A 301 redirect is one of the most common and useful redirects you can implement on your website. It lets you seamlessly move web pages and content to new URLs without losing your hard-earned search engine ranking and traffic.
In this complete guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know as a beginner about 301 redirects, including:
- What is a 301 redirect and how it works
- When should you use a 301 redirect
- Step-by-step guides to set up a 301 redirect
- 301 redirect best practices
- Common mistakes to avoid
Plus, we‘ll answer some frequently asked questions about 301 redirects so you can master them for your website. Let‘s get started!
What is a 301 Redirect?
A 301 redirect is an HTTP status code that instructs search engines and visitors to permanently redirect from one URL to another.
For example, if your website URL changes from http://www.mywebsite.com to http://mywebsite.com, you would set up a 301 redirect so that anyone typing in the old URL gets automatically redirected to the new one.
The key benefit of a 301 redirect is that it passes on the original page‘s link equity and ranking power to the new URL. This prevents you from losing SEO value when you migrate web pages or change URLs.
A 301 also communicates changes to search engine crawlers. So they know to update all links and bookmarks to your updated URLs.
In short, a properly implemented 301 redirect allows you to:
- Change URLs without losing rankings
- Avoid broken links and 404 errors
- Redirect users seamlessly behind the scenes
- Consolidate web properties or migrate domains
Now that you know what a 301 does, let‘s look at some of the most common use cases on websites.
When Should You Use a 301 Redirect?
There are a few instances where setting up a 301 redirect is recommended or downright necessary:
1. Changing Your Website URLs
One of the main reasons websites use 301s is when they change their page URLs or site address. For example:
- Rebranding your domain name
- Moving to
wwwor non-www domain - Adding or removing
/slashes - New URL structure or site hierarchy
- Moving to HTTPS/SSL site
In all these cases, a 301 redirect maintains your site‘s performance and ensures a smooth transition to the new URLs.
2. Consolidating Domains
If you have two separate domains and want to merge them under one, use 301s to redirect pages from the old domain to relevant new URLs. This helps transfer equity as you consolidate web properties.
3. Relocating Content
You might sometimes need to reorganize your site structure and move pages to new locations. Instead of breaking links or losing rankings, you can 301 redirect each relocated page to its new home.
4. Eliminating Duplicate Content
Multiple identical pages on one domain can confuse search engines and dilute your site‘s authority. 301s allow you to pick the better version and redirect any clones to that for optimization.
5. Pointing Expired Domains
If you decide not to renew an old domain name, you can redirect it to your main site so that visitors and links get funneled automatically (and rankings don‘t decline post-expiry).
As you can see, there are lots of instances where 301 redirects come in handy for maintaining your site‘s performance. Now let‘s go through how to properly set one up.
How to Create a 301 Redirect
There are a few methods for setting up a 301 redirect, depending on your site set up. Let‘s go through two easy ways: using .htaccess files or WordPress plugins.
Using .htaccess
.htaccess is an Apache web server configuration file that lets you add redirects without coding entire web pages. Here is the basic syntax:
Redirect 301 /old-url /new-urlSo for example, to redirect mywebsite.com/page.html to mywebsite.com/category/page.html, you would add this rule:
Redirect 301 /page.html /category/page.html The benefits of .htaccess is that redirects execute quickly before any content loads. But the downside is that it requires access and editing server files.
Using WordPress Plugins
An easier alternative is to use a WordPress redirect plugin like Redirection or Safe Redirect Manager
.
These let you create 301 redirects right within your WordPress dashboard without touching code. Most free plugins have a user-friendly UI like this:
To set up a redirect:
- Install and activate the plugin
- Click Add New Redirect
- Enter the old URL under Source URL
- Enter the new URL under Target URL
- Select 301 as the redirect type
- Save changes
And that‘s it! The plugin will now automatically redirect anyone who visits the old URL to the new target URL with a proper 301 status code.
This is by far the easiest way to add redirects in WordPress (although .htaccess may have a slight speed advantage).
301 Redirect Best Practices
When setting up redirects, keep these best practices in mind:
-
Use exact URL matching – Set up an exact redirect from old URL to new using full paths. Redirect wildcards or partial URLs can cause problems.
-
Permanent ≠ Forever – While 301s are meant to be permanent, you can change them in the future if needed. Just take care to set up fresh redirects.
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Monitor redirect chains – Long chains with multiple 301s can break. Try to limit redirects by mapping old URLs directly to final destinations.
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Check redirect codes – Use a redirect checker to validate that redirects are properly sending 301 codes. Anything else may indicate misconfigs.
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No affiliate redirects – Avoid setting up redirects solely to pass PageRank or funnel affiliate links. These can get demoted or banned.
-
Point expired domains to primary site – Instead of letting domains expire and lose equity, set up redirects sending that authority to your main site.
Follow these guidelines and 301s will become an invaluable tool for you as you grow and optimize your site!
Next, let‘s look at some errors to avoid with redirects.
Common 301 Redirect Mistakes
It‘s easy to accidentally misconfigure redirects if you‘re new to them. Steer clear of these common snafus:
Failing to Redirect at All
If you migrate pages or change URLs without setting up redirects, it can devastate your site‘s performance. Make sure to properly redirect old URLs.
Using the Wrong Redirect Code
A 301 is a permanent redirect, which passes on link juice. Using temporary codes like 302 or 307 will lose your site‘s SEO when redirecting. Always 301 unless temporarily redirecting pages.
Introducing Redirect Loops
Redirect loops happen when Page A redirects to Page B which redirects back to Page A forming an infinite loop. These create user frustration and technical issues. Audit redirect chains to avoid loops.
Chaining Too Many Redirects
It‘s best to do direct URL mapping with one hop redirects. Excessive multi-redirect chains significantly slow down site speed. If possible, condense long chains.
Redirecting to Irrelevant Pages
Point your redirects to related content wherever possible. Redirecting /widgets/ to your homepage or unrelated category doesn‘t help visitors. Create sensible mappings.
Be mindful of these common redirect mistakes and you‘ll have no trouble implementing effective 301 redirects!
FAQs about 301 Redirects
Let‘s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions:
What’s the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
A 301 is a permanent redirect, while a 302 is a temporary redirect. 301s pass on link equity; 302s do not. 301s should be used for most redirect scenarios while 302s are good for short-term changes.
Why are multiple chained redirects bad?
Every additional hop slows down redirect performance a little bit more. Long chains also tend to break more easily over time. Ideally limit to 1-2 short hops for speed and reliability.
Is there a redirect limit I should watch out for?
There aren’t necessarily limits, but excessive volumes slow sites down. Regularly audit and clean up unused redirects. If you have thousands of redirects, reassess your information architecture.
How soon after migrating a page should I set up redirects?
Set up redirects for changed URLs or deleted pages immediately to preserve traffic and rankings. Even small gaps where redirects aren‘t in place can bleed equity.
Can I change an old redirect later on if needed?
Absolutely! While 301s signal a permanent change, the redirects themselves can be edited or replaced in the future as requirements evolve.
I hope these 301 redirect tips give you confidence to implement them smoothly! Take it slow, follow best practices, and redirects will become an ally for your ever-changing website.
