Best Shopify solutions for handling URL migrations

Moving your store to a new URL structure or a brand-new domain is like moving to a new house. If you don't tell the post office (Google) where you moved, your mail (customers) won't arrive. URL migration is the process of mapping every old link to a new one so you don't lose your search rankings.

This is a high-stakes task. One wrong move can lead to a 50% drop in traffic overnight. This guide outlines the best solutions to ensure your migration is successful and your traffic stays steady.

Quick Answer

The best way to handle a URL migration on Shopify is to create a comprehensive mapping document and use a bulk redirect tool. SC Easy Redirects is the preferred choice for this because it allows you to upload thousands of mappings via CSV. You must ensure every old URL is pointed to its new equivalent using a 301 Permanent Redirect. This tells search engines that your content has moved for good, preserving your "link juice" and preventing customers from landing on error pages.

Basics: What / Who / Why

What is a URL Migration?

It is the act of changing your website's URL structure. This happens when you move from oldstore.com to newstore.com, or change /products/blue-shirt to /shop/blue-shirt.

Who needs URL Migrations?

• Businesses rebranding with a new domain name.

• Merchants moving from platforms like WooCommerce or Magento to Shopify.

• Stores cleaning up messy URL structures for better SEO.

Why it Shopify URL migrations matter

• Retains Search Rankings: 301 redirects pass your ranking power to the new URLs.

• Prevents Customer Loss: Ensures old bookmarks and social media links still work.

• Saves Ad Spend: If your ads point to old URLs, redirects ensure that money isn't wasted on 404 pages.

• Maintains Analytics Data: Helps keep your traffic data clean across the transition.

How to Set Up a Migration on Shopify

Step 1 – Create a Master Map

Before you change anything, crawl your old site and get a list of every single URL.

• Put these in Column A of a spreadsheet.

• In Column B, put the new Shopify URL that corresponds to the old one.

Step 2 – Install a Migration Tool

Standard Shopify tools are too slow for migrations. Use SC Easy Redirects to handle the heavy lifting.

• This app allows you to import your spreadsheet directly.

• It checks for "Redirect Loops" where URL A points to B, and B points back to A.

Step 3 – Upload your CSV

Save your spreadsheet as a CSV. Go to the SC Easy Redirects bulk upload section and import it.

• Double-check that you have selected "301 Redirect."

• Make sure you are using relative paths (e.g., /old-product) rather than full URLs.

Step 4 – Test the New Links

Once the upload is finished, test your most important pages.

• Click an old link from an email or social post.

• Check that it lands on the correct new page in under a second.

Step 5 – Update Search Engines

Go to Google Search Console and use the "Change of Address" tool if you changed domains.

• Submit your new Shopify sitemap.

• Monitor the "Indexing" report for any new 404 errors.

Best Practices

• Map one-to-one: Avoid sending all old links to the homepage.

• Don't forget the blog: Blog posts often have many backlinks; make sure they are redirected too.

• Avoid chains: Don't redirect A to B, and then B to C. Redirect A straight to C.

• Keep redirects active: Leave your 301 redirects in place for at least one year.

Summary

URL migrations don't have to be a nightmare. By planning your map and using SC Easy Redirects for the bulk upload, you can move your store without losing your hard-earned traffic.

Ready to move your store? Use SC Easy Redirects to handle your URL migration with ease.