Shopify SEO Migration [2023] How to Switch and Still Rank!

Shopify SEO Migration? Don’t panic, it’s not a sci-fi term.

If you’re a Shopify store owner looking to switch to a new website or improve your SEO game, this article is for you.

Get ready to discover the dos and don’ts of Shopify SEO migration and boost your online visibility. Let’s dive in!

Shopify SEO Migration – The 3 Important Stages

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, offering a range of features to help you run a successful online store. But to ensure that your store gets the visibility it deserves in search engines, you need to invest in Shopify SEO migration. 

This process involves moving your store from its current platform to Shopify while maintaining or improving your search engine rankings.

Here are the three important stages of Shopify SEO migration:

Stage 1 – Pre-migration Preparation

Before you start the migration process, it’s important to take the time to prepare your store. This will help to minimize any negative impacts on your search engine rankings during the migration process. Here are some important tasks you need to do:

When Creating a Shopify Store

When creating a new Shopify store, it’s important to consider SEO from the beginning. This means choosing a relevant domain name, setting up a sitemap, optimizing product pages, and creating quality content. Doing these tasks from the start will help to ensure that your store is set up for success in search engine rankings.

Make Sure You Create a Backup!

Before migrating your store to Shopify, it’s crucial to create a backup of your existing store. This backup will help you to recover your store in case anything goes wrong during the migration process.

Setup 301 Redirects from Old URL to New Shopify URL

One of the most important things to do during the Shopify SEO migration process is to set up 301 redirects from your old URL to your new Shopify URL. This will help to ensure that search engines can find your new store and that your customers can continue to find your products.

Check Canonical URLs

When you migrate your store to Shopify, it’s important to check that the canonical URLs of your web pages are correct. The canonical URL is the URL that search engines consider to be the primary URL for a specific page. This ensures that search engines don’t index duplicate content and that your rankings don’t suffer.

Use Hreflang Tags for Multilingual Brands

If your store caters to customers in multiple countries or regions, it’s important to use hreflang tags to indicate the language and geographical targeting of your pages. This helps search engines to understand which versions of your content to show to users based on their location and language preferences.

Stage 2 – Migration

Once you have completed the pre-migration preparation stage, it’s time to move on to the actual migration process. This stage involves moving your store to Shopify, including all your content, products, and data. Here are the important tasks you need to do during this stage:

Create a Test Site

Before you start the migration process, it’s important to create a test site on Shopify. This test site will allow you to migrate your store without affecting your live site. You can test all the functionality of your site on the test site before making it live.

Migrate Your Content

The next step is to migrate all your content, products, and data to Shopify. This can be done using various migration tools or by manually copying and pasting your content into Shopify. Make sure that all your content is properly formatted and optimized for SEO.

Check All Your Internal Links

When you migrate your store to Shopify, it’s important to check all your internal links to make sure they are working properly. This includes links to your product pages, category pages, and other important pages on your site. Any broken or incorrect links can affect your search engine rankings, so it’s important to fix them before making your site live.

Stage 3 – Post-Migration

Once your store is live on Shopify, it’s important to focus on post-migration optimization to ensure that your store continues to rank well in search engines. Here are some important tasks you need to do during this stage:

Check Google Analytics

Check your Google Analytics to make sure that your site is receiving traffic from search engines. Monitor your traffic sources, bounce rates, and other key metrics to identify any issues and opportunities for improvement.

Adjust Google Search Console

Make sure that your Google Search Console is properly configured for your new Shopify store. Check for any crawl errors, submit your sitemap, and monitor your search engine performance to ensure that your site is properly indexed.

Recrawl Your Old URLs

Recrawl your old URLs to make sure that they are properly redirected to your new Shopify site. Use a crawling tool to identify any broken links or other issues and fix them as needed.

Crawl the New Website

Use a crawling tool to crawl your new Shopify site and identify any issues that may be affecting your search engine rankings. Check for duplicate content, broken links, and other technical issues that may be negatively impacting your site’s performance.

Get Your Backlinks Back!

If you have backlinks pointing to your old site, it’s important to reach out to the website owners and ask them to update the links to your new Shopify site. This will ensure that you maintain your backlink profile and continue to build authority in your niche.

Monitor Your New Website

Monitor your new Shopify site for any issues or opportunities for improvement. Use analytics tools to track your traffic and conversions, and use feedback from customers to identify areas where you can improve your site’s user experience.

By following these post-migration optimization steps, you can ensure that your Shopify store continues to rank well in search engines and drive traffic and sales to your business. Keep monitoring your site regularly and making improvements as needed to stay ahead of the competition.

FAQs about Shopify SEO Migration 

Is Shopify any good for SEO?

Yes, Shopify is generally considered good for SEO. It has a range of built-in SEO features such as customizable meta tags, sitemap generation, and mobile responsiveness, and integrates well with third-party SEO tools. Additionally, Shopify’s fast loading speeds and secure hosting can help improve website performance, which can positively impact SEO.

Is SEO difficult in Shopify?

SEO in Shopify can be challenging for some users, especially those who are not familiar with the platform or SEO best practices. However, Shopify has a range of built-in SEO features and integrates well with third-party SEO tools, which can make the process easier for those who take the time to learn and implement best practices.

Does migrating websites affect SEO?

Yes, migrating websites can potentially affect SEO if not done properly. During the migration process, it’s important to maintain the integrity of the website’s URL structure, optimize site speed and mobile responsiveness, and ensure that all redirects are properly implemented. Any missteps during the migration process can lead to broken links, lost traffic, and diminished search engine visibility.

Can I migrate my Shopify store?

Yes, it is possible to migrate a Shopify store to another platform or to a different Shopify account. However, it is important to plan the migration carefully and consider factors such as URL structure, content, and redirects to ensure that the migration is successful and does not negatively impact SEO or website performance.

How much does it cost to migrate to Shopify?

The cost of migrating to Shopify depends on several factors, including the size and complexity of the website, the number of products and customers, and the level of customization required. Some Shopify migration services offer packages ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the level of service and support required.

Is Shopify or WordPress better?

Shopify and WordPress are both powerful platforms for building websites, but their suitability depends on individual needs. Shopify is a dedicated e-commerce platform, with built-in features and functionality for online selling, while WordPress is a more flexible platform with a wider range of customization options, but may require more technical expertise.

Final Thoughts about Shopify SEO Migration

Migrating your SEO to Shopify can have a significant impact on your online visibility and search engine rankings. By following the pre-migration checklist, carefully navigating the migration process, and implementing the post-migration checklist, you can ensure a smooth transition and maintain or improve your search engine rankings.

With Shopify’s built-in SEO features and user-friendly platform, you can take your e-commerce business to the next level and stay ahead of the competition.