Shopify is an incredible eCommerce platform, but there's one major issue that often flies under the radar—and it could be hurting your store's ability to get found on Google.
Here’s the deal: Google struggles to index Shopify product pages correctly, and that directly affects your organic traffic and revenue.
It might not seem like a big deal, but trust me, it is. Some businesses have seen revenue jump by over $100,000 per month just by fixing this one issue.
So let’s break it down. I’ll explain the problem, why it happens, and—most importantly—how you can fix it right away.
Shortcuts:
- Why Google Struggles to Index Shopify Product Pages
- How to Fix Shopify Product Page URL Issue
- 3 Positive Impacts to SEO
- 4 Other Quick Shopify SEO Enhancements
Source: TheGenieLab
Why Google Struggles to Index Shopify Product Pages
Shopify’s default product page URLs have a small quirk that can cause big SEO problems. By default, Shopify structures product links like this:
That "within: collection" filter forces Shopify to generate product URLs that include the collection name. This means the same product could end up with multiple different URLs:
- example.com/collections/shoes/products/running-shoe
- example.com/collections/bestsellers/products/running-shoe
- example.com/products/running-shoe
This confuses Google because, with this URL structure, it sees multiple versions of the same page and isn’t sure which one to prioritize. The result? Weaker rankings and less traffic to your store.
How to Fix Shopify Product Page URL Issue
The fix is actually pretty simple. You just need to remove the "within: collection" filter so all product links point directly to the canonical product URL. Instead of using the default Shopify code, update it to:
That’s it! Now, all product links will lead straight to the correct product page without any extra collection paths.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix It
- Log in to Shopify Admin
- Go to Online Store → Themes
- Click “Edit Code” on Your Active Theme
- Locate the File Containing Product Links
- Check files like product-grid-item.liquid, product-card.liquid, or collection.liquid.
- Update the Product Link Code
- Save Changes & Test
- Visit a product page and check if it now links to example.com/products/product-name instead of collection-based URLs.
3 Positive Impacts to SEO
- Improved Indexing & Rankings: Google will finally be able to index the correct product URL, giving your pages a better chance of ranking higher in search results.
- Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR): Clean, direct URLs look more trustworthy, making shoppers more likely to click on them.
- Increased Organic Traffic & Sales: Fixing this one issue has helped countless Shopify stores boost their traffic and sales. Your store could be next.
4 Other Quick Shopify SEO Enhancements
While you're at it, here are a few more Shopify SEO improvements that can make a big difference:
- Optimize product page titles & meta descriptions – Use compelling, keyword-rich titles and descriptions.
- Improve internal linking – Link to key products from category pages and blog posts to strengthen their authority.
- Implement schema markup – Add structured data to help Google display rich snippets, like star ratings and prices.
- Optimize site speed – Compress images, enable lazy loading, and minimize scripts to speed up your store.
Final Thoughts
Shopify is an amazing platform, but small SEO issues like this can cost you thousands in lost revenue. The good news? It’s an easy fix.
By removing collection paths from your product URLs, you’ll improve indexing, boost rankings, and drive more organic sales.
If you haven’t checked your Shopify product URLs yet, now’s the time. Make this simple update, and watch your SEO performance take off!
About the author:
I'm Mick and I run the growth team at POWR. We make no-code apps and plugins for e-commerce shop owners and small businesses globally. Last I checked, we have over 18 million POWR apps in the wild and in every country on Earth 😎
My career spans two decades, primarily in growth marketing and advertising with stints in broadcast television, healthcare marketing, and copy editing.
I went to the College of Journalism at the University of Louisiana - Monroe. My wife Elizabeth, son Gavin, and pup Jolene (yes, only Jolene gets in the picture lol) call Lafayette, Louisiana, home.
