How to handle 301 redirects in Shopify?

@aniyah.green 

Handling 301 redirects in Shopify is important for maintaining good SEO and ensuring a smooth user experience when URLs change on your site. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up 301 redirects in Shopify:

1. Access the Shopify Admin: Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
2. Navigate to Navigation Settings: In the left-hand menu, click on “Online Store” and then go to “Navigation.”
3. URL Redirects: In the Navigation section, you’ll see an option labeled “URL Redirects.” Click on it.
4. Add a New Redirect: Click on the “Create URL Redirect” button.
5. Enter Redirect Information: From: Enter the old URL path that you want to redirect. This should be the part of the URL after the domain name. For example, if your previous URL was https://www.example.com/old-page, you should just enter /old-page. To: Enter the new URL path where you want to redirect users. This should also be the part after the domain. For example, /new-page.
6. Save the Redirect: After entering the necessary information, click on the “Save Redirect” button to apply the changes.
7. Verify Redirects: It’s good practice to test the redirect by entering the old URL in your browser to ensure it correctly redirects to the new URL.

Additional Tips:

• Plan Your Redirects: Before making changes, list all URLs that need to be redirected to avoid any broken links.
• Limit Redirect Chains: Ensure that redirects don't point to another redirect, as this can lead to slow page load times and can negatively impact SEO.
• Regularly Check and Update: Regularly review your redirects to ensure they are still necessary and functioning correctly.

By effectively managing 301 redirects, you can help preserve your site's search rankings and provide a seamless user experience, even when making significant structural changes to your site.