Shopify is a powerful platform for e-commerce businesses, but like any other platform, it has its own set of tools and functionalities that can be overwhelming for beginners. One such feature is redirects. Understanding Shopify redirects is crucial for ensuring a smooth user experience and maintaining your site's SEO health. This blog post will explain what Shopify redirects are, why they matter, and how beginners can effectively use them.

What Are Shopify Redirects?

Understanding the Basics

Redirects are a way to send visitors and search engines from one URL to another. When a page is moved or deleted, a redirect helps guide users to the correct location without encountering a "404 Not Found" error. Shopify provides built-in redirect functionality to help manage changes in URLs and improve the user experience.

Types of Redirects

There are several types of redirects, but the most common ones used in Shopify are:

• 301 Redirects: These are permanent redirects that inform search engines that a page has been moved permanently to a new URL. This type of redirect passes most of the original page’s link equity to the new page, which helps preserve SEO rankings.
• 302 Redirects: These are temporary redirects used when a page is temporarily moved. Unlike 301 redirects, 302 redirects do not pass link equity, as they indicate to search engines that the change is not permanent.

Why Shopify Redirects Are Important

Improving User Experience

One of the primary reasons to use redirects is to improve user experience. Imagine a customer trying to find a product that you’ve recently renamed or moved to a new category. Without a redirect, they would encounter a broken link or a 404 error page, which can be frustrating and lead to a lost sale. Redirects ensure that users are seamlessly guided to the correct page, reducing frustration and improving overall satisfaction.

Preserving SEO Rankings

SEO is a critical aspect of any online store, and redirects play a significant role in preserving your site's SEO rankings. When you move a page or change a URL, a 301 redirect helps transfer the SEO value from the old URL to the new one. This means that your search engine rankings are less likely to be affected by URL changes, helping you maintain visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Managing URL Changes

Over time, businesses evolve, and so do their websites. You might update your product offerings, change categories, or redesign your site, leading to changes in URLs. Redirects are essential in these scenarios to ensure that any old URLs still lead users to relevant pages. For example, if you rename a product, a redirect will ensure that users who have bookmarked the old URL or found it through search engines are directed to the new product page.

Handling Deleted Pages

Sometimes, pages are deleted or discontinued. When this happens, it’s important to set up a redirect so that users who land on a deleted page are directed to a relevant page instead of encountering a 404 error. This helps in maintaining a positive user experience and prevents potential loss of traffic.

How to Set Up Shopify Redirects

Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up redirects in Shopify is relatively straightforward. Follow these steps to create and manage redirects:

1. Log In to Your Shopify Admin Panel

• Access your Shopify admin panel using your credentials.

• From the Shopify admin panel, navigate to the “Online Store” section and then select “Navigation.”

• In the “Navigation” section, click on “URL Redirects.”

• Click on the “Add URL redirect” button. You will be prompted to enter the old URL and the new URL.

• In the “Redirect from” field, enter the old URL path (the URL you want to redirect from). In the “Redirect to” field, enter the new URL path (the URL you want to redirect to).

• Click on the “Save redirect” button to finalize the process.

Best Practices for Redirects

• Keep URLs Clean and Simple: Ensure that your new URLs are clean and simple, avoiding unnecessary parameters or complex structures.
• Monitor Redirects Regularly: Regularly check your redirects to ensure they are working correctly and update them as needed.
• Avoid Redirect Chains: Try to avoid creating redirect chains (multiple redirects in a sequence), as they can slow down page load times and negatively impact SEO.

Conclusion

Shopify redirects are an essential tool for managing your online store’s user experience and SEO. For beginners, understanding how and why to use redirects can significantly impact the success of your e-commerce site. By ensuring that users are seamlessly guided to the correct pages and preserving your site’s SEO rankings, redirects help maintain a professional and functional online presence.

By following the steps outlined above and adhering to best practices, you can effectively manage redirects and ensure a smooth experience for your visitors. Discover the power of no-code mobile app builder on Shopify! Learn how Shopify Redirects can boost your online store performance for beginners. As your Shopify store evolves, keep redirects in mind to ensure that changes in URLs do not negatively affect your business.