Unlock the power of Shopify URLs! The Shopify URL structure is the way products and collections URLs are organized in your store.
The fact that Shopify limits the editing of URL structure has historically raised questions about how SEO-friendly Shopify is.
In this article, we’ll go through a few elements of the Shopify URL structure, including product, collection, and blog URL structures. We’ll also walk through how to change them in Shopify from the default settings.
If you’re ready to supercharge your e-commerce SEO game, keep reading!
Product URL Structure on Shopify
Shopify product URLs might seem a bit tricky, causing confusion and duplication issues for both users and search engines.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Products are usually found in a /products/ directory, like this:
But, when you create collections and add products, you get URLs like this:
You can’t change the entire URL in Shopify, but you can tweak the product name part. For instance, GymShark has a cleaner URL structure.
We’ll show you how to make these changes in a simple step-by-step guide, both using the regular Shopify editor and a more advanced method that involves editing the liquid files for your store. It’s easier than it sounds!
How to Change a Product URL Structure on Shopify?
To ensure that your product URLs appear correctly within collections, follow these step-by-step instructions:
Step 1:
Log in to your Shopify admin and go to Sales Channels > Online Store > Themes.
Step 2:
Click on Actions and choose Edit Code.
Step 3:
Look for the file named product-grid-item.liquid under “Snippets” in the Layout section.
Step 4:
Find “featured.url” in that file.
Step 5:
Change {{ featured.url | within: collection }} to {{ featured.url }} as needed.
Step 6:
Save your changes.
Step 7:
Check your live website to see the updates.
Should you decide to implement this option, it’s also recommended to set up 301 redirects in your Shopify store.
These redirects will direct traffic from the collection URLs to the product URLs, ensuring that your website’s authority remains intact. This is especially important because even orphan pages can sometimes be crawled by Google.
How to change a Product URL handle?
To change a product’s URL handle, just follow these easy steps:
Step 1:
Go to “Products” from your main screen.
Step 2:
Pick a product (live or draft) and scroll to the “Search engine listing preview” section.
Step 3:
Click “Edit website SEO” and scroll down to find “URL handle.”
Step 4:
Edit the last part of the URL here as you need.
Step 5:
Shopify will ask if you want to create a URL redirect from the old to the new URL. This is good for SEO, so make sure to check it.
Step 6:
Lastly, scroll down and click “Save” at the bottom of the page to save your changes.
How to Use Product URLs for Better SEO?
Want better SEO with product URLs on Shopify? It’s all about how you name your products and organize your website.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Make sure your website’s organization makes sense and doesn’t have duplicated content. This is crucial for good SEO.
- If your product names are clear and describe the product well, your URLs will be more SEO-friendly.
- Avoid using numbers like SKUs or ISBNs in your URLs. Stick to words for better SEO.
- If you’re not redirecting collection-based product pages, work with your development team to update the canonical tags on those pages.
- For temporarily sold-out products, keep the page active and let customers join a waiting list. Make it clear the product is sold out.
- If a product is gone for good, use a 301 permanent redirect.
- When you delete a product page, create a 301 redirect manually.
Make your collection page URLs human-readable and descriptive instead of using inventory codes. It’s better for users and SEO.
Shopify Collection Page URL Structure
Updating Shopify collection URLs is quite similar to making changes to product URLs, and there are some common limitations.
When you create a Shopify collection page, the URL template typically follows this pattern: https://www.yoursite.com/collections/your-collection-name. In this structure, the only part you can edit is “your-collection-name.”
While you must keep the /collections/ folder in your URL structure for collection pages, you do have the flexibility to adjust the collection URL handle. Here are a few examples of collection URLs:
- https://www.allbirds.com/collections/womens-runners
- https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/collections/single-serve
- https://www.gymshark.com/collections/new-releases/womens
If you want to include subcategories in Shopify, it’s entirely possible, but you’ll still need to nest them within the /collections/ folder, similar to what we’ve seen with Gymshark.
In the following sections, we will walk you through the process of modifying Shopify collection page URLs step-by-step.
How to Change a Collection URL Handle?
To adjust collection URLs, follow these simple steps:
Step 1:
Start by going to the Home screen.
Step 2:
In the Home screen, find and click on “Products.”
Step 3:
Within the Products section, locate and select “Collections.”
Step 4:
After you’ve chosen a specific collection, scroll down until you reach the “Search engine listing preview.“
Step 5:
By default, Shopify generates the collection’s URL based on the Page Title. If you want to change it manually, simply edit the URL handle in the provided field.
Similar to working with product URLs, you’ll see a prompt to create a redirect from the old URL to the new one. Make sure to leave this option checked.
How to Change a Blog URL on Shopify?
The default arrangement for Shopify blogs may seem a bit unusual, as it’s designed to accommodate the presence of multiple blogs. Consequently, if you name your blog “blog,” your blog post URLs may take a form like /blogs/blog/article-title, which may not be what you initially expected.
In cases where a website has only one blog, many opt for a simple name like “News” or something branded. However, regardless of your choice, the /blogs/ folder will persist in the URL structure.
Step 1:
Go to Sales Channel > Online Store > Blog posts from the Home screen.
Step 2:
To edit the article URL, scroll down to “Search engine listing preview” and click “Edit Website SEO.“
Step 3:
Change the URL in the URL and handle field to what you want. The default is based on the Page title.
Step 4:
If you have more than one blog in your Shopify store, like “/blogs/news” and “/blogs/journal,” and want to move an article from one blog to another, scroll down to “Organization” on the blog post page and pick the new blog from the dropdown.
Step 5:
Save your changes.
Remember, when you change the blog an article is assigned to, a 301 redirect isn’t created automatically, so you should make one manually.
How to Change a URL for Other Pages on Shopify?
Similar to blog posts, collections, and products, Shopify allows you to edit only the final part of the URL for pages in your eCommerce store.
Pages are typically organized within the default “Pages” folder structure.
To modify your page’s URL, here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1:
Start from the Home screen and go to Sales Channel > Online Store > Pages.
Step 2:
Select the page whose URL you want to change from the list menu.
Step 3:
To adjust the page URL, just as you would with product and collection URLs, scroll down to the “Search engine listing preview” and click on “Edit Website SEO.“
Step 4:
Scroll further down to the “URL and handle” section and edit the text that can be changed to modify the page URL. Don’t forget to leave the URL redirect option checked.
Step 5:
Save your changes.
Are Shopify URLs SEO-friendly?
The structure of Shopify URLs is a reflection of how you name your products, collections, blog posts, and various other pages. If your store’s organization is logical and avoids excessive redundancy, it can contribute to effective SEO performance.
While the default folder setup can sometimes be limiting and lead to duplication, which isn’t favorable for SEO, there are methods to address this issue, especially if you establish measures to control duplication from the outset.
We’ve outlined several common strategies to manage and mitigate the challenges associated with Shopify’s URL structure.
The Benefits of Changing Your Shopify URLs
- Stronger Brand Identity: A customized URL that aligns with your brand name or slogan helps customers easily recognize and associate your store with your brand.
- Improved User Experience: A shorter, more concise URL appears cleaner and professional, making it easier for customers to navigate your store, leading to higher satisfaction and increased conversions.
- Enhanced Marketing Efforts: Modified URLs allow promotions and external links to direct customers directly to your store, aiding in tracking marketing campaign effectiveness and optimizing strategies.
- Better SEO: Incorporating relevant keywords into your URL can improve your store’s visibility in search engine results, leading to increased organic traffic, higher rankings, and attracting more potential customers to your online store.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Shopify URLs are a critical element for ensuring a successful online presence.
By making thoughtful adjustments to your URL structure, you can enhance brand recognition, streamline the user experience, boost your marketing efforts, and improve your store’s search engine visibility.
While Shopify may have its limitations, it remains a versatile and SEO-friendly choice for your eCommerce needs.
With the insights and strategies shared in this article, you can navigate the nuances of Shopify’s URL structure to create a more effective and customer-centric online store.
