How to Remove “/pages” From Your Shopify URL

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Shopify URL Structure
  3. Step-by-Step Guide to Modify Shopify URLs
  4. Alternatives and Best Practices
  5. Conclusion
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Are you trying to tidy up your Shopify store URLs by removing the “/pages” portion to make them cleaner and more SEO-friendly? If so, you're not alone. Many Shopify store owners want their URLs to look sleek and professional, without unnecessary directories that can distract from the main message or make URLs overly long. In this guide, we'll explore why removing “/pages” from your Shopify URL is desirable and provide a detailed step-by-step process for achieving this, along with alternatives to consider if direct removal isn't possible.

Introduction

Imagine this: you've crafted a beautiful Shopify store, only to find that your carefully chosen URLs are appended with “/pages”, making them longer and less intuitive than they need to be. Not the sleek, professional look you were aiming for, right? Well, you're not alone in this frustration. Many Shopify store owners have navigated this challenge, seeking ways to streamline their site's URLs for better user experience and SEO. This blog post aims to deeply dive into the issue, offering clear, actionable solutions, and alternatives that keep your Shopify store looking its best.

The purpose here is not just to address a technical hiccup but to enhance your store's accessibility and aesthetic appeal, contributing positively to your brand's online presence. Whether it's reducing complexity for your users or trying to inch up in search engine rankings, the insights here will guide you through optimizing your Shopify store URLs effectively.

Understanding Shopify URL Structure

Before we delve into solutions, it's important to understand that Shopify, a powerful e-commerce platform, has its standards for URL structures to maintain system integrity and reliability across millions of stores. These structures are designed with both navigational efficiency and technical necessity in mind, involving directories like “/pages”, “/collections”, and “/products” to categorize and manage content.

However, for store owners focused on SEO and user experience, these URLs can sometimes seem cumbersome. The inclusion of “/pages” is a common point of contention. It’s seen as an unnecessary add-on that could potentially affect a website's SEO performance and user experience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Modify Shopify URLs

Utilizing URL Redirects:

  1. Create a URL Redirect:
    • Go to your Shopify admin panel.
    • Navigate to "Online Store" > "Navigation".
    • Click on "URL Redirects".
    • Click “Create URL Redirect”.
    • In “Redirect from”, enter the shorter URL you wish to use (e.g., “/about-us”).
    • In “Redirect to”, enter the original URL (e.g., “/pages/about-us”).
    • Save your changes.

This redirect method effectively means that while the “/pages” directory will still technically exist in your URL structure, users and potentially search engines will interact with the cleaner, shorter URL.

  1. Custom Domains:

    • Consider using a custom domain to serve as a memorable, clean URL point of entry for specific marketing campaigns or landing pages.

  2. Third-Party Apps:

    • Explore Shopify's App Store for SEO and URL management apps that offer more advanced features, like custom redirects or URL structure management. Some apps provide workarounds that can simulate removing “/pages” from the URL without violating Shopify's URL structure rules.

  3. Consult with a Shopify Expert:

    • For more complex needs or if you're uncomfortable making these changes yourself, consider hiring a Shopify Expert. These professionals can offer tailored solutions that might include coding custom redirects or even creating a subdomain structure that masks “/pages” from view.

Understanding Shopify's Limitations:

It’s crucial to note that these workarounds do not remove the “/pages” directory but rather mask it or redirect it. Shopify's built-in structure and security measures mean that some aspects, like the fundamental URL architecture, cannot be changed. This is to ensure consistent performance and security across all Shopify sites.

Alternatives and Best Practices

  1. Embrace Shopify’s Structure:

    • Understanding that Shopify’s URL structure, including the “/pages” directory, has minimal impact on SEO can free you to focus on other SEO strategies. Concentrate on content quality, keyword optimization, and site speed instead.

  2. Consistent URL Usage:

    • Regardless of the structure, consistent use of URLs for marketing and communication purposes can mitigate any potential confusion the “/pages” directory might cause.

  3. Ongoing SEO Maintenance:

    • Regularly review your Shopify store’s SEO performance. Platforms and search engine algorithms evolve, and what might be a negligible impact now could change. Stay informed and ready to adapt.

Conclusion

While Shopify's URL structure, including the “/pages” directory, is designed with standardization and system integrity in mind, it's clear the path to cleaner URLs isn't straightforward—but it's not impassable either. Through redirects, custom domains, or assistance from Shopify Experts, you can achieve a cleaner, more navigable URL structure for your store. Remember, the ultimate goal of any online store is to provide a seamless, user-friendly shopping experience. Focusing on content quality, site speed, and effective SEO strategies will always be paramount in achieving this goal.

FAQ

Q: Will using redirects to hide “/pages” from my URLs affect my store's SEO? A: When properly implemented, redirects should not negatively impact your store's SEO. Shopify’s built-in redirect feature is designed to be SEO-friendly.

Q: Can I remove “/pages” from all my Shopify URLs? A: Direct removal is not possible due to Shopify's system architecture, but redirects can be used to create cleaner, more user-friendly URLs for most pages.

Q: Is there a risk of creating broken links with URL redirects? A: There is a slight risk if redirects are not properly set up or if the original URL changes afterward. Regularly monitoring your URLs can help mitigate this risk.

Q: Can changing my URLs impact my site’s historical SEO performance? A: Yes, significantly changing your site’s URL structure can impact SEO, especially if redirects are not correctly implemented. It’s important to plan carefully and monitor your site’s performance after making changes.

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