What is a 301 Redirect and How Do I Set One Up?

A 301 redirect sends users and search engines from one URL to another permanently. It’s essential for keeping SEO value and avoiding broken links when updating pages or changing domains.

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirection from one URL to another, signaling to browsers and search engines that a webpage has moved permanently. This ensures users and search engines are directed to the correct page, preserving the site's SEO value.

When to Use a 301 Redirect:

  • Domain Changes: When switching to a new domain name.
  • URL Structure Updates: Modifying URL paths for better readability or SEO.
  • Content Consolidation: Merging multiple pages into a single, comprehensive page.

Implementing a 301 Redirect:

For Apache Servers:

Access your .htaccess file in the website's root directory.

Add the following line:
Redirect 301 /old-page.html /new-page.html
Replace /old-page.html with the old URL path and /new-page.html with the new one.

For WordPress Users:

Utilize plugins like "Redirection" to manage 301 redirects without manual coding.

Best Practices:

Consistency: Ensure all internal links point to the new URLs.
Testing: After setting up, test the redirects to confirm they work correctly.
Monitoring: Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor for any crawl errors or issues.

Implementing 301 redirects properly helps maintain your site's SEO integrity and provides a seamless user experience.

To learn more about 301 redirects, click here: https://diib.com/learn/what-is-a-301-redirect/