Redirecting frequently visited 404 pages (to most relevant collections/product pages)

Explanation & Implementation Guide

Explanation

When users encounter 404 errors on your Shopify site, it can negatively affect their experience and, consequently, hurt your SEO performance. Frequent visits to non-existent pages can lead to frustration, increased bounce rates, and missed opportunities for engagement or conversions. By redirecting these frequently visited 404 pages to the most relevant collections or product pages, you help salvage user journeys, improve the user experience, and potentially convert visitors into buyers. Strategically redirecting 404 pages is a positive SEO practice, enhancing user satisfaction and retention.

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Implementation Guide

Access Google Analytics:

Log in to your Google Analytics account associated with your Shopify website.
Navigate to Behavior > Site Content > All Pages in the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Behavior:

Site Content > All Pages: In the left-hand menu, go to Behavior > Site Content > All Pages.

Set Date Range and Apply Filters:

Set the date range for analysis to examine a relevant time period for your site.
Look for pages with URLs containing “/404” or pages marked as 404 errors.

Analyze Pageviews and Exit Rates:

Identify pages with high pageviews but also high exit rates. These pages are potentially frequently visited 404 pages, indicating users are frequently encountering broken links or missing content.

Fixing the Issue

Log in to Shopify Admin:

Access your Shopify admin dashboard

Navigate to Online Store > Navigation:

Go to Online Store > Navigation in the admin panel.

Create a URL Redirect:

Create a new redirect specifically for the 404 pages by clicking on “Create URL Redirect.”
Alternatively, you can import a CSV file containing the list of 404 URLs and their corresponding redirects.

Add Redirects:

Add redirects for the frequently visited 404 pages, pointing them to the most relevant collections, product pages, or other relevant content on your site.
Ensure the destinations are aligned with the context of the missing pages to provide a seamless experience for users.

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