What is a 301 redirect and when to use it?

301 redirection not only affects the user experience, but is also important for the positioning of websites in search results. In simplest terms, such a redirect is an instruction to the web browser, informing it of a permanent change of address URL of a particular website. In this article, we will explore the topic of 301 redirection, its practical application and how to implement it. All so that you can avoid mistakes and guarantee your website's optimal performance in terms of SEO. 

Why is 301 redirection important for SEO?

301 redirect (redirect 301) plays an important role in optimising a website for SEO. When we make a change to the URL of a website, we do not want to lose the valuable backlinks and search engine result positions that the website previously held. By using a 301 redirect, we can retain these links and transfer their value to the new URL, which is crucial for maintaining and improving the position in search results.

When should a 301 redirect be used?

Removing or changing the URL: If we remove, or change the URLs of existing pages, redirection enables us to maintain the value of the backlinks and avoid 404 errors.

Content consolidation: When combining two sites into one, redirection allows traffic to be transferred from one site to the other while maintaining the value of the links.

Improving the URL structure: When changing the URL structure to improve readability or SEO optimisation, 301 redirect is essential to maintain continuity of links and traffic.

How to apply a 301 redirect?

If your website is based on CMS, for example WordPressYou can successfully do it yourself, as no programming knowledge is required! Just install and use an intuitive plug-in like the Redirection.

• Log in to the website admin panel
• Select Plug-ins → add new and in the search bar enter Redirection
• Click install and then enable
• Go to Tools → redirection
• Now you can start adding 301 redirects for non-existent or old URLs!
• All you need to do is complete two basic fields: the source address (or old address) and the destination address (i.e. the new URL you want to direct to). Once you have completed these fields, save the changes and... you're done!

What does a 404 error have to do with a 301 redirect?

Surely it has happened more than once that you have clicked on a link you were interested in, but instead of getting to the expected landing page, you saw a 404 message. Such a message definitely compromises the user experience, so you must ensure that such a situation does not occur on your website! In order to avoid this error on your website, you should first of all ensure that URLs are properly managed and that 301 redirects are used when pages are changed or deleted.

When does the 404 error appear?

For example, when the owner deletes one of the site's pages or changes its link. In such a situation, he or she must implement a 301 persistent redirect. This is a way of sending web traffic from the old to the latest version of the URL. 

So remember - if, for whatever reason, you have decided to remove a certain sub-page, make a redirect that directs to another, preferably thematically related or simply the home page. 

Here are some steps to help avoid 404 errors:

Regular monitoring of sites: Regularly check the status of your web pages so that you can spot any 404 errors immediately and fix them quickly.

301 redirects: When changing URLs or deleting pages, use 301 redirects to direct users from previous addresses to the new ones. This will avoid errors and keep your site traffic flowing.

Updated links: Ensure that all links on the site are up to date and lead to relevant places. Check internal and external links regularly to avoid the following link leads to error 404.

Regular updates: Regularly update your website and manage its structure to avoid outdated or obsolete links that can lead to 404 errors.

By following these practices and ensuring that the website is properly managed, errors can be effectively avoided and a positive user experience can be ensured when browsing the site.

What is the difference between a 301 redirect and a 302 redirect?

301 and 302 are two different types of redirects in the context of SEO and website management. Here are the differences between the two:

301 redirect:

• Permanent redirection: informs web browsers and search engine robots that the page has been moved to a new URL permanently.
• Preservation of link values: also transfers the value of the backlinks (link juice) from the previous URL to the new one, which helps to maintain the position in the search results.
• Long-term: This is ideal for permanent changes to URLs, such as changing the domain or permanently deleting a page.

302 redirection:

• Temporary redirection: informs web browsers and search engine robots that the page has been moved temporarily to a new URL.
• No transfer of link value: does not transfer backlink values from the previous URL to the new one.
• Short-term: This is useful for temporary changes or tests when you want to redirect traffic to a different URL, but plan to return to the original URL in the future.

Make sure that 301 redirects are properly implemented on your site!

301 redirects are vital to maintaining a healthy website. They perform the primary function of signalling to both users and search engines that the content on your site is changing. At the same time, they ensure that the user journey remains clear and logical and that your search engine visibility is maintained.