To prevent broken links on your Shopify store, you must be proactive in managing your URLs. The best practices include using permanent 301 redirects before deleting pages, regularly auditing your site for errors, and establishing consistent URL structures.
Prevention is more efficient than fixing broken links after they appear. The Doc 404 app streamlines this process by providing real-time alerts when new 404 errors appear, allowing you to address issues before they impact significant traffic.
Proactive Strategies to Prevent 404 Errors
Create a 301 redirect before deleting any page. When you remove a product, collection, or page, you should immediately create a permanent 301 redirect. This sends anyone clicking on the old link to a relevant, active page instead of a "Page Not Found" error.
Best practice dictates redirecting deleted product pages to similar products or the relevant collection. If there is no relevant replacement, redirecting to the homepage or a contact page is an option. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store, then Navigation, and click View URL Redirects to manually create the redirect.
Avoid changing existing URLs whenever possible. Once a URL is established, it is best to leave it alone. Changing a URL without a redirect will immediately break any internal and external links pointing to it. If you must change a URL, always create a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one.
Use a clear and consistent URL structure across your store. Messy or confusing URLs increase the chances of broken links from typos. Keep your URLs clean and descriptive to reduce errors and improve SEO. For example, use /collections/summer-sale instead of /collections/123456.
Regular Monitoring and Maintenance
Establish team workflows that require redirect planning as part of catalog updates. Before anyone deletes a product, they should verify whether it needs a redirect and create one if necessary. This prevents broken links from appearing in the first place.
Implement monitoring systems using Doc 404 to alert you when new 404 errors appear. Even with prevention measures, some broken links will occur. Early detection allows quick fixes before significant traffic is affected or SEO damage accumulates.
Review internal links regularly. Check navigation menus, footer links, and content pages for outdated URLs. Update these links to point directly to current pages rather than relying on redirects. This improves site structure and avoids unnecessary redirect hops.
When redesigning your store or changing themes, audit all internal links before launch. Theme changes often break custom links or navigation elements. Testing thoroughly in a staging environment prevents customer-facing issues.
Create a custom 404 page as a safety net. Despite your best efforts, some broken links may still occur. A helpful custom 404 page should include a search bar, links to popular products or collections, and a friendly on-brand message. This keeps customers engaged even when they encounter an error.
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