Goal: Update the SEO meta titles and descriptions for your products to improve search engine optimization and drive more organic traffic without manually editing each product individually.
Prerequisites:
You have Altera installed on your Shopify store
Products already created in your Shopify store
Basic understanding of SEO meta titles and descriptions
Step 1 - Export Your Products
In Altera, go to Export and select Products.
In the field selection, choose only:
General category (for the ID and Title fields)
Metafields and SEO category (for the SEO metafields)
Click Export to download your products data.
Step 2 - Prepare Your Spreadsheet
Open the downloaded spreadsheet and delete all columns except:
ID column (required to identify which product to update)
Metafield: title_tag [single_line_text_field] column (for SEO meta titles)
Metafield: description_tag [single_line_text_field] column (for SEO meta descriptions)
Step 3 - Fill in Your SEO Values
For each product, enter your desired SEO values:
Meta titles: Keep under 70 characters for optimal search engine display
Meta descriptions: Keep under 160 characters for optimal search engine display
Leave any cells blank for products where you don't want to change the existing SEO values.
Step 4 - Import Your Updated Data
Return to Altera and go to Import. Upload your modified spreadsheet and select Products.
Review the import preview and click Run Import to update your products' SEO data.
Outcome
Your products now have updated SEO meta titles and descriptions that will appear in search engine results. You can verify the changes by viewing your products in the Shopify admin or checking the source code of your product pages.
Important Notes
Shopify's SEO Metafield Behavior:
Shopify stores SEO meta titles and descriptions as metafields, not as direct product properties
If a meta title exactly matches the product title, Shopify will show it as blank in exports. This allows the SEO title to automatically update when you change the product title
The same behavior applies to meta descriptions that match the product description
If you see blank SEO columns in your export but know you have SEO values set, this is likely why
Example Spreadsheet Format
ID | Metafield: title_tag [single_line_text_field] | Metafield: description_tag [single_line_text_field] |
789456 | Premium Wireless Headphones - Noise Cancelling | Experience crystal-clear audio with our premium wireless headphones featuring noise cancelling technology. |
123789 | Comfortable cotton t-shirt perfect for everyday wear. Available in multiple colors and sizes. | |
456123 | Eco-Friendly Water Bottle - BPA Free | Stay hydrated sustainably with our eco-friendly, BPA-free water bottle made from recycled materials. |