Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Why Consider Removing "Powered by Shopify"?
- The Process of Unbranding: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Alternatives to a Blank Footer
- Concluding the Unbranding Journey
- FAQ’s
Introduction
Have you ever glanced at the footer of a Shopify store and noticed the "Powered by Shopify" message? It's a small detail, but for store owners who crave a fully branded experience, it may stick out like a sore thumb. This ubiquitous tagline serves as a subtle advertisement for the platform itself, yet some merchants wish to remove it to maintain a sleek, professional look. In today's competitive e-commerce landscape, every detail counts toward winning customer trust—nixing the default Shopify branding could be a step in the right direction.
In this article, we will dive into why you might want to remove "Powered by Shopify" from your store's footer, and most importantly, how to do it efficiently. Whether you are new to Shopify or looking to polish your existing store, hang tight as we dissect this topic in detail, ensuring you walk away with valuable insights and clear-cut directions.
Why Consider Removing "Powered by Shopify"?
Removing "Powered by Shopify" can have more impact than you might think:
- Enhances Branding: Your online store is the digital face of your business. By removing external branding, you ensure that every element aligns with your brand identity.
- Professionalism and Authenticity: Showcasing a unique footer without platform branding tends to instill a greater sense of trust in your audience.
- Competitive Edge: Top brands aim to provide unique shopping experiences. Attaining this requires that you look and feel different from other stores—even those on Shopify.
- Eliminates Customer Confusion: For those unfamiliar with Shopify's role, seeing another brand in your site's footer might seem confusing or distract from your brand messaging.
The Process of Unbranding: A Step-by-Step Guide
Editing Through Your Theme Settings
In some themes, particularly newer ones released by Shopify, an option is available in the themes settings to turn off the "Powered by Shopify" text. If you are fortunate enough for this to be the case, simply:
- Navigate to
Online Store > Themes - Find your active theme, click
Customize - Explore theme settings for an option related to the footer
- Uncheck the box showcasing "Powered by Shopify"
Method 1: Editing Language Settings
- Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
- Head over to
Online Store > Themes. - Click on
Actionsand selectEdit languages. - Type "powered" in the translation filter search box.
- You'll encounter the "Powered by Shopify" and "Powered by Shopify (with URL)" boxes.
- Click in each box and press the space bar once to erase the text.
- Ensure no spaces are left inside; just blankness.
- Save changes and review your website to confirm the text has been removed.
Method 2: Delving into Theme Code
- Still within
Online Store > Themes, findActionsfor your theme but selectEdit code. - Search the code files for "footer" or "powered" to locate the snippet containing the "Powered by Shopify" text, which may be found in files like
footer.liquidortheme.liquid. - Once identified, remove or edit the relevant code snippet. Be aware that if you're not code-savvy, this step might feel intimidating. Proceed with caution, and consider creating a duplicate of your theme as a backup before altering any code.
- Save your changes and review your live site to verify the removal.
What If You're Hesitant About Editing Code?
For non-techy shop owners, the idea of diving into code is daunting. If you use a free theme from Shopify, turning to Shopify Support is an option. For other themes, hiring a developer or turning to the theme's developer for specific instructions might be the path of least resistance.
Alternatives to a Blank Footer
Removing the default text leaves you with a blank canvas. What to do with it?
- Promote Social Media: Adding custom icons and linking to your social media can increase engagement outside of your store.
- Insert an Inspirational Quote: Relate to your brand's vision with a short, impactful phrase.
- Display Legal Information: Terms and Conditions or privacy policy links are common inclusions.
- Show Off Certifications or Awards: Verifiable third-party endorsements boost credibility.
Concluding the Unbranding Journey
Removing the "Powered by Shopify" message is akin to redecorating your storefront; it's asserting your brand's unique voice. It's a declaration that while you value the platform, your brand's personality and customer experience come first. Whether you decide to leave the space blank or add another layer to your brand story, the choice is now yours to make, no longer Shopify's default setting.
Now that we've unraveled the ‘how-to', consider this as initial step amongst many in customizing and optimizing your Shopify store to reflect your brand's uniqueness and foster a deeper connection with your audience.
FAQ’s
Is it permitted to remove "Powered by Shopify" from the footer? Yes, absolutely. Shopify allows store owners to fully customize their sites, including the removal of any Shopify branding in the theme.
Will removing "Powered by Shopify" impact the functionality of my store? No. Removing the branding text does not influence the store's operations.
Does the process differ for premium themes purchased outside of Shopify? Most premium themes come with setting options to remove the branding. However, if not, you can opt for either language settings or code edits, as discussed above.
Can I place a different text or link where "Powered by Shopify" once was? Yes, you have the freedom to replace the default text with anything that suits your branding strategy—be it text, links, or multimedia.
Is it necessary to hire a developer for this? Not necessarily. The language settings method should be straightforward enough for most store owners to handle without assistance. However, if you are not confident with HTML and CSS, hiring a professional may be advisable for the code-editing method.
