The 101 on 301 Redirects
301 Redirects play an important role in your website, and although you may have heard of them before, you may not know what they are or when you need to use them.
We’ve put together an article covering commonly asked questions about 301 redirects – read below.
What is a 301 Redirect?
A 301 redirect is a status code which a server sends to your browser for a permanent redirect. This is used to send users and search engines to a different URL of a page from the one that was originally requested.
Once you move content away from a specific URL, users trying to visit will get a 404 page. With a 301 redirect, users will instead be redirected to the new location/page.
This happens very quickly, so users will likely not be aware of it.
When a search engine crawler encounters a 301 redirect, it tells the search engine that they need to remove the old URL from their index, and replace it with the new one. This means that the new page will replace the old page on search engines (such as Google).
It is important to note that when moving a page from one URL to another, search engines will take some time to identify the 301 and credit the new page with the rankings.
When Should You Use a 301 Redirect?
301 redirects should be used when a page is no longer relevant or useful, or if it has been removed or deleted. They are also used when a website is rebuilt, to send users from the old website to the new one, or can be used when moving to a new domain.
301 Redirects can also be used to prevent duplicate content problems – such as where multiple blogs are written on the same subject.
Why Use a 301 Redirect?
When redirecting one URL to another, it is vital to observe best practices to maintain SEO value, and implementing the correct redirects can help this. Not only does it help with SEO, but a 301 redirect also passes on link equity from the previous page.
301 redirects also help to keep users engaged. This is because they may otherwise be taken to a 404 page which could result in them bouncing off the website and going to a competitor. Instead, it allows them to continue to browse the website and engage with content.
Do you need help with implementing 301 redirects? Or are you looking for a newly designed website? Contact our website wizards to find out more.
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