Does Changing Your Shopify Theme Affect SEO? A Quick Guide

Updating your Shopify theme can give your store a fresh look and new features, however, it can also impact your SEO if you’re not careful. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how theme changes affect rankings, plus a checklist to switch safely.

Does changing your Shopify theme affect SEO?

Yes, depending on how you execute the change, switching your Shopify theme may have an effect on your SEO.

Why do we need to change a theme in Shopify?

Changing your Shopify theme may provide a number of significant advantages that enhance the operation and speed of your website, in addition to giving your business a new appearance. Here are some main justifications for why you should consider updating your theme:

●       Improved User Experience (UX)

●       Enhanced Mobile Responsiveness

●       Faster Website Speed

●       Stronger Security Features

●       Better App Integration

●       Advanced Customization Options

●       Improved SEO Performance

●       Enhanced Visual Appeal

●       Better Support and Regular Updates

How Changing Themes Can Help Your SEO

Changing your theme can improve your website's usability and functionality and raise your search engine rankings. Here is how it can help:

1.User Experience (UX) Improvement

A well-designed theme may facilitate user navigation throughout your company. Google will see that your material is useful if consumers stay on your site longer, which might improve your ranking.

2. Mobile Optimization

Modern Shopify themes are often used because they work well on mobile devices. Since Google prefers mobile-friendly websites, using a responsive theme can help improve your SEO.

3. Faster loading speed

Certain themes are designed to load faster. Reduced bounce rates from faster load speeds improve your site's search engine ranking.

4. Improved Structured Data

Modern Shopify themes often use better structured data to help search engines understand your content. This can lead to richer search results that show product details like price, availability, and reviews.

Potential SEO Risks When Changing Themes

Even though there are advantages, improper management of the theme switch could result in the following risks:

1. Loss of SEO Elements

Important SEO elements like title tags, alt tags, and meta descriptions can be lost if not moved properly. It’s important to make sure these stay in place during the theme change.

2. Broken links and errors 

Themes that alter navigation pathways or URL structures may cause issues and broken links. Broken links and 404 errors can harm search engine optimization and the user experience if they are not properly redirected.

3. Page Speed Issues

Your website may load more slowly if the new theme has a lot of features or assets. Google favors fast-loading pages, so your results can suffer as a result.

Characteristics of an SEO-Friendly Shopify Theme

When choosing a search engine-optimized Shopify theme, the following factors are crucial to take into account:

●     Responsive Design: By making sure your store appears fantastic on all devices, a mobile-friendly theme enhances SEO performance.

●       Quick Page Loading: To increase page performance, use a lightweight theme with code optimization.

●    Modifiable Metadata: Make sure the theme allows you to change meta tags, descriptions, and titles to increase search exposure.

●Valid HTML: Well-maintained HTML makes websites more browser-compatible and makes it easier for search engines to index them effectively.

●       Integration with Social Media: A theme that encourages social media sharing may increase traffic.

● Support for different languages: Communicating in different languages facilitates reaching audiences worldwide.

●  Image Optimization: The user experience and load speed are enhanced by themes that support optimized photos.

●       Reliable Support Service: Although it has nothing to do with SEO, excellent customer service can help with theme customization and problem solving.

What to Keep in Mind Before Changing Theme

1.     Keep Navigation the Same

A website's navigation is one of its most crucial components; it helps people find what they're searching for and makes your site simpler for search engines to grasp. It's crucial to keep your navigation layout constant when changing themes. 

If you alter it, people may find it difficult to navigate, and search engines may have trouble properly indexing your pages, which might increase the bounce rate.

2.     Maintain Heading Structure

Because header tags help search engines comprehend the content of your pages, it's critical to keep the header structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.) the same when switching themes. Sites that rank well for specific keywords may have their heading tags changed, which might lower your rankings. The headers' sequence and meaning should not change, but you can alter their visual look (color, size).

3.     Use the Same URL Structure

Using the same URL format while switching themes is crucial. Make sure the page on your new theme has the same URL, for instance, if a page on your old theme had one like "yoursite.com/page." Issues like losing ranks, confusing Google, or losing traffic if people have saved the previous URL might result from changing the URL format.

4.     Copy all of the theme.liquid's custom code

Your theme.liquid file is the primary template file that manages your Shopify store's appearance and features. Make sure to transfer all custom code from the theme.liquid file of the previous theme to the new one when you switch themes. This covers unique JavaScript, CSS, and other modifications, such as the favicon. If you don't, your website may appear faulty or lose functionality that is essential.

5.     Copy Over All Scripts

Scripts are little bits of code that provide your store with new features. Don't forget to transfer any custom scripts (like discount coupons) or Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel to your new theme.

You risk losing crucial features like discount functionality and tracking data if these scripts are not migrated. Verify that your developer has copied over all required scripts so that your website will continue to work correctly following the theme change.

 6.     Ensure Rich Scripts Are Working

Rich snippets, such as product reviews or event details, provide search engines with more information about your material. As you switch up your Shopify theme, be sure that these rich snippets continue to show up in search results. Otherwise, your click-through rate, traffic, and conversions may suffer.

Use the Google Structured Data Testing Tool and enter your URL to see whether they're functioning. Consult your developer to correct any mistakes you discover.

You can ensure that changing your Shopify theme goes easily while preserving functionality and SEO by keeping these things in mind.

How to Change Your Shopify Theme Without Hurting SEO

The following tips will help you avoid damaging your SEO, even if switching your Shopify theme might improve the look and feel of your store:

1. Backup Your Store Data

Make a manual backup of your store's contents, including product descriptions, client data, and pictures, before making any changes.

 Given that Shopify lacks an automated backup feature, exporting this data guarantees that you have a safe copy in case something goes wrong.

2. Test the New Theme

Try out the new theme using Shopify's "Preview" feature before releasing it. Examine the features, layout, and overall functionality carefully to make sure everything works as it should.

3. Review SEO Features

Compare the SEO settings in the new theme with those in your existing one. Make sure that features like structured data, alt text choices, and meta tags are configured correctly and supported.

4. Check Page Speed

SEO relies heavily on page speed. Utilize resources like Google PageSpeed Insights to evaluate how quickly your new theme loads. Remove extraneous parts, minimize huge files, and optimize photos to preserve quick performance.

5. Keep internal navigation and links up to date

Make sure your menu structure and internal connections are preserved in your new theme. You can lower your results by confusing search engines with broken links or changed navigation pathways.

6. Update Meta Tags and Alt Text

Review and revise your alt text, meta titles, and descriptions after using the new theme to keep things consistent and protect your SEO work.

7. Resubmit Your Sitemap to Google

Send in your sitemap to Google Search Console as soon as your theme update is down. You may help search engines identify the changes and speed up the indexation of your updated website by doing this.

By following these recommendations, you can be certain that altering your Shopify theme won't have a detrimental effect on your SEO results.

How Does Changing Your Shopify Theme Affect SEO?

Changing the theme on Shopify may affect SEO in a number of ways. The following important factors might be impacted:

1. Site Core and Speed Web Vitals

Both rankings and user experience may suffer with a slower theme. Prior to changing, test the speed of the new theme.

2. Modifications to Custom SEO 

It's possible that custom code for components like title tags, GTM scripts, and canonical URLs won't transfer automatically. Re-add them by hand to the updated theme.

3. Structured Data

Your chances of getting rich search results may be diminished if you lose custom updates for structured data.

4. Navigational Changes

Your site's menu layout may change if you switch themes. Make sure important links are still reachable by both people and search engines.

5. Content Layout

Modifications to the arrangement of your content may have an impact on how Google indexes and ranks your pages.

How to Minimize the Impact of Changing Your Shopify Theme

●       Backup Your Current Theme: Protect your data in case there are problems.

●   Restrict Significant Changes: Preserve internal links, URLs, layout, design, and content. Moving key components is necessary if necessary.

●       Observe Performance: Track rankings and traffic using Google Analytics and Search Console.

●      Keep Track of Custom Changes: Keep track of past modifications to make re-implementation simpler.

●     Select a Quick, Adaptable Theme: Utilize performance evaluation tools such as PageSpeed Insights.

●       Before publishing, preview: Test the theme to identify and address problems.

●   Verify whether there are any technical problems: Use Google Search Console to track crawling issues. 

Best Shopify Themes for SEO

Be Yours

This theme is responsive and fast, making it ideal for multilingual stores and rapid setup.

Key Features:

●       supports a variety of languages

●       More than thirty areas that may be customized

●       Simple preparation for a speedy launch

●       Cost: $250 (Free Trial Offer)

The Palo Alto

Perfect for businesses with plenty of images, they are SEO and mobile-friendly.

Key Features:

●       Optimized for mobile and speed

●       Using pictures to express a message visually

●       supports longer text passages for brand storytelling.

●       Cost: $280 (Free Trial Offer)

Broadcast

A flexible theme with pre-made sections for high-transaction shops and a speedy launch.

Key Features:

●       Twenty or more pre-built components for quick setup

●       Upsells and one-click add to cart features

●       Designed for high-volume retailers

●       Cost: $280; a trial is free.

Expanse

Ideal for multilingual storefronts and extensive product catalogs.

Key Features:

●       supports features for upselling and cross-selling.

●       Multilingual assistance for foreign retailers

●       Custom promotion designer for templates

●       developed specifically to facilitate drop shipment.

●       designed to support high-volume retail establishments.

●       Encourage tangible businesses.

●       One store, lifetime license.

●       $320 is the price (free trial available).

Vantage

a theme with strong transaction support and beautiful content design.

Key Features:

●       Ideal for displaying pictures

●       accommodates businesses of all sizes.

●       Managing large numbers of transactions

●       Cost: $300; a trial is free.

 Impulse

ideal for storytelling about brands and journalistic material.

Key Features:

●       Perfect for brand narratives and long-form material

●       Simple, minimalistic design

●       Excellent for displaying goods

●       $350 is the price (free trial available).

Sense

Sense provides features and high levels of customization to foster client trust.

Key Features:

●       Sophisticated layouts for product details

●       Simple modification without knowing any code

●       Helps build product trust with videos and reviews Price: Vary (Free Trial Available)

These themes offer improved functionality and design to boost search engine rankings and user experience because they are SEO-optimized.

Conclusion

With careful planning, switching up your Shopify theme may be a great way to improve your site's performance, mobile optimization, and user experience—all of which are critical for improving your site's search engine results.

Your Shopify store will always rank well in search results if you choose SEO-friendly themes and adhere to the right guidelines.