What's the best way to handle URL redirects in product listings?

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What's the best way to handle URL redirects in product listings?

LB16
Excursionist
21 1 10

Hello,

 

I am having trouble understanding the URL redirects in the product listing form. I have tried looking it up online, but I can't completely wrap my mind around it.

 

As I understand it, it means that the first title is assigned a link in the main internet search places like Google. When I change the title write-up, I have the choice to redirect that first link to the new title (or not to redirect it).

 

I am brand new, so I don't have any ads or customers with saved links yet. Also, I have some titles I have edited several times, so as I understand it, this could mean a search redirect going from link to link to link. That does not seem like that would be a good thing?

 

I do not know which is the most beneficial choice. Is it best for me to cancel the redirect (uncheck the redirect box), or do I just leave all those redirects?  Thank you for any help in clarifying my understanding of what it means, and also deciding how to best handle it. 

Accepted Solution (1)

claricelin
Shopify Partner
148 19 32

This is an accepted solution.

Hi @LB16,

 

Redirects refer specifically to the action of sending users from one URL to another.

 

If you change the title of your page, that could result in an automatic change in the URL.

 

For example if your original product title (name) is called:

Natural Hand Cream with https://storename.com/natural-hand-cream

 

And you decided to change your product name to

Natural Super Moisturizing Hand Cream and the URL would be automatically changed to https://storename.com/natural-super-moisturizing-hand-cream

 

When that happens, the redirect check box pops up checked.

 

(Side note: the url should ideally reflect the product name as this helps in SEO to rank for that phrase.)

 

Why do we want to keep the box checked?

 

Two reasons

 

1) I always choose to keep the box checked as if the original URL already had a good ranking position on Google results, the "good ranking juice" would be passed along to the new URL and assigned a similar ranking. This is a critical reason as you don't want to lose Google traffic.

 

If your original URL was never generating any Google traffic at all, then it's fine to keep the box unchecked. 

 

2) If there was another page or a piece of text somewhere linking to the old URL of the product: Natural Super Moisturizing Hand Cream, the person who clicked on that link would automatically be redirected to the new link.

 

If you unchecked the box, the user who clicked on that link would end up on a 404 error page because the page does not exist anymore. (i.e. you changed the URL)

 

If reason number one is not a concern for you, you can easily fix reason number two.

 

The best practice would, of course, be to stick with one good descriptive URL and don't make regular changes after your store pages are ranking well on Google.

 

Else, you'd risk losing your Google traffic.

 

Hope that gives you some clarity.

 

Best,

Clarice

I help store owners to double their traffic and sales by getting on Google and YouTube page one. Check out my YouTube channel for more tips and tactics to drive traffic and sales ➤ https://youtube.com/claricelin

Download my Shopify Marketing Guide to learn both FREE & PAID ways to drive visitors to your store that convert into paying customers. ➤https://claricelin.com/shopify-marketing-guide/

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Replies 5 (5)

WhiteWater_Web
Shopify Partner
466 18 44

Hi there - what do you mean by redirects, Shopify redirects as per this doc?

https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/menus-and-links/url-redirect

 

If so these redirects move users from a link to another link using a 301 redirect response; this type of response informs the search engines that the new link is the link to trust/index - and it carries the link wealth of the old link to the new one. They are safe to use, and essential in preserving SEO when moving from another platform (with a different link structure), to Shopify.

 

Cheers.

 

WhiteWater Web

A certified Shopify Partner and Expert, WhiteWater Web (WWW) is a premium digital solutions company specializing in advanced Shopify Dev, Usability/Design, and Online Strategy. WWW has been working with the Shopify platform since 2006.
info@whitewatersolutions.com
LB16
Excursionist
21 1 10

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. 

claricelin
Shopify Partner
148 19 32

This is an accepted solution.

Hi @LB16,

 

Redirects refer specifically to the action of sending users from one URL to another.

 

If you change the title of your page, that could result in an automatic change in the URL.

 

For example if your original product title (name) is called:

Natural Hand Cream with https://storename.com/natural-hand-cream

 

And you decided to change your product name to

Natural Super Moisturizing Hand Cream and the URL would be automatically changed to https://storename.com/natural-super-moisturizing-hand-cream

 

When that happens, the redirect check box pops up checked.

 

(Side note: the url should ideally reflect the product name as this helps in SEO to rank for that phrase.)

 

Why do we want to keep the box checked?

 

Two reasons

 

1) I always choose to keep the box checked as if the original URL already had a good ranking position on Google results, the "good ranking juice" would be passed along to the new URL and assigned a similar ranking. This is a critical reason as you don't want to lose Google traffic.

 

If your original URL was never generating any Google traffic at all, then it's fine to keep the box unchecked. 

 

2) If there was another page or a piece of text somewhere linking to the old URL of the product: Natural Super Moisturizing Hand Cream, the person who clicked on that link would automatically be redirected to the new link.

 

If you unchecked the box, the user who clicked on that link would end up on a 404 error page because the page does not exist anymore. (i.e. you changed the URL)

 

If reason number one is not a concern for you, you can easily fix reason number two.

 

The best practice would, of course, be to stick with one good descriptive URL and don't make regular changes after your store pages are ranking well on Google.

 

Else, you'd risk losing your Google traffic.

 

Hope that gives you some clarity.

 

Best,

Clarice

I help store owners to double their traffic and sales by getting on Google and YouTube page one. Check out my YouTube channel for more tips and tactics to drive traffic and sales ➤ https://youtube.com/claricelin

Download my Shopify Marketing Guide to learn both FREE & PAID ways to drive visitors to your store that convert into paying customers. ➤https://claricelin.com/shopify-marketing-guide/
LB16
Excursionist
21 1 10

Thank you so much for breaking this down so that I can understand it. Thank you! 

SomesTechnologi
Shopify Partner
9 0 0

Hello,

 

If the previous responses doesn't suit your case, you can also use an app like https://apps.shopify.com/seo-wizzard. It also supports wildcards and it is completely free.