The robots.txt file is a crucial element for the SEO of your Prestashop store. This small text file, often overlooked by e-tailers, plays a decisive role in the way Google and other search engines crawl your e-commerce site.
Properly configured, robots.txt enables you to guide indexing robots to your most important pages while protecting your sensitive data. Incorrect configuration, on the other hand, can seriously damage your online visibility and jeopardize your sales.
Definition of the robots.txt file
The robots.txt file is a simple text file placed at the root of your domain name that communicates with search engine spiders. It tells them which pages or sections of your Prestashop store they can crawl and index, and which they should ignore.
This file operates according to a standardized protocol called REP (Robots Exclusion Protocol). Accessible via the URL “www.votreboutique.com/robots.txt”, it is the first step for robots to visit your e-commerce site.
For an online store, robots.txt acts as a digital bodyguard, filtering access and optimizing search engine discovery of your products.
What is the purpose of robots.txt for your Prestashop store?
Control the indexing of sensitive pages
Your Prestashop store contains pages that you don’t want to appear in Google search results. The shopping cart, customer login pages, order forms and administration folders are all content you need to protect with robots.txt.
By blocking access to these sensitive areas, you prevent your customers from coming across unnecessary pages in their searches, and focus search engine attention on your real business pages.
Optimizing your crawl budget
Google allocates a limited amount of time to crawling each website, known as the crawl budget. For your online store, every second counts. With robots.txt, you can direct this precious time towards your product pages, categories and content that really generate sales.
Instead of letting robots waste time on administrative or technical pages, you channel their attention towards your best sales opportunities.
Protecting confidential data
Some information in your Prestashop store should never be publicly accessible. Configuration files, customer data or management information require absolute protection, which robots.txt can provide as a first line of defense.
How do I create and configure robots.txt on Prestashop?
File creation
Prestashop makes the creation of robots.txt very easy, thanks to a feature integrated into the back-office. Go to “Shop settings” then “Traffic and SEO” to access the options for automatic generation of the robots.txt file.
This interface lets you configure the main guidelines without any technical manipulation. Prestashop automatically generates restrictions for sensitive folders, and gives you the option of adding your own customized rules to suit your specific needs.
For more advanced users, it’s still possible to create the file manually, using a simple text editor and placing it in your site’s root directory, at the same level as your main Prestashop folder.
Essential instructions for e-commerce
An effective robots.txt configuration for Prestashop starts by authorizing all robots with “User-agent: *” followed by “Allow: /”. You then add specific restrictions with “Disallow:” to block access to administrative folders, technical scripts and management pages.
Don’t forget to include the location of your XML sitemap with the “Sitemap:” directive, followed by the full URL. This makes it much easier for Google to discover your new products.
Common mistakes to avoid with robots.txt
The biggest mistake is accidentally blocking important pages in your store. A misplaced “Disallow: /” can render your site completely invisible to Google, causing a drastic drop in traffic and sales.
Another common pitfall: forgetting to test your robots.txt file after modification. Google Search Console offers a free validation tool to avoid unpleasant surprises. Always check that your product pages remain accessible to robots after each modification.
Finally, keep in mind that robots.txt is only a recommendation. Respectful robots will follow these guidelines, but the file is not an absolute protection against indexing. For added security, combine it with other methods such as noindex tags on sensitive pages in your Prestashop store.