Navigating the complexities of e-commerce can often lead to the need for adjustments, including the modification of open path names on Shopify. Whether you’re seeking a more intuitive URL structure or addressing potential SEO concerns, understanding the process of changing open path names is crucial for a seamless online presence. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the nitty-gritty of open path name modification, empowering you with the knowledge and steps necessary to effectively execute this change.
To begin with, it’s essential to grasp the concept of open path names in Shopify. These are the human-readable URLs that represent your products, collections, and other pages on your website. By default, Shopify assigns open path names based on the page title. While this may suffice for basic needs, customizing these names allows for greater flexibility, improved user experience, and enhanced SEO optimization. By crafting clear and informative open path names, you can enhance the overall functionality and appeal of your online store.
Before embarking on the process of changing open path names, it’s prudent to consider the potential implications. While the changes may seem minor, they can have a ripple effect on various aspects of your website. Existing links, both internal and external, may become invalid, requiring updates to ensure seamless navigation. Additionally, any SEO efforts tied to the original open path names may be affected. It’s advisable to carefully weigh the benefits of the changes against any potential disruptions to your website’s performance and visibility. With proper planning and attention to detail, you can minimize the impact and reap the rewards of customized open path names.
Understanding the Open Path Name
The open path name, also known as the URL slug, is the portion of a URL that appears after the domain name. It typically consists of words or phrases that describe the content of the page and helps search engines and users identify the topic of the page. For example, in the URL https://example.com/blog/how-to-change-open-path-name-on-Shopify, the open path name is how-to-change-open-path-name-on-Shopify.
The open path name plays a crucial role in SEO, as it provides valuable information to search engines about the content of a page. A well-optimized open path name can help improve a page’s ranking in search results and make it easier for users to find relevant information.
When creating an open path name, it’s important to follow best practices:
- Keep it short and descriptive: Aim for 5-7 words or less, and make sure it accurately reflects the content of the page.
- Use keywords: Include relevant keywords that users might search for when looking for information on the topic.
- Use hyphens to separate words: This helps search engines and users read and understand the open path name.
- Avoid using stop words: Stop words like “the,” “and,” and “of” are unnecessary and can be omitted from the open path name.
- Make it unique: Each page should have its own unique open path name to avoid duplicate content issues.
Locating the Open Path Name
The open path name, also known as the handle, is a unique identifier for each page on your Shopify store. It’s used in the URL of the page and is typically based on the page’s title. To locate the open path name for a specific page:
- Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
- Click on the “Online Store” tab.
- Click on the “Pages” link.
- Find the page you want to locate the open path name for and click on it.
- Look for the “Open Path Name” field in the page’s settings.
The open path name will be displayed in the field. You can edit the open path name by typing a new one into the field and clicking on the “Save” button.
| Example | Open Path Name |
|---|---|
| Home page | index |
| Products page | products |
| Contact us page | contact-us |
Navigating to the Theme Editor
1. Log into your Shopify account and select the store you want to edit.
2. From your Shopify admin, select “Online Store.” Then, select “Themes” from the dropdown menu.
3. Find the “Edit Code” button for the theme you want to edit and click on it.
4. This will open the theme editor, where you can make changes to the code of your theme.
Editing the Liquid Code
To change the Open Path Name, you’ll need to edit your store’s Liquid code. Here’s how:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Actions > Edit Code.
- In the Assets tab, open the snippets/header.liquid file.
- Locate the following code:
“`liquid
“` - Replace the existing Open Path Name with your new name. For example:
“`liquid
“` - Click Save.
- Go to Settings > Online Store in your Shopify admin.
- Click on the Domains tab.
- Select the domain you want to edit.
- Scroll down to the Search Engine Optimization section.
- Locate the Open Path Names field.
- Enter the new open path name(s) you want to use.
- Click on the Preview button.
- Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
- Click on “Online Store” in the left-hand menu.
- Click on “Pages.”
- Click on the page you want to change the open path name for.
- In the “URL and Handle” section, enter your desired open path name in the “Open path name” field.
- Click on “Save.”
More Information:
Here’s a table summarizing some details that may be helpful when editing the Liquid code:
| Code | Description |
|
meta name=”google-signin-client_id” |
The name of the meta tag used by Google Sign-in |
|
{{ google_signin_client_id }} |
A placeholder for the Open Path Name |
Previewing the Changes
Before making any changes to your open path names, it’s crucial to preview them and ensure they align with your desired outcome. This will help you make informed decisions and avoid potential errors that could impact your store’s functionality.
Shopify provides a preview feature that allows you to see how the changes will affect your store’s URLs and search results. To preview the changes, follow these steps:
Shopify will display a preview of the changes, including the updated URLs and search results. You can review the preview to make sure that everything looks as expected.
If you are satisfied with the preview, you can click on the Save button to apply the changes. If you need to make further adjustments, simply edit the open path name(s) and preview again until you are satisfied with the results.
| Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|
| /collections/apparel | /apparel |
| /blogs/news | /news |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Unable to Change Open Path Name
Cause: The open path name is already taken.
Solution: Choose a unique open path name that is not already in use.
Unwanted Redirects
Cause: An app or theme is conflicting with the open path name change.
Solution: Disable all apps and themes, then re-enable them one by one until you find the culprit. Remove or adjust the conflicting element.
Open Path Name Not Showing in Navigation
Cause: The open path name is not assigned to a menu item.
Solution: Go to Online Store > Navigation, select the desired menu, and add the open path name as a menu item.
Errors when Editing Open Path Name
Cause: Invalid characters or formatting in the open path name.
Solution: Ensure that the open path name meets the following requirements:
| Character | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Letters | a-z, A-Z |
| Numbers | 0-9 |
| Hyphens | – |
| Underscores | _ |
| Length | 3-255 characters |
Best Practices for Open Path Names
1. Use Descriptive Names
Choose names that clearly describe the content of the file, such as “product-images/summer-collection/dress.png”.
2. Keep It Concise
Limit path names to 255 characters to avoid potential issues with file systems that have character limits.
3. Use Lowercase and Underscores
Use lowercase letters and underscores to improve readability and search optimization. For example, “product_images” instead of “PRODUCT IMAGES”.
4. Avoid Special Characters
Exclude special characters like spaces, commas, and slashes, as they can cause issues with file processing and searching.
5. Use Consistent Naming Conventions
Establish a consistent naming convention across all open path names to ensure organizational structure and ease of navigation.
6. Optimize for Search
Include relevant keywords in path names to enhance search engine optimization (SEO) and improve search results.
7. Consider File Organization
Organize files and folders logically using a hierarchical structure to facilitate file management and retrieval. For example:
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
| /product-images/summer-collection/dress.png | Image of a dress from the summer collection |
| /product-details/dress.txt | Product description text file for the dress |
| /product-reviews/dress.json | JSON file containing customer reviews for the dress |
Understanding the Impact on URLs
1. What is an Open Path Name?
An Open Path Name (OPN) is the specified portion of a URL that identifies a resource on a web server. It’s the part of the URL after the domain name and before any query parameters. For example, in the URL `https://example.com/my-product`, “my-product” is the OPN.
2. Why Change an OPN?
You may want to change an OPN for various reasons, such as improving SEO, creating a more user-friendly URL structure, or consolidating multiple pages.
3. How to Change an OPN on Shopify
To change an OPN on Shopify, navigate to “Products” in the admin dashboard. Select the product you want to edit and click on “Edit Website SEO.” In the “URL and Handle” section, modify the “Handle” field to change the OPN.
4. Redirecting Old URLs
When you change an OPN, the old URL will no longer be valid. It’s important to set up redirects to the new URL to avoid 404 errors and preserve SEO value.
5. Use Custom Redirects
Shopify allows you to create custom redirects through the “Online Store” > “Navigation” > “URL Redirects” section. Specify the old OPN as the “From” URL and the new OPN as the “To” URL.
6. Update Sitemaps and Backlinks
Inform search engines and other websites about the URL changes by updating your XML sitemaps and notifying sites that have linked to your old URLs.
7. Use a Redirect App
If you have a large number of URLs to redirect, consider using a third-party app from the Shopify App Store to automate the process.
8. Monitor Results and Track SEO Impacts
After implementing the changes, monitor the website traffic and search engine rankings to ensure that the new OPNs are performing as expected. Use tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track SEO impacts.
Changing Your Open Path Name on Shopify
Your open path name is the URL of a specific page on your Shopify store. It serves as a unique identifier for that page and affects its visibility in search engine results. To change your open path name, follow these steps:
SEO Considerations for Open Path Names
When choosing an open path name, consider the following SEO factors:
1. Use Keyword-Rich URLs
Incorporate relevant keywords into your open path names to improve your page’s visibility in search engine results.
2. Keep URLs Short and Concise
Long open path names can be difficult to read and remember. Aim for short, descriptive URLs that convey the content of the page.
3. Use Hyphens to Separate Words
Hyphens make your URLs easier to read and understand. Avoid using underscores or other characters to separate words.
4. Avoid Dynamic Parameters
Avoid using dynamic parameters (e.g., “?product_id=123”) in your open path names. These parameters can make your URLs messy and difficult to remember.
5. Use Canonical URLs
If you have multiple pages with similar content, use canonical URLs to specify the preferred version to search engines.
6. Avoid Blacklisted Words
Certain words are blacklisted by search engines and can hurt your rankings. Avoid using these words in your open path names.
7. Use Secure URLs (HTTPS)
HTTPS URLs are considered more secure than HTTP URLs. Use HTTPS URLs whenever possible to improve your search engine rankings.
8. Optimize Open Path Names for Mobile
Make sure your open path names are optimized for mobile devices. Avoid using long or complex URLs that may be difficult to read on smaller screens.
9. Monitor and Track Open Path Names
Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor the performance of your open path names. Track their organic search traffic, click-through rates, and conversion rates to identify opportunities for improvement.
Alternative Approaches for Customizing URLs
In addition to the default options, Shopify offers alternative methods to customize URLs:
Changing URLs Using Product Import
When importing products via a CSV file, you can override the original open path by specifying the desired URL in the “Handle” field.
Customizing URLs Using 301 Redirects
You can set up 301 redirects to point your old open path to a new one. This ensures that any existing links or bookmarks will redirect to the correct URL.
Editing URLs Manually
In some cases, you may need to manually edit the open path of a product. To do so, navigate to the product’s page in Shopify, click on “Edit Product”, and enter the desired URL in the “Handle” field.
Using URL Shorteners
For long or complex URLs, consider using a URL shortener to make them more user-friendly and shareable.
Optimizing URLs for SEO
Keep your URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich to improve your search engine rankings.
Avoid Using Special Characters
Special characters like spaces, dashes, or underscores can affect URL readability and search engine indexing.
Consider Using Product Variants
If you have multiple variants of a product with different URLs, consider using product variants instead.
Test Your URLs
Always test your customized URLs to ensure they work correctly and redirect users as expected.
How To Change Open Path Name On Shopify
Changing the open path name on Shopify is a simple process that can be completed in a few steps. First, log in to your Shopify account and click on the “Settings” tab. Next, click on the “Payment Providers” subtab and then on the “Authorize.net” payment gateway. Finally, scroll down to the “Open Path Name” field and enter the new name you want to use. Click on the “Save” button to save your changes.
The open path name is the friendly name that is displayed to customers when they are selecting a payment method on your checkout page. You can choose any name you want, but it is important to choose a name that is clear and easy to understand.
People Also Ask About
How can I find the open path name for my Shopify store?
To find the open path name for your Shopify store, log in to your Shopify account and click on the “Settings” tab. Next, click on the “Payment Providers” subtab and then on the “Authorize.net” payment gateway. The open path name will be displayed in the “Open Path Name” field.
How can I change the open path name for my Shopify store?
To change the open path name for your Shopify store, log in to your Shopify account and click on the “Settings” tab. Next, click on the “Payment Providers” subtab and then on the “Authorize.net” payment gateway. Scroll down to the “Open Path Name” field and enter the new name you want to use. Click on the “Save” button to save your changes.
What is a good open path name to use for my Shopify store?
A good open path name to use for your Shopify store is one that is clear and easy to understand. You can choose any name you want, but it is important to avoid using names that are confusing or misleading.
