How to Safely Remove a Subdomain on Shopify

How to Safely Remove Subdomains on the Shopify Platform

In the modern e-commerce landscape, Shopify is a popular platform that provides merchants with powerful tools to build and manage their online stores. However, during the use of Shopify, there may be instances where you need to remove or deactivate certain subdomains. This could be due to business adjustments, brand reshaping, or other operational needs. Regardless of the reason, it is crucial to adopt the correct method when removing subdomains to avoid negative impacts on website traffic, customer experience, and search engine optimization SEO.

Understanding the Role of Subdomains

A subdomain is a branch of the main domain, such as store in store.example.com. They are typically used to organize different services or functions, for example, a blog at blog.example.com, a mobile version at m.example.com, or a site targeting specific national markets like uk.example.com. On Shopify, subdomains can be used to point to specific applications, collections of pages, or third-party service links.

Before deciding to remove a particular subdomain, you should first evaluate whether it still holds value. If this subdomain has previously hosted significant content or functionality and is still being accessed by users, consider retaining it or redirecting visitors to another relevant page. This can prevent users from becoming confused or leaving your site because they cannot find what they expected.

Preparations Before Removing a Subdomain

Prior to taking action, several steps can help ensure a smooth process

1. Check all existing links Review if any external links point to the subdomain you plan to remove. If so, notify the owners of these links in advance to update their addresses.

2. Set up 301 permanent redirects If you decide not to use the subdomain but want to maintain its SEO relevance, set up a 301 permanent redirect to guide traffic to the new target URL. This not only helps maintain SEO rankings but also improves user experience.

3. Notify stakeholders Inform internal team members, partners, and customers about the upcoming changes and their impact scope.

How to Remove a Subdomain on Shopify

Once you have made adequate preparations, you can proceed with the actual operation in the Shopify backend

1. Log in to your Shopify account and enter the Online Store section.

2. Click on the Domains option in the left menu, where you can find a list of all added domains.

3. Locate the subdomain you wish to delete and select the Remove Domain option on the right.

4. After confirming this action, the subdomain will be removed from your store.

It should be noted that after completing the above steps, ensure no other apps or plugins depend on this subdomain to continue running. Otherwise, technical issues may arise.

Follow-Up and Monitoring

Even after completing the removal of the subdomain, the task is not yet complete. You also need to closely monitor the following aspects

Monitor website performance Regularly check the overall performance of the site, especially the newly added or changed URL structures.

Track SEO metrics Use tools like Google Analytics to observe changes in key indicators such as page views and bounce rates.

Handle unresolved requests For visitors who have not been notified and are still trying to access the deleted subdomain, provide clear information about the situation and guide them to the correct page.

By following these methods, you can effectively manage and optimize the configuration of subdomains within your Shopify store. Remember, any major changes should be approached with caution, always prioritizing user experience and long-term business goals.