How can I improve SEO on my Shopify store when linking to an external app website?

SEO
1

I have a Shopify site and I also run a separate website for an Android streaming app. I want to link the two, but I’m not sure how this affects SEO.
Is it okay to link from my Shopify store to an external app site, and are there any best practices (like using nofollow links or creating a separate page)?
Any advice would be appreciated!

2

Yes, it’s completely fine to link your Shopify store to your external app website. Google expects sites to link to relevant, legitimate related properties, so this won’t hurt your SEO.

A few best practices:

  • Use a normal (follow) link if the app site is trustworthy and you control it. There’s no need for nofollow unless you don’t want to pass SEO authority.

  • Create a dedicated page (e.g., “Our App”) if you want a cleaner user experience and more context for search engines.

  • Keep the link natural and relevant—for example in your footer, navigation, or product pages where it makes sense.

As long as the content is helpful for users, Google has no issue with it.

4

as long as the link is legitimate there are no issues linking to it from your Shopify store.

also, in addition to what @The_ScriptFlow mentioned, here are two more things to take care of:

  1. use descriptive anchor text to clearly highlight to search engines (like google) what users can expect after clicking the link
  2. customize the settings to ensure that the link opens in a new tab. this will keep your shopify store open while users visit your app site. (basically to reduce bounce rates.)

hope it helps

5

Hi @MaryJane1 ,
Yes, it’s completely fine to link your Shopify store to your external Android app website. Google does not penalize you for linking to your own related properties - as long as the content is legitimate and relevant.

Best Practices

1. Use a normal link (no need for nofollow)
If the site is safe and owned by you, a standard link is perfectly okay.
Use nofollow only if you don’t want to pass SEO value - usually not needed here.

2. Create a dedicated page (optional but helpful)
You can make a page like /app, /download, or /our-app explaining what the app is and link from there.
This makes the link look natural and provides context for users and Google.

3. Keep the content relevant
If your Shopify store and app are related, Google sees the link as normal cross-linking.

4. Don’t overdo the links
One or two links in the header/footer or a single dedicated page is enough.

6

Yes, it’s perfectly fine to link your Shopify store to an external site like your Android streaming app. For SEO best practices, you can:

  • Use a regular dofollow link if the external site is high-quality and relevant.

  • Use rel="nofollow" if you’re unsure about linking equity.

  • Consider creating a dedicated page on your store explaining the app, which provides context and adds value to users.

This approach works well for websites covering educational content, like psychedelic education, as it helps users navigate between related resources without harming your main site’s SEO.

7

Linking your Shopify store to an external site, like your Android streaming app, is generally fine. For SEO, it’s best to:

  • Use a standard dofollow link if the external site is relevant and trustworthy.

  • Consider rel="nofollow" if you want to avoid passing link equity.

  • Create a dedicated page on your store introducing the app, which adds context and value for visitors.

This method works especially well for topics like psychedelic education, helping users access related resources while maintaining your site’s SEO health.

8

Hey @MaryJane1! Yes — it’s totally fine to link your Shopify store to your separate app website. Google doesn’t penalize this as long as the link is useful for visitors. You can use a regular link unless the app site is low-quality or unfinished; in that case, use nofollow.

The simplest best practice is to create a small “Our App” or “Download App” page on Shopify and link out from there. One or two natural links are enough and won’t harm SEO.

Hope this helps! :blush:

9

Hi, If you run two websites and want to link between them, using a normal follow link is fine as long as the content is closely related. Google treats relevant interlinking as natural. Follow these basics:

  • Only link when the context supports it. Avoid forced or irrelevant links.
  • Do not place repeated links in the footer or other site-wide areas
  • Make sure all linked URLs work properly and do not return 404 errors.
  • Keep the anchor text simple and descriptive.

This approach keeps the link natural and avoids SEO risks. Hope this helps :+1: