3 min read seo tips

Shopify SEO vs Social Media: Where Should You Focus First?

Shopify SEO vs Social Media: Where Should You Focus First?
Photo by Growtika / Unsplash

Trying to grow your Shopify store? You're likely wondering whether to focus on SEO or social media to get more traffic and sales.
Both can drive results — but if you're just getting started, it's important to understand how they work and which one gives you the best return early on.

In this post, we’ll explain the difference between Shopify SEO and social media marketing, the pros and cons of each, and how to decide where to start based on your business goals.

What Is Shopify SEO?

Shopify SEO refers to optimizing your store to appear in search engine results like Google. This includes:

  • Writing product descriptions with relevant keywords
  • Optimizing meta titles and descriptions
  • Creating blog content that answers customer questions
  • Improving site speed and mobile usability
  • Earning backlinks from trusted websites

When done well, SEO brings free, consistent traffic to your store from people who are already searching for your products.

Pros of SEO for Shopify

✅ Long-term results
✅ Attracts high-intent traffic (people who are already searching)
✅ Improves trust and credibility
✅ Scales well over time

Cons of SEO for Shopify

❌ Takes time to see results (3–6 months or more)
❌ Requires ongoing content creation and optimization
❌ Technical setup can be complex for beginners

What Is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing involves using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook to promote your products.

This can include:

  • Posting product photos and videos
  • Running influencer or UGC (User-Generated Content) campaigns
  • Using hashtags to increase reach
  • Creating Stories, Reels, and Pins
  • Engaging with your audience in comments or DMs

Pros of Social Media for Shopify

✅ Faster visibility and feedback
✅ Great for visual products (like fashion or home decor)
✅ Helps build brand personality and community
✅ Easier to go viral or ride trends

Cons of Social Media for Shopify

❌ Requires frequent posting and engagement
❌ Algorithms can be unpredictable
❌ Harder to reach new people without paid ads
❌ Traffic may be lower intent compared to search

Shopify SEO vs Social Media: Which Should You Focus on First?

Start with Shopify SEO if:

  • Your store is new and you want to build a foundation for long-term growth
  • You sell products that people actively search for (e.g. “vegan skincare” or “dog beds”)
  • You have limited time and can commit to writing 1–2 blog posts per month
  • You want free traffic over time without depending on ads

Start with Social Media if:

  • Your products are visual, trendy, or impulse buys
  • You already have an audience on platforms like Instagram or TikTok
  • You're good at creating engaging visuals or videos
  • You want to build brand awareness quickly and interact with your audience directly

Best Strategy: Combine Both

If possible, build both channels in parallel — even if one is a lighter effort.

For example:

  • Post 3 times per week on Instagram while also publishing 2 SEO blog posts per month
  • Use Pinterest to drive traffic while optimizing your product pages for search
  • Repurpose blog content into Instagram carousels, Stories, or Reels

This way, you get the long-term benefits of SEO and the short-term engagement of social media.

Final Thoughts: SEO vs Social for Shopify

If you're just starting out, start where you’re strongest — whether that’s writing helpful blog posts or creating fun product videos.

Both SEO and social media work. The key is consistency.

Need help planning what to post or write?
Try Brevue — your growth assistant built just for Shopify stores.
We help you plan, create, and optimize content that actually drives sales.

FAQs

Is SEO better than social media for eCommerce?
SEO tends to bring higher-intent traffic, but social media can build awareness and engagement faster. The best results often come from using both.

How long does Shopify SEO take to work?
It usually takes 3 to 6 months to see meaningful results, depending on competition and content quality.

Do I need to post daily on social media?
No. Consistency matters more than frequency. Even 3–4 quality posts per week can drive results if they’re strategic.

What’s the easiest way to start with Shopify SEO?
Start by optimizing product titles, writing detailed descriptions, and publishing helpful blog content around your niche.