Why You Should Never Delete, Unpublish, or otherwise Hide Products on the Web (2024)

When selling in the online marketplace, there will eventually come a time when you either run out of a product you carry or decide that the demand for it has waned and it is no longer profitable to sell. Often when this occurs sellers will delete the product or hide the product from shoppers. While this may seem likean easy way to clean up and keep your dashboard nice and tidy, by removing these products you are failing to implement an easy SEO strategy that will pay off and win you additional traffic with time.

How will deleting a product hurt your SEO?

Removing products may not only frustrateyour customers with an error page or 'MIA' product, but it can also affect the rankings and other SEO properties that your product has already gained. Deleting a product will:

  • Eliminate the organic rankings that that product page had generated for your site and may resultin your site being ranked lower
  • Cause a break in the inbound links that go to the product page from other websites or blog content
  • Remove the image rankings that the product image has generated
  • Result in removalfrom the index due to broken links created from the removal of product images

What to do instead

Instead of just deleting products off of your site there are a few options to help your customers avoid any confusion while still being able to reap the benefits of the page's long-termSEO history.

  1. Remove the 'Add to Cart' button with a "Sold Out' button- The first step we suggest when you have a product that is no longer available is to replace the add to cart button on the product page with a button that instead reads 'Sold Out' or 'Item Unavailable' so that the customer will not become frustrated when they are unable to complete their purchase.
  2. Include a note that the item is no longer available- When your customer lands on the old product page, have a clearly written note indicating the item is no longer in stock. The page will not be removed from rankings, but your customers will know immediatelythat they are unable to purchase that item.
  3. Provide a new link on the page for a similar item- Determine what type of product yourconsumer would be interested in and provide a selected link on the page of the product that is no longer available. You will not only direct them to another item but will keep them on your site longer. One great way to find an alternative link is through a 'Related Products' section that automatically displays products from the same collection.

While maintaining a clean listing of products may make managingyour store a little easier in the short term, you run the risk of losing hard earned SEO 'link juice'. Instead, follow the steps we listed above to help keep your site ranking and keep your customers happy and engaged.

1 comment

  • This was EXACTLY the answer to what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!

    Aisha Rawji on

Why You Should Never Delete, Unpublish, or otherwise Hide Products on the Web (2024)

FAQs

Should you delete sold out items on Shopify? ›

You need to delete the page when you permanently discontinue a product. So, there could be various product pages or collection pages on your shopify site that you need to delete permanently.

What does it mean when Facebook Marketplace says there are issues with your item? ›

If you see There are issues with your product next to your listing, it wasn't approved because it goes against our Commerce Policies. Other people on Marketplace can't see this listing.

How do you remove a product? ›

To remove a product you no longer use, follow the steps below. Manage your Google Account. At the top, tap Data & privacy. Under "Download or delete your data," tap Delete a Google service.

Can you delete listing on Mercari? ›

To deactivate your listings, go to your profile and tap “My listings.” Select the listings you want to deactivate or “Select All,” and then tap “Deactivate.” To reactivate your listings, go to your profile and tap “My listings” > “Inactive.” Then select the listings you want to reactivate or “Select all,” then tap “ ...

What happens when you delete products from Shopify? ›

You can delete a single product, or delete multiple products at the same time using a bulk action. When you delete a product, it's permanently removed from Shopify. Deleted products can't be restored.

What are the six reasons for deleting a product or product line? ›

Deleting a Product or Product Line
  • Obsolescence.
  • Loss of appeal.
  • Conflict with current company objectives.
  • Replacement with new products.
  • Lack of profit.
  • Conflict with other products in the line.

How do I get unblocked from Marketplace on Facebook 2022? ›

If you think you haven't gone against our policies, please contact our team so we can take another look:
  1. Go to facebook.com/marketplace.
  2. Tap Request review.
  3. We'll review your appeal and respond to you as soon as possible. Check for updates in your Support inbox or the email associated with your Facebook account.

Why did Facebook ban me from Marketplace for no reason? ›

It's possible that your account was banned due to members' feedback the Facebook team received or you may have overused a feature. Or Facebook noticed unusual traffic. Lastly, it may be because you sent a lot of messages recently or your messages have been marked as unwelcome.

What can I do if someone sold me something that doesn t work on Facebook? ›

Contact the seller first to let them know there's a problem with the purchase. For eligible purchases, if you can't resolve the issue directly with the seller, you may submit a claim through Facebook or Instagram.

What happens when you remove a product? ›

When we remove a product from an equilibrium system, the equilibrium goes towards the right, making the product, and suppose if we remove a reactant, equilibrium will shift towards the left, making the reactant.

What does removing a product do? ›

If we add product, equilibrium goes left, away from the product. If we remove product, equilibrium goes right, making product. If we remove reactant, equilibrium goes left, making reactant.

What do you mean by product deletion? ›

a situation in which a manufacturer permanently stops selling a particular product: Product deletion of slow moving items is encouraged to make space for new items. Compare. product withdrawal.

What happens if you cancel too many times on Mercari? ›

Reviewing Cancellations

This helps keep buyers and sellers updated on how often they are cancelling their orders. Cancellations are not used in your overall review count and will not have an impact on your star rating. If you cancel too frequently, your cancellation rate will become visible to other users on Mercari.

What happens if you sell more than 600 on Mercari? ›

You'll need to fill out a substitute W-9 form for your account to sell $600 or more in gross sales on Mercari. We'll send you a reminder when it's time to submit your tax identification information. At the end of the calendar year, Mercari will provide a 1099-K document which details your gross sales.

What happens if you get a warning on Mercari? ›

Mercari may send out warning messages if you've listed a prohibited item or engaged in prohibited conduct. Warnings may also include temporary suspensions, account restrictions, or termination depending on the severity of the warning or number of prior warnings received.

Does deleting something actually delete it? ›

When you delete a file from your computer, it doesn't simply disappear from existence—at least, not right away. Even if you immediately empty the Recycle Bin or Trash folder, all your deletion does is earmark the space that file takes up on your hard drive as vacant.

Can you see deleted products on Shopify? ›

Deleted objects are not available in the API. The product ID is the only detail you can get when a product is deleted. Other details are not available.

What happens when you delete something from the cloud? ›

You can delete files you no longer want to store in iCloud Drive. Important: When you delete a file from iCloud Drive on iCloud.com, it's also deleted from all your devices that have iCloud Drive turned on.

What are the 3 ways of deleting an element from a list Explain with examples? ›

There are three ways in which you can Remove elements from List:
  • Using the remove() method.
  • Using the list object's pop() method.
  • Using the del operator.
Jan 3, 2023

What are 6 keys of product success? ›

6 Keys to a Successful Product Launch
  • Make Sure You Have a Product Fit. The first steps of preparing for a successful product launch begin at the genesis of product development. ...
  • Know Your Metrics. ...
  • Conduct User Research & Market Evaluations. ...
  • Develop Your Messaging. ...
  • Build an Early Customer Base. ...
  • Collect & Implement Feedback.

Why is it important to release new products? ›

A product launch serves many purposes for an organization— giving customers the chance to buy the new product is only one of them. It also helps an organization build anticipation for the product, gather valuable feedback from early users, and create momentum and industry recognition for the company.

How long is Facebook Marketplace jail? ›

This suspension usually lasts for a maximum of 30 days, during which you will not be able to access your account. After the ban, you may be able to regain access to your account.

Can I sue Facebook for banning me? ›

You have no constitutional rights against private social-media companies.

How long will Facebook ban you for? ›

2 strikes: One-day restriction from creating content, such as posting, commenting, using Facebook Live or creating a Page. 3 strikes: 3-day restriction from creating content. 4 strikes: 7-day restriction from creating content. 5 or more strikes: 30-day restriction from creating content.

Why did I get kicked off Facebook? ›

Your account is temporarily suspended because your profile doesn't list your authentic name. Facebook is a community where people use their authentic identities. We require everyone to provide their authentic name and birthday so you always know who you're connecting with.

Will Facebook refund my money if I was scammed on Marketplace? ›

Goodwill refunds are at Facebook's discretion. If Facebook approves your Purchase Protection claim, you'll get a refund for the full purchase price of the product and any shipping costs. You can see full policy details in the Purchase Protection Policy.

What happens if a Facebook Marketplace seller doesn't respond? ›

If the seller doesn't reply or resolve the issue within 2 business days, you can contact our team for help or to file a Purchase Protection claim on the third business day. When you contact our support team, we'll investigate the issue and reply within 48 hours.

Can you get scammed as a seller on Facebook? ›

“Scams can happen on the buyer and seller side of a transaction. Some listings may also be scams,” Facebook writes in its help section. “Scams come in different forms, so it's important to know what to look for when buying and selling on Marketplace.”

How does removing a product affect rate of reaction? ›

❖ When product is removed, the concentration of products decreases and the forward rate will increase to replace the lost reactant. When a catalyst is added to a reaction, the activation energy is lowered, therefore speeding up the reaction.

What happens if you remove some of one of the products from a system at dynamic equilibrium? ›

The position of equilibrium moves to the left. This is essentially what happens if one of the products is removed as soon as it is formed. If, for example, C is removed in this way, the position of equilibrium would move to the right to replace it.

What is the process of deleting? ›

The deletion process encompasses the processes involved in implementing and recording the community's decisions to delete or keep articles, media, and other pages.

When to use delete and remove? ›

Remove and Delete are defined quite similarly, but the main difference between them is that delete means erase (i.e. rendered nonexistent or nonrecoverable), while remove denotes take away and set aside (but kept in existence).

What are the factors a business may want to consider when deleting a product or a product line? ›

Scenarios to examine that will help to determine if a product is not performing include:
  • Low profitability.
  • Stagnant or declining sales volume or market share.
  • Maintaining your market share is too costly.
  • Risk of technological elimination.
  • Entering the mature or declining phase of the life-cycle.
Jul 1, 2015

Why would a company employ a product deletion process? ›

If managed appropriately, product deletions could help a company redeploy its valuable resources to strong products in the portfolio, create a superior competitive position in the market, and bolster growth and financial performance.

What is the word meaning of delete? ›

transitive verb. : to eliminate especially by blotting out, cutting out, or erasing. delete a passage in a manuscript. delete a computer file. The email was accidentally deleted.

What is an example of product deletion? ›

1. To compete with Pepsi Vanilla, Coca- Cola launched its own variant known as Coca- Cola Vanilla in the early 2000s. But the product did not appeal to the customers and due to low sales, it was completely phased out by 2005. 2.

Will Mercari ever unban me? ›

Appeal To Mercari

Once they track your account, they will let you know why it is banned. Then, you have to solve the issues. After you solve whatever problem is shown, your account will be unbanned.

Can you get suspended from Mercari? ›

If you receive a notice about an indefinite suspension, Mercari has banned your account. You can be permanently suspended from the platform if you commit serious violations such as selling illegal items, committing fraud, and repeating a violation of the Terms of Service.

Can Mercari unban you? ›

Mercari customer support has the ability to reinstate your account if you contact them and explain the situation.

Will Poshmark send me a 1099? ›

For the 2022 tax year, Poshmark is required to provide any seller with $20,000 or more in gross sales and 200+ transactions on our platform during the 2022 calendar year with a Form 1099-K. If you are unsure what your tax obligations may be, we encourage you to consult an accountant or tax advisor.

What happens if I sell more than $600 on eBay? ›

Starting on January 1, 2023, eBay and other marketplaces are required by the IRS to issue a Form 1099-K for all sellers whose sales exceed $600. The new tax reporting requirement will impact your 2023 sales, it will not apply to your 2022 sales.

Will I get a 1099 from eBay? ›

You may receive a Form 1099-K from eBay, depending on the totals of your sales and transactions. This is to help you comply with your tax obligations. If eligible, you'll automatically receive a Form 1099-K in the mail. You can also receive a downloadable copy in Seller Hub - opens in new window or tab and My eBay.

Does Mercari refund fakes? ›

Mercari has strategies to ensure normal items are safely delivered to the buyer, but in the event that a user purchases counterfeit or defective goods, they are also eligible for a return or compensation.

Why is Mercari telling me Im an unauthorized user? ›

If we suspect someone is using your account without your knowledge, if transaction activity is unusual or if your debit or credit card issuer alerts us that something is wrong, it indicates potential fraud or identity theft. We'll limit your account to protect your money while we investigate.

Should I leave sold out items on my website? ›

Don't waste it by having them leave. Instead, work to get visitors to stay and make a related purchase or pay in advance for the products they want. Yes, it is possible to convert customers who show up to a page with a sold-out product.

Should you keep sold out items on your website? ›

Even if you don't have the product in stock, you shouldn't remove the page from your website. Instead, make note that the product is sold out, but also provide information on when you'll have more in stock and alternatives for the time being.

How do I get rid of sold out items on Shopify? ›

You can use automated collections to hide out-of-stock products from your customers. You can do this manually on the Collections page of your Shopify admin, or use an inventory management app to do it for you. You might also want to hide products in your store's default Catalog collection.

How do I delete a sold out product on Shopify? ›

Remove the “Sold Out” product from your store

To do this, go to the Products page in your Shopify admin, find the product you want to unpublish, and click Edit. In the Visibility section, choose Hide this product from your online store and search engines, then click Save.

What should you not do on your website? ›

What NOT to put on your website
  • Automatic Sound / Music. I've had many clients who want to add music to their website as it loads. ...
  • Splash Pages. ...
  • Pop-ups. ...
  • Background Images. ...
  • No Navigation. ...
  • Click and Scroll. ...
  • Huge Images. ...
  • Animated Banner Ads.
Mar 7, 2014

What should you not do when selling online? ›

5 Common Online Selling Mistakes to Avoid
  1. Mistake #1 – Offering Your Best-Selling Products on Marketplaces. ...
  2. Mistake #2 – Not Knowing Who You're Selling To. ...
  3. Mistake #3 – Overcomplicating the Checkout Process. ...
  4. Mistake #4 – Using Off-Site Payment Methods. ...
  5. Mistake #5 – Not Working on Your UX.

How do you deal with out of stock products? ›

9 Ways to Deal with Out-of-Stock Inventory
  1. Be transparent. ...
  2. Explain. ...
  3. Set up notifications. ...
  4. Look at your supply chain. ...
  5. Borrow from yourself. ...
  6. Use alternate product recommendations. ...
  7. Sell now, ship later. ...
  8. Assess your marketing.

How many items should you sell on your website? ›

The number of products within your focused niche can differ greatly, however, 2-25 products is a recommended bracket to adhere to.

Can I resell a product on my website? ›

Types Of Resellers

Like we mentioned above, it is completely legal for people to purchase items and products from your business and resell it on their own terms.

What website should I use to sell my stuff? ›

Best sites to sell stuff FAQ

You could consider Shopify, Handshake, Bonanza, eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist, to name a few.

Will Shopify charge me if I deactivate my store? ›

Unlike pausing your Shopify, deactivating your store means that you won't be charged 9$/month and no extra fees as long as you have canceled all third-party apps and custom domains. But on the other hand, you won't be able to view your store or make any changes to your store.

Will Shopify delete my store after trial? ›

If you don't select a monthly plan at the end of your free trial, then your store is paused and you can't continue working on it until you choose a paid plan. If you don't choose a pricing plan during your free trial, then you don't need to take any action to cancel your Shopify account.

Can I delete my Shopify store and start over? ›

If you don't want to run your online store anymore, then you can deactivate it at any time. After you deactivate your store, you won't have access to your Shopify admin. If you want to log back in, then you will have to enter your credit card details and reactivate your store.

How do I hide my product from search on Shopify? ›

How to hide products from search on Shopify
  1. Go to Smart search & filter control panel > Preferences section > Products tab > General section.
  2. Enter tags separated by commas in the Hide products with these tags field.
  3. Apply changes.
  4. Click the Force re-indexation button to start re-indexation.
Apr 21, 2022

Why can't I delete sold items on poshmark? ›

Poshmark does not remove or edit sold banners and listings at this time, even if the order has been cancelled. The Sold listing acts as a record of previous transactions. Multi-item listings where an item has already been sold cannot be deleted.

How do I hide items from certain customers on Shopify? ›

How to hide products from customers in Shopify
  1. Create a copy of the theme in the Online Store section. In Themes, click Actions and select Duplicate. ...
  2. In your newly created copy of the theme, click Actions and then Edit Code.
  3. Add a new product template called hidden. This will create the product.

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