Title: Optimizing Collection Pages on a Shopify Store: Navigating Client Changes
We’re currently working with a client who is looking to upgrade their Shopify theme. While the project involves considerable work due to the approximately 4,000 products, it’s largely straightforward.
As the client refines their product range, they have requested a revamped navigation structure and the creation of new collections. Consequently, many existing collection pages will become obsolete.
The challenge lies in deciding how to manage these outdated collections. Some have clear 301 redirect paths, but many others are associated with products no longer offered, making unrelated 301 redirects less effective.
We have a few options:
- We could leave the old collections intact but hidden from navigation, which would result in numerous orphaned pages.
- Alternatively, we could allow those pages to return a 404 error.
The client understands there will be a temporary impact on SEO, but we want to strategize to minimize this effect while planning for stronger mid- to long-term improvements. What approach do you think would be best for managing these obsolete collection pages?
2 responses to “How best to handle collection pages on a Shopify store – the clients wants a whole load of changes”
Handling old collection pages when upgrading a Shopify store can be a bit tricky, especially with a large number of products and significant changes to the navigation. Here are a few strategies to consider:
301 Redirects for Relevant Pages: For collections that have a related or similar product offering, it’s ideal to set up 301 redirects to ensure users and search engines are directed to relevant content. If some collections can be categorized together or if there are similar products in new collections, this can minimize the impact on SEO and user experience.
Create a Custom 404 Page: Rather than letting the old collection pages go to a standard 404, consider creating a custom 404 page that provides value to visitors. This page could highlight popular products, link to current collections, or guide users back to the home page. This way, if someone lands on an outdated URL, they won’t simply hit a dead end.
Temporarily Keep Pages as Noindex: If there are collections that don’t fit neatly into a redirect strategy, consider keeping those pages live but set them to “noindex.” This prevents them from being indexed by search engines, effectively removing them from search results while keeping the option open to revisit them in the future if necessary.
Consolidate and Inform: If some collections are being phased out but have a similar focus or aesthetic, consider consolidating them. Create a landing page that summarizes those products and informs visitors of the new direction while suggesting similar or replacement products.
Monitor and Analyze: After making the changes, closely monitor traffic to the old collection URLs. Use analytics to see if users are still trying to access these pages and how they are interacting with the new navigation. This data can further inform your long-term strategy.
Communicate with Customers: Be transparent with your customers about the changes. You can notify them via email or through a banner on the website about the updated product range and collections. This can help mitigate confusion over old collections disappearing.
In summary, the best approach tends to combine a mix of 301 redirects where possible, custom 404s, and possibly temporary noindex status for the rest. This way, you can transition smoothly while minimizing the SEO impact and maintaining a good user experience.
This is a great discussion point! Handling obsolete collection pages effectively is crucial for maintaining both user experience and SEO health. Given the options you’ve presented, I would suggest considering a third approach: consolidating some of the less successful collections into broader, more relevant categories.
This not only addresses the immediate issue of having orphaned pages but can also create a more streamlined navigation experience for visitors. You could archive the old collections and set them to return a custom “Page Not Found” that informs users about the changes and possibly redirects them to related or similar products within the new structure. This can help retain some SEO value by encouraging users to explore the active collections rather than landing on a dead end.
In addition, implementing a proper content update strategy—such as updating site maps and keeping a close eye on any broken links—will ensure that search engines can navigate the changes smoothly. Ultimately, this approach could help boost overall user engagement while also reinforcing SEO strength in the long run. How do you think the client would respond to consolidating collections versus simply hiding or redirecting them?