Can I Change the Domain of My Shopify Store?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is a Shopify Domain?
3. Why Consider Changing Your Domain?
4. Steps to Change Your Shopify Domain
5. Impact on SEO and How to Mitigate It
6. Best Practices for Domain Change
7. Conclusion
8. FAQs

Introduction

Have you ever wondered if you could change the domain of your Shopify store? Maybe you started your online store and later realized that the domain name doesn’t quite fit your brand. Or you've undergone a rebranding process and need your domain to reflect your new identity. Good news – you can indeed change the primary domain of your Shopify store, and it's simpler than you might think. In this blog post, we'll walk you through why you might want to change your domain, the steps to do it, and how to ensure it doesn't negatively impact your SEO and customer experience.

What is a Shopify Domain?

A Shopify domain is the web address where your store is accessible to customers. By default, when you create a Shopify account, you get a free Shopify domain in the format your-store-name.myshopify.com. This domain is primarily used for your login credentials and is not very customer-friendly. A custom domain (e.g., yourstorename.com) promotes brand credibility and trust.

Why Consider Changing Your Domain?

Rebranding

One common reason to change your domain is a rebrand. A new brand name might need a matching domain to ensure consistency and to avoid confusing your customers.

New Market Positioning

As your business evolves, you might expand your product or service lineup, moving beyond what your current domain suggests. A new domain can better represent your broadening horizons.

Acquisition or Merger

When acquiring another business or merging with another company, a new domain might be necessary to unify the new business entity under one digital roof.

Misleading Domain

You may find your current domain misleading for customers, which can increase your bounce rate. An updated domain can provide clarity and more accurately represent your store’s offerings.

Steps to Change Your Shopify Domain

Purchasing a New Domain via Shopify

1. Log into Shopify Admin: Go to your Shopify admin panel.
2. Navigate to Domains: In the left-hand menu, click on "Online Store" and then "Domains".
3. Purchase New Domain: Click the "Buy new domain" button. Search for your desired domain name and follow the payment instructions.
4. Set New Domain as Primary: After purchase, return to the "Domains" section and click "Change primary domain". Select your newly purchased domain and click "Save".

Connecting an External Domain

If you’ve purchased a domain through a third-party provider, follow these steps:

1. Log into Shopify Admin: As before, log into your Shopify admin panel.
2. Navigate to Domains: Go to "Online Store" and then "Domains".
3. Connect Existing Domain: Click "Connect existing domain" and enter your new domain name. Follow the instructions to set up DNS records via your domain provider's dashboard, ensuring your A record points to Shopify's IP address (23.227.38.32) and the CNAME to shops.myshopify.com.

Transferring a Domain to Shopify

For a more integrated approach, you can transfer your domain to be fully managed by Shopify:

1. Initiate Transfer: Go to "Online Store" → "Domains" → "Transfer domain".
2. Enter Domain: Follow the instructions to enter the domain you're transferring. This often involves unlocking your domain at your current registrar and acquiring an authorization code.
3. Complete Transfer: Enter the required details in Shopify to complete the transfer process.

Impact on SEO and How to Mitigate It

Setting Up 301 Redirects

To ensure you don’t lose any SEO equity, set up 301 redirects. This will guide any visitors from your old domain to your new one without any search engine penalty.

1. Navigate to URL Redirects: In your Shopify admin, go to "Online Store" → "Navigation" → "URL Redirects".
2. Create Redirect: Add a new URL redirect for the old URLs to the new ones.

Updating Backlinks and Social Media Links

Review all external links pointing to your old domain, including backlinks, social media profiles, blog posts, and paid ads. Update these to point to your new domain whenever possible.

Best Practices for Domain Change

Notify Your Customers

Communication is key. Inform your customers about the domain change via email newsletters, social media posts, and announcements on your website. This ensures they don’t get confused and can still find your store easily.

Monitor SEO Performance

After the domain change, closely monitor your website’s SEO performance. Use tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to keep track of traffic levels and search rankings. Any significant drops can help you identify and rectify issues promptly.

Landing Page

Create a landing page on your old domain announcing your new domain. This helps in redirecting users and providing information about the change.

Conclusion

Changing your Shopify store’s domain can seem daunting, but with the right steps, it can be a smooth and beneficial transition. From rebranding to better representing your business offerings, a new domain can rejuvenate your online presence. Just remember to follow best practices for SEO and customer communication to ensure a seamless switch. With proper planning and execution, your new domain can contribute positively to your brand’s growth and recognition.

FAQs

1. Can I change my primary domain on Shopify?

Yes, you can change your primary domain. You can either purchase a new domain through Shopify or connect an existing external domain.

2. How will changing my domain affect my SEO?

Changing your domain will affect your SEO temporarily. To minimize the impact, set up 301 redirects and update all backlinks and marketing materials to the new domain.

3. Can I keep my original .myshopify.com domain?

Your original .myshopify.com domain will still exist and be used for login purposes, but it will redirect visitors to your new primary domain.

4. Will I lose customers when I change my domain?

If you properly set up 301 redirects and effectively communicate the change to your customers, the risk of losing customers is minimal.

5. How long does it take for a new domain to become active?

Domains purchased via Shopify are usually active within 48 hours. External domains can take up to 72 hours to propagate fully.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently answer the question, "Can I change the domain of my Shopify store?" and execute a domain change smoothly.