SEO Shaman: unique pages for filters and search. With meta tags, SEO-friendly URLs, and breadcrumbs

What this solution does

The SEO Shaman module is designed to increase traffic to online stores, interactive catalogs, and other websites by creating optimized landing pages based on filters and search queries. The tool allows flexible customization of the layout and structure of results pages, distinguishing them from standard catalog section templates. Functionality includes adding custom properties and displaying their values in any part of the template via components. This enables the creation of attractive pages with high conversion rates that support comprehensive search engine optimization.

The Profi SEO Shaman module enables rapid adaptation of filter and search result pages for search engines. It allows creating unique meta tags (title, description, keywords) and H1 headings in two clicks. The tool supports indexing configuration via the robots meta tag, management of canonical pages, and automatic 301 redirects when URLs change.

Features include generating human-readable URLs instead of long filter parameter strings, adding pages to the sitemap.xml file, and configuring ignore rules for GET parameters (such as utm tags) used in analytics. Custom properties like text or images can be inserted into templates via a component. The module also provides import and export of SEO settings in CSV format and flexible editing of the breadcrumb navigation chain.

The 'SEO Shaman' module automatically populates fields for a new SEO page using values from the last saved page. It supports copying existing pages. A separate module, 'Quick SEO Links', is used to display blocks of links to SEO pages (for example, above product listings).

The module provides programming events for integration. The OnBeforeSetPageProperties(&$arFields, $arParams) event is triggered before the module sets metadata and other page properties; it allows canceling the operation or modifying data before the properties are saved. The OnAfterSetPageProperties($arFields, $arParams) event fires after the module has set metadata and other properties, enabling additional actions to be performed.

While the module allows manual configuration for individual pages, an extended module named 'Smart Filter SEO Auto-generator: meta, sitemap, breadcrumbs, and internal linking' is available to automate the process for multiple smart filter pages.

The module supports importing and exporting SEO settings to CSV files, allowing part of the tasks to be automated using spreadsheet editors.

The core task of search engine optimization is to provide the user with the most accurate and complete answer to their query. To achieve this, the landing page must be relevant to the query and fully satisfy the visitor's needs. The more precisely a page answers a query, the higher its position in search results and the more organic traffic the site receives.

For example, in an online store selling women's clothing, the Dresses category may include filters for size, color, and style. The module generates unique pages for each filter combination, ensuring correct meta tags, clean URLs (SEO-friendly slugs), and breadcrumb navigation.

Every project relies on its own semantic core—a set of search queries and keywords that define its promotion strategy. When a catalog contains items with varying attributes, such as dresses in different sizes, users search for specific options via search engines. Ranking algorithms prioritize pages that most accurately match user intent.

If a general category page, such as 'Dresses,' appears in search results, visitors will see the entire inventory at once. They must manually filter for the desired size, which often leads to disengagement. Many users fail to locate or understand how to use built-in filters and simply leave the site. Search engines record these behaviors: if a user cannot find what they need and returns to the search results, the site's ranking drops due to low relevance.

SEO Shaman: generation of unique pages via filters and search with meta tags, SEO-friendly URLs, and breadcrumbs.

The primary task of an SEO specialist is to select relevant query groups from the semantic core and create highly targeted landing pages for them.

Alternative approach: subcategories.

For instance, within the 'Dresses' category, one could create a subcategory like 'Size 42 Dresses'. However, this method has drawbacks: overlapping items across categories lead to content duplication, which negatively impacts search rankings. Additionally, with a large volume of diverse queries (e.g., 'plus size dresses'), the catalog hierarchy becomes overly complex.

Solution: SEO Shaman.

This module is essential for projects requiring comprehensive search engine optimization. With filters based on specific properties, it enables the creation of unique pages that precisely match user queries without overloading the system. The appearance of these pages can be distinguished from standard catalog sections by utilizing custom properties and rendering their values via the component.

Advantages of SEO Shaman:

Generation of unique pages.

Search engines can identify pages generated by filters, but without the SEO Shaman module, such pages lack unique meta tags (title, description, keywords, canonical), headings, and detailed descriptions. The absence of this data makes it difficult for search mechanisms to determine the specific content of a page, which otherwise differs from its parent category only by a complex URL with parameters and a list of filtered products. The module enables the creation of unique pages for any filter-based output, driving traffic growth through the formation of high-quality landing pages.

This functionality also applies to internal search results. The system generates unique pages for search queries, such as a collection of products containing the word 'for children' in their names.

The module supports the display of arbitrary data on generated pages. Users can add custom properties of various types, including additional text, images, and video.

The 'SEO Shaman' module generates unique pages for filters and search queries, automatically creating meta tags, SEO-friendly URLs, and breadcrumb navigation. Quality use of the module can significantly increase traffic to online stores, interactive catalogs, and showrooms.

Configuration is performed in the site's administrative panel. After installation, navigate to the 'Settings' tab, expand the 'Product Settings' item in the list, then select 'Module Settings'. In the opened list, activate the 'SEO Shaman' component.

SEO Shaman module settings

The first configuration tab handles URL parameter ignoring. Several parameters are pre-filled by default. You can add custom parameters, such as UTM tags, or remove unnecessary ones.

When saving a page, any parameters listed in the "Ignore parameters in address" field are stripped from the final URL. If a page is accessed with these parameters, the system treats it as the version without them. For instance, if the module is configured to ignore the PAGEN_1 parameter and an SEO page is created at /catalog/test1/, accessing /catalog/test1/, /catalog/test1/?PAGEN_1=1, or /catalog/test1/?PAGEN_1=2 will all resolve to the same SEO page /catalog/test1/. This setting is useful for pages with pagination.

To work with new page addresses, create the required settings. Specify the URL of a page returning a 404 error and click the «Create» button. The generated parameters will automatically appear below.

The second tab handles sitemap generation. Here you can enable sitemap creation and set the name for the resulting XML file. The main sitemap structure will include an entry named «sitemap_profiseo.xml» containing links to all pages where the module settings have been applied.

The SEO Shaman module by Profi enables the creation of unique pages based on filters and search queries. Its capabilities include automatic meta tag generation, clean URLs (SEO-friendly slugs), and breadcrumb navigation. The module settings feature a dedicated tab for configuring the path used to generate canonical addresses.

The fourth settings tab allows distributing access rights to the module among user groups.

Fig. 4. Module 'SEO Shaman' settings: access rights.

After configuration, the module is ready for use. Operations are more efficient and convenient in the public section of the site, though identical actions can be performed in the administrative panel, as shown below.

3. Example workflow: An SEO specialist begins optimizing the product group 'Knitted Yarn - Solid Color' (see Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Product category without applying a filter.

This example illustrates the formation of a search query group to create a unique landing page for solid-colored red knit yarn. The color filter includes the 'red' property.

Selecting this property and applying the filter generates a page whose URL consists solely of filter parameters. As shown in Fig. 6, the following issues are observed:

No human-readable URL (SEO-friendly URL) is present.

Page titles and meta data duplicate the content of the category where the filter was applied.

Fig. 6. Product category with an active filter.

4. To convert the page into a landing page with unique data, click the control button for the 'SEO Shaman' module in the top panel. A red indicator on the button means the module settings have not yet been applied to this page. A green indicator signifies that the page is already configured (see Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Module modal window with SEO page settings

The opened window allows a specialist to configure parameters for a specific page. Available options include:

Enabling or disabling the application of settings for the current page.

Setting the sorting index.

Entering a page name for quick search within the administrative panel.

Specifying a new relative page address to replace the current one.

Configuring automatic 301 redirect from the old address to the new one.

Blocking the page from search engine indexing via the robots meta tag.

Setting a canonical address by adding a link rel canonical tag with the specified URL.

Including the new page address in the sitemap.

Filling in values for the title, description, keywords meta tags, and the H1 heading.

Configuring the navigation breadcrumb title: leave unchanged, replace the current title, or append a new title to the chain.

Additionally, detailed text or values for any custom properties can be added to each page via the Additional Fields tab. To display this content on the page, the module component must be placed in the template or directly on the page.

SEO page properties can be rendered using the visual editor or via code. Select the component «SEO Shaman: page properties output» from the snippet panel and configure the required parameters. For more flexible implementation, use code, such as the example for rendering detailed page text.

When handling complex custom property values, it is recommended to engage qualified developers. To modify the output of property values, use the $arResult array, which contains data from the fields and properties of the SEO page.

Developers have access to a function that checks whether the current URL is an SEO page. Some instructions for working with the module are available on the «Help» tab within the page management window.

After filling in all settings fields, click the «Save» button. Changes take effect immediately, and the «SEO Shaman» module control indicator turns green.

Fig. 8. SEO pages with applied settings.

If needed, you can quickly remove specified settings via the 'SEO Shaman' module button in the 'Meta Tags Management' section by selecting 'Delete Meta Tags'.

The described operations are also available in the site's administrative section: go to the 'Content' tab, then to 'SEO Shaman', and select the current working site from the list (see Fig. 9).

The table displays a list of SEO pages with their names and applied settings. Creating or editing any page opens a window with fields similar to the previously described interface. Working with a large number of pages is more convenient using spreadsheet editors like Excel, thanks to import and export functionality via CSV files. To export existing pages, navigate in the admin panel to: Content -> SEO Shaman -> Export -> Site.

Fig. 10. Export page for the SEO Shaman module.

On this page, users select fields for export; all available fields are selected by default. The 'Ignore parameters' field automatically inserts the default value of 1 (based on module settings) if the specified parameter is missing from the data. The 'Choose file' button allows specifying the name and location of the file where export data will be saved (see Fig. 11).

Fig. 11. Exported data file window

Upon completion of the export, a link to download the generated file will be displayed.

Data import follows the same procedure (see Fig. 12). Please note that the semicolon (;) is used as the field delimiter.

Using this symbol in your data will not cause conflicts. During import, the module analyzes the 'SEO Page Address' field. If a matching value is found, the record is updated. If no match exists, a new SEO page is created.

On the import page of the SEO Shaman module, a table displaying data from the file appears before the import procedure begins. It shows the data structure used for reading from the file and writing to the database.

A separate module for monitoring and finding broken links, Xenu, is available for SEO specialists. It operates based on hit analysis for pages returning a 404 error. The tool is reliable and works on a plug-and-play basis without requiring special configuration. It provides up-to-date information on broken links, their sources, hit dates, and the ability to set redirects.

General iT can handle the implementation of “SEO Shaman: unique pages for filters and search. With meta tags, SEO-friendly URLs, and breadcrumbs”, from installation to configuration and compatibility checks.