How to set up a product URL redirect on Shopify
Let me guide you through the process of setting up a quick URL redirect before you delete a product from your Shopify store. Why is this necessary? Well, when you delete a page, product, or blog post on your website, you're also deleting its URL. However, remnants of that URL might still exist out there, on social media, in bookmarks, or in email marketing links.
Even if you're confident that no one has the old URL, there's still a downside to deleting it. Google has indexed that page, and when it attempts to re-index and finds the page missing, it categorizes it as a 404 error.
So, how do we set up a product URL redirect on Shopify?
Before deleting a product:
Scroll down to the bottom of the product page.
Click on "Edit" under the search engine listing.
Note the unique end of the URL, or the URL slug.
Saving the original URL for later:
Copy the unique end of the URL (e.g., "nido-chair").
Go to your sticky notes or any document and paste it there for later.
Repeat this process for all products you plan to delete.
Setting up the redirect:
Navigate to "Online Store" > "Navigation" > "View URL Redirects."
Create a new URL redirect, specifying the old URL end and the new destination (end).
Save the redirect.
Example Redirect:
If the old URL was "/products/nido-chair," redirect it to "/products/new-nido-chair" or a relevant page.
Testing the redirect:
After deleting the product, test the redirect by entering the old URL slug in your browser.
Troubleshooting:
If you see a 404 error, give it some time, as it might be due to site updates.
If problems persist, append the URL slug to your main domain and check the redirection.
Reach out for assistance if needed.
Repeat for every product:
Before deleting any product, repeat this process to ensure a smooth transition and avoid 404 errors.
