What is a 301 Redirect (Moved Permanently)?
A 301 redirect informs browsers and search engines that a webpage has permanently moved to a new address, either within the same website or to an external one. It sends the 301 “Moved Permanently” HTTP status code along with the new webpage’s address and instructs search engines to update the URL in their index.
Importance of 301 Redirects for SEO
301 redirects are crucial for optimal user experience and SEO. Without a 301 redirect, moving or deleting a page results in a “404 Page Not Found” error when the page is accessed. A 301 redirect guides visitors to the new webpage and transfers the link equity from the old to the new URL, preserving its PageRank.
When Should You Use a 301 Redirect?
You should use a 301 Redirect in the following scenarios:
– When making a webpage accessible from the old URL.
– When permanently moving a website to a new domain.
– When ensuring all pages of a website are accessible via HTTPS.
– When combining several pages into a single page with a redirect.
How to Implement a 301 Redirect?
The implementation of 301 redirects varies with the server and CMS your site uses. The most common method involves editing your website’s .htaccess file in the site’s root directory. To create a redirect for a single page, add the following line of code to the .htaccess file:
“Redirect 301 /old-page.html /new-page.html”
For WordPress users, implementing 301 redirects can be done using the above method of editing the .htaccess file, using popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, or any free URL Redirection plugin.
How to Identify and Resolve 301 Redirect issues on Your Site?
You can find 301 redirect errors on your website by using a website analysis tool to crawl through your site with softwares like Screaming Frog SEO Spider Website Crawler. Here are the most common 301 redirect problems and how to fix them:
HTTP Pages
Given the security benefits and Google’s designation of HTTPS as a ranking signal, you should install a SSL certificate and redirect your website URLS from HTTP to HTTPS. Use tools like Screaming Frog to ensure your site visitors see the HTTPS version of your site. If your WordPress website is not redirecting HTTP to HTTPS, then consider using free SSL redirect plugins like Really Simple SSL. With it you can effortlessly redirect the unsecure page of your website to HTTPS protocol.
Redirect Chains
A “redirect chain” occurs when there is more than one redirect between the original URL and the destination page. While Google crawlers can follow a redirect chain, it can slow things down and negatively affect the user experience. It’s recommended to redirect directly to the landing page and keep the redirect chain as short as possible.
Broken Redirects
Broken redirects are links that take the user to a dead page, returning an HTTP 404 Not Found status code. This can be easily fixed by removing the dead link as a redirect or by changing the redirect URL to the intended webpage.