Magento 2: Enhancing Your Store with Breadcrumbs and SEO Extensions

In the competitive world of e-commerce, ensuring your Magento 2 store is optimized for both user experience and search engine visibility is paramount. Two critical elements in achieving this are the effective use of breadcrumbs and the implementation of robust SEO extensions. This article will explore how to add breadcrumbs to custom pages, identify the best SEO extension for Magento 2, highlight the best SEO plugin for Magento, and provide a detailed guide on configuring and displaying breadcrumbs on product pages.

Adding Breadcrumbs to Custom Pages in Magento 2

Breadcrumbs are an essential navigational aid that helps users understand their location within your site and improves your site’s SEO by providing clear, hierarchical navigation paths. Here’s how to add breadcrumbs to custom pages in Magento 2:

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Create a Custom Page Layout:
   • Navigate to Content > Pages in the Magento admin panel.
   • Select the custom page where you want to add breadcrumbs.
   • In the “Design” tab, choose a layout that supports breadcrumbs, such as 1 column or 2 columns with left/right bar.
2. Edit the Layout XML:
   • Add the following XML code to the “Layout Update XML” section:xml<referenceBlock name=”breadcrumbs”> <action method=”addCrumb”> <argument name=”crumbName” xsi:type=”string”>home</argument> <argument name=”crumbInfo” xsi:type=”array”> <item name=”title” xsi:type=”string”>Home</item> <item name=”link” xsi:type=”string”>{{baseUrl}}</item> </argument> </action> <action method=”addCrumb”> <argument name=”crumbName” xsi:type=”string”>custom</argument> <argument name=”crumbInfo” xsi:type=”array”> <item name=”title” xsi:type=”string”>Custom Page</item> <item name=”link” xsi:type=”string”>{{baseUrl}}custom-page</item> </argument> </action> </referenceBlock>
3. Save and Refresh:
   • Save the changes and clear the cache.
   • Visit the custom page to ensure the breadcrumbs are displayed correctly.

Best SEO Extension for Magento 2

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic to your Magento 2 store. The right SEO extension can make a significant difference. Here are some of the best SEO extensions for Magento 2:

1. Mageplaza SEO

Mageplaza SEO is a comprehensive solution that covers all aspects of SEO for Magento 2. It includes features like advanced metadata templates, rich snippets, canonical URLs, and XML sitemap generation.

2. Amasty SEO Toolkit

Amasty SEO Toolkit is another powerful extension that provides a wide range of SEO tools, including meta tags templates, breadcrumbs, rich snippets, and advanced sitemap management.

3. Mirasvit SEO Suite

Mirasvit SEO Suite offers an all-in-one SEO package with features such as metadata optimization, structured data, canonical tags, and advanced pagination.

Best SEO Plugin for Magento

Selecting the right SEO plugin can significantly enhance your Magento store’s visibility on search engines. Here are the best SEO plugins for Magento:

1. Yoast SEO for Magento

Yoast SEO is well-known in the WordPress community and offers a Magento version that brings its powerful SEO features to the platform. It includes XML sitemaps, breadcrumbs, and a robust content analysis tool.

2. SEO Suite Ultimate by Mageworx

SEO Suite Ultimate is a premium plugin that provides extensive SEO tools, including advanced meta tag management, SEO reports, and structured data.

3. SEO Pro by FME

SEO Pro by FME is a versatile plugin that enhances your Magento store’s SEO with features like dynamic metadata, SEO-friendly URLs, and rich snippets.

Showing Full Breadcrumbs on Product Pages in Magento 2

Displaying full breadcrumbs on product pages enhances user navigation and improves SEO. Here’s how to show full breadcrumbs on product pages in Magento 2:

Configuration Steps:

1. Enable Breadcrumbs:
   • Go to Stores > Configuration > Catalog > Catalog > Breadcrumbs.
   • Set “Enable Breadcrumbs” to “Yes”.
2. Customize Breadcrumbs Display:
   • If you need to customize how breadcrumbs appear, you may need to edit the catalog_product_view.xml file located in your theme’s layout directory.
   • Add or modify the breadcrumbs block:xml<referenceBlock name=”breadcrumbs” remove=”false”/>
3. Check Frontend:
   • Clear the cache and check the product pages on the frontend to ensure the full breadcrumbs are displayed.

Magento 2 Breadcrumbs Settings

Configuring breadcrumbs correctly can improve both navigation and SEO. Here are the key Magento 2 breadcrumbs settings you need to know:

Breadcrumbs Configuration:

1. Global Configuration:
   • Navigate to Stores > Configuration > General > Web > Default Pages.
   • Ensure “Show Breadcrumbs” is set to “Yes”.
2. Category and Product Settings:
   • For categories, go to Catalog > Categories, select a category, and ensure “Include in Navigation Menu” is set to “Yes”.
   • For products, go to Catalog > Products, select a product, and ensure it is assigned to the correct categories.
3. Custom Layout Updates:
   • Use XML layout updates to customize breadcrumbs for specific pages or templates as needed.

Conclusion

Enhancing your Magento 2 store with effective breadcrumbs and SEO extensions is vital for improving user experience and search engine rankings. By following the steps and recommendations outlined in this article, you can ensure your store is well-optimized for both navigation and SEO.