Week 2: Shopify Setup + SEO Basics
If Week 1 was dreaming and planning, Week 2 was me rolling up my sleeves and digging into the less glamorous stuff: setting up Shopify, researching SEO, and trying not to fall asleep during YouTube tutorials. Spoiler: this week was all about foundation, not decoration.
What I Did This Week
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Set up my Shopify store → Clicked through themes, menus, and settings to make sure my site at least functioned.
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Created a free Google Keyword Planner account → So I could start finding solid Keywords for SEO.
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Watched a LOT of YouTube → Because let’s be real, “YouTube University” is free and way less scammy than those $9.99 “secret to success” courses.
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Learned about SEO → Which sounds intimidating but is basically just making sure Google can understand what your store is about.
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Researched keywords → Started a list of phrases people actually search for (like “neutral fall outfit” instead of just “top”).
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Input keywords into my store → Not in a spammy way, just sprinkling them naturally into navigation, collection titles, and descriptions.
The Hardest Part for Me
Honestly? This was the hardest part so far.
Even though Shopify is “for beginners,” it was still confusing, overwhelming, and made me feel like I was learning a whole new language. I had to figure out where everything was, how menus work, and how to actually apply the keywords I’d just researched.
My advice? Push through. Don’t let the overwhelm stop you. Take breaks, re-watch tutorials, Google and Chatgpt everything you don’t understand, and just keep moving. The more time you spend clicking around, the more it starts to make sense
SEO for Absolute Beginners
SEO = Search Engine Optimization.
Think of it like this: if you had a lemonade stand with no sign, no one would know what you’re selling. SEO is your sign. Instead of just “Stand,” your sign says: “Ice Cold Lemonade – $1.” Suddenly, people get it.
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Keywords → The words people type into Google (e.g., “fall plaid top”).
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Titles → Instead of “Shirt,” use “Neutral Beige Tiered Blouse.”
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Descriptions → Work those keywords in naturally: “Perfect neutral blouse for casual fall outfits.”
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Navigation/Collections → Instead of “Clothes,” use “Fall Outfits” or “Plaid Tops.”
That’s SEO in a nutshell — you’re basically telling Google: “Hey, this is what I sell, send people here when they search for it.”
My Favorite SEO ResourceIf you want to dig deeper into SEO beyond what I cover here, I recommend the book SEO 2025 by Adam Clark. It breaks everything down in plain English, no gatekeeping, no $500 ‘secrets course.
✅ Week 2 Checklist
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Create your Shopify account
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Explore your theme + navigation basics
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Create a free Google account (Search Console + Analytics)
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Research beginner-friendly SEO tips (YouTube helps a lot)
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Make a list of starter keywords for your niche
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Add keywords into your navigation, collection titles, and descriptions naturally
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Don’t stress about design yet — pretty comes later, this week is about foundation
Final Thoughts
This week wasn’t “fun” — no new products, no cute logos, no Instagram-worthy website yet. But it’s necessary. You can’t decorate a house without first laying the bricks.
💬 Thanks for following along with me in Week 2! If you have questions about Shopify setup or SEO basics, drop a comment below. And don’t worry — Week 3 will finally get into the fun side of marketing.
Shop My Store Viola Marie @: www.shopviolamarie.com
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