent during the winter season. Kanuk aimed to optimize the advertising budget, ensuring that each dollar spent contributed to substantial returns.
Moving away from intuition-based decisions, Kanuk needed a comprehensive, data-informed PPC campaign strategy. The main KPIs to track were revenue, spend, and ROAS.
Taking over Kanuk’s advertising account in mid-November, our team was immediately tasked with strategizing and launching effective ad campaigns. With a critical shopping period fast approaching, we focused our efforts on Meta and Google Ads. We had to capitalize on the high-demand period beginning with Black Friday and extending through Christmas and Boxing Day—key sales events in Kanuk’s marketing calendar.
Understanding that Kanuk’s identity is deeply intertwined with its Montréal heritage, we adopted a localized approach to our campaigns. We developed advertising content in both English and French to resonate with the local audience. Additionally, we targeted specific regional locations based on language preferences, optimizing our reach and impact where it mattered most.
We timed our campaign launch to align with pivotal retail events, starting with Black Friday promotions. This initial push was meant to draw immediate sales and build momentum leading into the December holiday season.
We then seamlessly transitioned into Christmas and Boxing Day promotions, maintaining engagement and capitalizing on continued consumer shopping behaviors. The phased approach allowed us to keep visibility and interest in Kanuk’s products throughout the entire peak season, maximizing opportunities for engagement and sales during the busiest shopping time of the year.
The results from both platforms showed significant increases in average order value and revenue with cost reductions. Our campaigns maximized visibility and profitability during the most crucial sales quarter of the year. Here’s a detailed breakdown of November-December 2024 results compared to the same period in 2023.
Google Ads
Meta Ads
If you need a fail-proof strategy for your most crucial ad campaigns, our PPC experts are here to help. Reach out today for a free consultation.
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]]>The post App Builder for Adobe Commerce: A Practical Review appeared first on scandiweb.
]]>Adobe App Builder is a cloud-based framework designed to extend and integrate Adobe Commerce (Magento) with external systems like CRMs, ERPs, and custom databases. It acts as a middleware layer, enabling seamless data exchange without modifying Magento’s core code.
Think of it as a translator—it ensures Magento and other systems “speak the same language” while giving developers control over what data is exchanged and how it’s structured.
App Builder simplifies how businesses connect Magento with external platforms. It allows developers to automate workflows, like updating a CRM when an order is placed, and customize data exchanges, such as reformatting currency or date formats.
One of its key benefits is reducing the need for full Magento deployments for minor changes, which speeds up iteration. For example, when a customer completes a purchase, App Builder can automatically send their email and order total to a loyalty program or trigger a restock alert in a warehouse system.
App Builder includes Magento-native modules that allow developers to configure observer events, extend them with custom data, and select specific object fields to send instead of transmitting entire data objects. This reduces data traffic and improves performance, but more complex workflows, such as multi-warehouse inventory synchronization, require custom coding.
One of App Builder’s strongest advantages is the ability to modify data validation, transformation, and integration processes without a full Magento deployment. This speeds up iterative improvements and reduces downtime. However, changes to Magento’s API logic or access to additional data still require deployments.
App Builder provides a queueing system and logging tools to track event processing and troubleshoot issues. Logging must be manually triggered via code, which can be easily overlooked during development.
As part of Adobe’s cloud infrastructure, App Builder automatically handles scalability and uptime, reducing the need for server management. It integrates smoothly with Adobe Experience Cloud but may feel limiting for teams working with non-Adobe tools.
While App Builder presents a compelling approach to handling integrations, its design focuses on event-driven, asynchronous workflows. Depending on project needs, this approach has advantages and some considerations.
App Builder processes data asynchronously, meaning it works on an event-triggered basis rather than in real time. This is efficient for post-purchase updates (e.g., loyalty points, CRM syncs) but less ideal for real-time processes like live inventory checks, as there’s usually a ~1-minute delay between Magento events and App Builder processing.
App Builder does not natively support bulk operations. Syncing large datasets, such as 10,000+ product updates, requires custom batch jobs. This makes it less practical for high-volume data exchanges where efficiency is critical.
App Builder works well for event-driven, incremental updates, ensuring that small changes can be processed efficiently without unnecessary data transfers. However, it does not natively support bulk operations, meaning syncing large datasets such as 10,000+ product updates requires custom batch jobs. While this allows flexibility in structuring data transfers, it adds complexity for businesses handling high-volume data exchanges where processing speed is a priority.
Out-of-the-box connectors cover basic integrations like order and customer data exchanges. However, more advanced workflows, such as inventory synchronization, often require additional development. For instance, the Dynamics 365 connector uses separate APIs for customer creation and updates, meaning developers may need to unify them manually.
App Builder supports GitHub Actions for CI/CD, but the pipeline’s flexibility is limited. Platform constraints can also make local development and multi-developer collaboration challenging. While teams can reuse integration logic across projects, every implementation still requires a level of adaptation.
App Builder is best suited for Magento projects that rely on event-driven automation and require flexible middleware without heavy infrastructure management. It’s a good choice for:
However, additional custom development is often required for high-volume data exchanges, real-time processing, or complex transformations. With prebuilt connectors, validation tools, and bulk processing capabilities, App Builder could evolve into a more robust integration platform.
Adobe App Builder offers a flexible way to extend Adobe Commerce without modifying its core. It simplifies event-driven middleware logic and reduces deployment dependencies, making it a useful tool for businesses that need lightweight, scalable integrations.
For teams already familiar with middleware development and integration frameworks, App Builder provides a solid foundation upon which to build, with the added benefit of Adobe’s cloud infrastructure handling deployment and scaling.
That said, custom development is still required for many real-world use cases. Teams that process large amounts of data or provide real-time updates should carefully assess whether App Builder meets their needs.
Would we recommend it? For the right use case—yes. Just be prepared to build some parts yourself.
Not sure if Adobe App Builder is the right solution for your needs? Reach out to us for a personalized consultation with our eCommerce experts, and let’s find the best approach for your business.
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