User:Tosaha/SEO Shopping Cart Classification System

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The SEO Shopping Cart Classification System is an e-commerce platform categorization system which assigns a classification code to shopping cart solutions. The typology was devised by Brian Rotsztein in 2005 to be used as a quicker way for businesses to gauge the search engine friendliness of any given shopping cart. The system is most often used by web developers and business professionals to choose a suitable e-commerce option and to eliminate platforms that may not provide sufficient storefront Internet visibility, as computed by search engine algorithms.

History

The SEO Shopping Cart Classification System was devised at a time when there was an explosion of e-commerce solutions and the number of options made choosing a shopping cart software or hosted platform difficult to do. This was especially true when it came to analyzing search engine optimization (SEO) options and elements. Using the system was the only way to judge their usability and measure the potential effectiveness of their SEO integration. It required not only a verification of the options provided but also an analysis of how those options were implemented.

This was a tedious process for website developers, search engine optimizers, and business professionals since it required a lot of time to learn and assess its potential as a revenue-generating platform. With no guarantee that a particular software choice would be suitable, this process often led to hasty recommendations or intimidated web programmers. A classification system for online shopping carts was needed to be used as a guide toward the careful selection of a usable, search engine friendly e-commerce solution.

Originally this classification method was prepared for the visitors of SEOShoppingCarts.com but over time, being the only system of its kind, it eventually became a reference tool for its intended audience. The system has been quoted and used by web designers and developers since its inception.

Classification System

The classification system divides online shopping carts, both software and hosted solutions, into three defined Types. Within each type, there is a quantitative and qualitative aspect. In order to fit into the Type 1 category, a shopping cart must possess all of the features needed for SEO-friendliness but the extent to which a user can implement the technique will vary. For example, the ability to write a custom URL can be a powerful option but if the cart adds extra characters, folders, or words into it, that aspect is considered to be partially fulfilled since there is a limitation.

Type 1	Shopping carts with a Type 1 classification are considered near-complete to completely optimizable, a range provided since several carts exist which are SEO-friendly. They have relatively little room for improvement as they have the requisite aspects by default (or with minor customization). This type is considered ideal for most situations where SEO is important since carts of this type incorporate important features sought after by search engine optimizers. These shopping carts are ideal for developers and business professionals looking to attract leads through increased online visibility.
Type 2	E-commerce platforms that fall into the Type 2 category are middle-of-the-road options. They offer several customizable SEO elements, usually the standard meta tags and a few additional options, but are lacking either in intuitiveness, flexibility or scope. Shopping carts with this classification are useful to those looking for some SEO of their virtual storefront but are not overly concerned with optimization. Often Type 2 carts work well in conjunction with online or offline advertising.
Type 3	The third type of classification is the Type 3 shopping cart. These solutions either offer no SEO whatsoever, support outdated techniques, or provide the strict minimum in optimization options. Often, these shopping carts are also lacking in overall flexibility and customizability. While useful in some situations, for the generation of organic leads these solutions should be strictly avoided. These Types refer to the version of any given shopping cart at the time of evaluation and therefore a particular brand of shopping cart may have multiple versions of their solutions which fall under varying classifications.

Adaptability

The system was well thoght-out in the sense that it can be adapted to on-going changes in search engine ranking algorithms. If a practice becomes dated, it may be dropped from the list and a Type 2 shopping cart can become a Type 1, and vice cersa.

Limitation

Since there is no absolute agreement about all important SEO-related features that should go into on-site SEO and the emphasis of each varies over time as search engines adjust their ranking algorithms, the classification system necessarily has a slight element of an arbitrary classification. Nonetheless, it is useful as a decision making tool since it covers the most commonly agreed-upon factors.

External Links

SEO Shopping Carts – Original SEO Shopping Cart Classification System
SEO Comparison Chart - Example of Use