What a migration involves

Data goes in the order Shopify recommends: products, then customers, then historical orders, with order notifications turned off before the order import. Customer passwords can't be migrated, but Shopify's current customer accounts sign in with a one-time email code.

Shopify's URL structure is fixed, so almost every old URL changes. A complete 301 redirect map is the most important SEO task. Expect some ranking fluctuation; Google says new URLs can take a few weeks or more to show and recommends keeping redirects for at least a year.

The three things that matter most

  • Data map

    Products, variants, customers and orders mapped field by field.

  • Redirect map

    Every important old URL sent to its most relevant new page.

  • Storefront rebuild

    An Online Store 2.0 theme rather than a copy of the old site.

How I run a migration

From audit to 90 days after launch

  1. Decide what not to move

    Old products, dead content and apps you no longer need stay behind.

  2. Rebuild functionality

    Custom features and integrations are usually what takes longest, not the product import.

  3. Launch

    Data imported in order, redirects live, checkout and tracking tested end to end.

  4. Monitor

    Search Console, 404s and conversion watched closely after launch.

How to work together

Migrations run as a Store Architecture & Build.

  • Build

    Store Architecture & Build

    For: Entrepreneurs launching, brands replatforming or on old themes

    An architecture plan first, then a store built on it.

    What's included

    • Architecture plan: data model, apps, integrations and Markets
    • Online Store 2.0 theme build
    • Data migration
    • Launch QA
    Pricing
    Fixed price, from
    Price
    $8,000
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FAQ

Common questions

Will I lose my Google rankings when I move to Shopify?

Some fluctuation is normal. Rankings generally hold when every important URL has a relevant 301 redirect, content and metadata are carried over, and you keep the same domain.

Can I import order history into Shopify?

Yes, through migration apps or the Order API. Products and customers go first, and new order notifications are turned off so staff don't get an email for every imported order.

Do I need Shopify Plus to migrate a large store?

Not necessarily. Shopify allows 100,000 URL redirects on most plans and 20,000,000 on Plus, and Plus adds features for larger businesses.

How long does a migration take?

It depends on catalog size, order history, integrations and design changes. Builds usually take 6 to 10 weeks, and you get a timeline with the quote.

Related specialties and guides

Related specialties

Further reading

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Planning a move to Shopify?

Book a 20-minute architecture call before you pick a migration app.

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