How to Update Robots.txt in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Brands

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Robots.txt File
3. Accessing and Editing the Robots.txt File in Shopify
4. Best Practices for Customizing Robots.txt
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
6. Testing Your Robots.txt Changes
7. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that nearly 70% of all web traffic comes from organic search? As ecommerce professionals, we understand that optimizing our online stores for search engines is not just beneficial; it's essential for driving traffic and increasing sales. One crucial component that plays a significant role in this optimization is the robots.txt file. This file informs search engine crawlers which parts of your site should or shouldn't be indexed, influencing how your website is perceived in search results.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of the robots.txt file, how to update it in Shopify, and why these updates can significantly impact your store's SEO performance. By the end of this guide, you'll have a clear understanding of how to effectively manage your robots.txt file to ensure your Shopify store is optimized for search engines, enhancing your visibility and driving sustainable growth.

This article will cover:

• What robots.txt is and its role in SEO
• How to access and edit the robots.txt file in Shopify
• Best practices for customizing your robots.txt file
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Tools to test your changes and ensure effectiveness

Let’s dive into how we can take control of our ecommerce stores by effectively managing our robots.txt file.

Understanding the Robots.txt File

What is Robots.txt?

Robots.txt is a text file that resides at the root of your website, which instructs search engine crawlers on how to interact with your site. By defining specific rules, you can control which pages or sections of your site can be accessed or indexed by search engines like Google.

For example, if you have pages with thin content or internal search results that you don’t want indexed, you can disallow those pages in your robots.txt file. This not only helps in preserving your site's crawl budget but also improves overall SEO performance by allowing search engines to focus on more valuable content.

The Default Shopify Robots.txt Configuration

Every Shopify store comes with a default robots.txt file that is automatically generated. This default configuration is optimized for most stores, but it may not address specific needs or considerations for every business. By learning how to update robots.txt in Shopify, we can tailor it to better suit our unique ecommerce strategies.

Accessing and Editing the Robots.txt File in Shopify

Step-by-Step Guide to Update Robots.txt in Shopify

1. Log into Your Shopify Admin: Start by logging into your Shopify account.

2. Navigate to Online Store: In the left sidebar, click on 'Settings', then select 'Online Store'.

3. Open the Sales Channel: Click 'Open Sales Channel' under Online Store.

4. Edit Your Theme: Click on 'Themes', then find the theme you want to edit. Click on the three dots (⋮) next to your theme and select 'Edit Code'.

5. Create or Edit robots.txt.liquid: If a robots.txt.liquid file doesn’t already exist, you’ll need to create one. Click 'Add a new template', select 'robots', and click 'Create template'. If it already exists, simply click on robots.txt.liquid.

6. Customize the File: Make the necessary edits to the file, using Liquid code to add or remove directives as needed.

7. Save Your Changes: Once you’ve made the desired changes, click 'Save'.

Important Notes

• Backup Your Original File: Before making any changes, it’s wise to back up your original robots.txt.liquid file. This way, if something goes wrong, you can easily revert to the default settings.

• Unsupported Customization: Keep in mind that editing the robots.txt.liquid file is an unsupported customization. Shopify Support will not assist you with issues arising from these changes.

Best Practices for Customizing Robots.txt

When to Update Your Robots.txt File

Updating your robots.txt file can be beneficial in several scenarios:

• To Block Thin Content: If your site has pages with little to no valuable content (like internal search results or tag pages), blocking these can improve overall SEO.

• To Manage Crawl Budget: If your store has a large number of pages, managing which pages are crawled can help search engines allocate their resources effectively.

• To Allow or Disallow Specific Crawlers: We can add specific rules to allow or block certain crawlers from accessing particular pages or directories.

Example Customizations

Here are some common customizations you may want to consider:

• Disallowing Specific Pages: To prevent crawlers from accessing the checkout page, you might add:

  User-agent: *
  Disallow: /checkout
  

• Allowing Specific Crawlers: If you want to allow a particular crawler, you can specify:

  User-agent: Googlebot
  Allow: /path-to-allow
  

• Adding a Sitemap: Including a sitemap URL helps search engines find all the important pages on your site:

  Sitemap: https://yourstore.com/sitemap.xml
  

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When customizing your robots.txt file, be cautious of the following pitfalls:

• Blocking Important Pages: One of the most common mistakes is inadvertently blocking pages that should be indexed, such as product pages or important landing pages. Always double-check which pages you are disallowing.

• Removing Default Rules: Shopify’s default rules are optimized for SEO. Removing them can lead to decreased visibility in search results. It’s typically best to leave these rules intact.

• Failing to Test Changes: After making changes to your robots.txt file, it’s crucial to test and ensure that the changes have been implemented correctly.

Testing Your Robots.txt Changes

Using Google’s Robots.txt Tester

Once you've updated your robots.txt file, you can use Google's tools to verify your changes:

1. Set Up Google Search Console: If you haven’t already, set up Google Search Console for your store.

2. Access the Robots.txt Tester: Within Google Search Console, navigate to the 'Legacy tools and reports' section and select 'robots.txt Tester'.

3. Test Your URLs: Enter the specific URLs you want to test against the robots.txt file to see if they are blocked or allowed.

4. Monitor Your Traffic: After making changes, keep an eye on your organic traffic through Google Analytics or Search Console to gauge the impact of your updates.

Conclusion

Updating the robots.txt file in Shopify is a powerful way to enhance your store's SEO and control how search engines interact with your content. By understanding the implications of your edits and following best practices, we can ensure that our online stores are optimized for search engines, leading to better visibility and increased traffic.

As we continue to embrace technological innovation, we at PowerCommerce are committed to empowering ecommerce brands like yours with cutting-edge solutions. If you're looking for a comprehensive suite of services that can enhance your storefront and drive sustainable growth, consider exploring the PowerCommerce eStore Suite.

FAQs

What is the robots.txt file used for?
The robots.txt file is used to guide search engine crawlers on which pages of a website should or should not be indexed.

Can I edit the robots.txt file in Shopify?
Yes, Shopify allows you to edit the robots.txt file through the robots.txt.liquid template.

What should I avoid when editing my robots.txt file?
Avoid blocking important pages from being indexed and removing default rules that are optimized for SEO.

How can I test if my robots.txt changes are effective?
You can test your changes using Google’s robots.txt Tester within Google Search Console.

What happens if I accidentally block important pages?
Blocking important pages can lead to a significant drop in organic traffic. It's crucial to review your edits carefully.

By understanding and applying these strategies, we can take significant steps toward optimizing our ecommerce platforms for the best possible performance. Let’s harness the power of technology and data-driven insights to elevate our online businesses.