Add Redirect to Shareable Link

As your Shopify store evolves, you might update your product catalog, website structure, or even run special promotions. When these changes occur, it’s crucial to ensure that any existing shareable links – those you’ve shared on social media, email campaigns, or other platforms – don’t lead to dead ends or 404 errors.

Sharable link redirects solve this problem by seamlessly guiding visitors from outdated links to their new destinations. This article will show you how to do just that!

Understanding URL Redirects in Shopify

A URL redirect is a technique that automatically forwards visitors from one web page to another. In the context of Shopify, it’s used to maintain the integrity of your shareable links even after making changes to your store’s URLs.

Types of URL Redirects:

• 301 Redirect (Permanent): This tells search engines and browsers that the original page has been permanently moved to a new location. It’s the recommended option when you’ve made significant changes to your store’s structure or want to consolidate old pages.
• 302 Redirect (Temporary): This indicates a temporary move, suggesting the original page might be available again in the future. Use this for short-term promotions or when a page is undergoing maintenance.

Step-by-Step Guide to Redirect a Shareable Link From Your Shopify Home Page

Here’s how to redirect a Shopify sharable link from your homepage:

Step 1: From your Shopify admin. Go to Discounts.

Step 2: Select the discount code.

Step 3: Choose Promote > Get a shareable link

Step 4: Click Copy link, then paste the link into a text editor.

Step 5: Change the URL from /discount/code to /discount/code?redirect=/new-path (with the new-path to match the URL extension of the page that you want to link to). 

For example: /discount/code?redirect=/collections/summer-collection

Step 6: Post or embed this sharable link wherever you want to promote your discount.

Additional Considerations For Redirecting Shareable Links on Your Shopify Store

• Test Your Redirects: After creating redirects, always test them to ensure they’re working as expected. Click on the old links to verify that they seamlessly redirect visitors to the new destinations.
• Update internal links: Don’t forget to update any internal links that may be pointing to the old URL.
• Inform your customers: If the redirect affects a popular or frequently used link, consider informing your customers about the change.
• Monitor your redirects: Regularly review your redirects to ensure they’re still relevant and functioning correctly.

Bottom Line

Redirecting shareable links from your Shopify home page is a straightforward process that can significantly impact your store’s user experience and SEO. By following these steps and considering the additional factors, you can ensure that your customers always find what they’re looking for, even as your store evolves and grows.

FAQs

What is a URL redirect and why is it important in Shopify?

A URL redirect is a way to forward one URL to another. It’s important in Shopify because it helps maintain your site’s SEO value when you move or delete pages, and ensures customers don’t encounter 404 errors.

How do I know if my redirects are working correctly?

Test your redirects by clicking on the old links to verify that they lead to the correct new destinations.

How do I track the effectiveness of my URL redirects?

You can track the effectiveness of your URL redirects in several ways:

• Use Google Analytics to monitor traffic to the new URLs.
• Check for 404 errors in your Shopify admin to ensure all necessary redirects are in place.
• Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your site and check for redirect chains or loops.
• Monitor your search engine rankings for key terms related to the redirected pages.

Related Posts:

• How to Create a Fixed Value or Percentage Discount on Shopify
• How to Create Free Shipping Discount on Shopify