Redirects: Types, SEO Impact, & More

‍Many visitors to Internet resources do not even realize that they went to one address and ended up at another. For the target audience, it doesn’t matter where they find themselves. The main thing is to gain access to the product, service, or information. Website owners who, for some reason, want to change the URL and show other pages to users need a properly structured redirect.

‍Changing the location of a resource is easy if you know how to use different types of website redirects and their purposes. We decided to explain the basics of redirecting website users to other pages.

‍The original URL of a resource changes for various reasons, which we’ll cover later. The site owner’s main task is not to lose the audience, which is quite possible if the page they visit displays a 404 error.

‍When users see such a search result, they believe that the resource no longer works and should not be accessed in the future. As a result, the site owners lose potential customers if they do not set up redirects in time. Search engines also evaluate the change of address: if the robot sees a specific redirect, it automatically changes the original URL to another.

‍Redirection is used in different cases:

• Website adaptation. Most Internet users make requests from smartphones, so resource owners allow them to visit their pages from any device. When adapting a site to a mobile version, the URL changes, so a redirect is necessary to avoid losing customers.
• Dramatic name change. Changing the brand or owner of a “promoted” site does not give a reason to lose the established audience. Installing a redirect will make old resource pages available to the user.
• Change of protocol. The audience and resource owners often need to choose a more secure connection, and redirection can help.
• Redirection from an irrelevant page. For example, if a site sells a specific product but it is unavailable, redirecting it to a similar product range will help you avoid losing a customer.
• Protection against duplicates. The same content on different sites worsens the resource’s ranking by search engines, reflected in the search results positions for queries. To avoid a decrease in rating, provide a redirect Google will configure.

‍In addition to these primary reasons for setting up page redirects, others arise in the website promotion process. Correctly setting up a redirect will help you avoid many problems, the main one being incorrect search engine ranking. It can significantly lower the resource’s rating, which means the loss of the target audience.

‍If you plan to keep your resource’s location or modernize it, knowing how to use a redirect may be helpful in the future.

‍But they are extremely necessary for large sites with many sections, catalogs, and a wide range. Properly constructed redirect chains will allow customers to find the product they need in a matter of seconds. They are also necessary for sites with a large amount of information, the ease of search of which will attract a vast audience.

‍To properly configure redirection, you must clearly understand which redirect is used and when. The slightest mistake can make it difficult for potential and regular users and the owner to find the site. If you are not well-versed in SEO tasks and settings, we recommend seeking the help of specialists.

‍In technical terms, the initialization of redirection can be from the resource owner or server. In this case, redirects perform different tasks; the client uses them to update, redirect websites from page to page, and adapt the site. The server “pursues” other tasks, such as redirecting the user from the old address to the new one.

Redirect 301

‍Permanent URL relocation is an excellent tool for consolidating incoming links and eliminating dead-end page exits. According to our experts, the 301 redirect is one of the most important for retaining your audience. When the search engine sees it, it stops showing the old address in the line and starts ranking the new option. As a result, the audience needs to notice the replacement and use the site as usual.

‍When using 301 redirects, it is essential to understand that it should not be used as a temporary tool. It is only used to permanently move a domain, protocol, structure, or document. To implement other tasks, you need to set other status codes.

Redirect 302

‍Temporarily moving the site to another address. When seeing a 302 redirect, the search engine redirects users to the desired page and considers the original request as temporarily unavailable. In this case, the new site address will not be ranked.

‍Temporary redirect is used:

• in targeting, testing, and tracking devices;
• when information or goods of a temporary nature are posted on the site;
• the resource needs to be updated;
• to redirect URL from a page that is not searchable.

‍A 302 redirect should only be used as a temporary tool. When the task is to change the address on a permanent basis, then you need to use the 301 status. Mixing up the code will complicate the correct operation of search engines, and you may lose your audience.

Redirect 303

‍When this status is set, the search engine “sees” the client’s redirection task as “view other pages.”

‍A 303 redirect is applied in the same way as a 302 but with a slight adjustment for the duration of use, which is considered indefinite. At the same time, the search engine also does not rank the new address and waits for the old pages to become available.

Redirect 307

‍Used when it is not possible to change the request method. It is essential to understand that a 307 Redirect is analogous to the 302 code but with minor changes.

‍The designation of code 307 “tells” search engines that the requested address is currently located in another location. At the same time, the old resource does not lose positions in the ranking.

Redirect 308

‍Analogous to 307 status, but with a permanent nature of movement. A 308 redirect tells search engines that the address has been changed permanently.

‍There are quite a few situations where it can be used: moving on resources with many forms, replacing the 301 status if the request requires the POST method, or when the site completely changes its location.

Redirects from Clients

‍Such tools allow you to control redirects and their statuses set by the server. Codes 301-308 are the most preferable for redirecting users to other addresses, but this is only sometimes possible. Client redirects are used if there is no access to the server.

‍When working with a website, it is essential to understand that setting statuses yourself can lead to search engines’ ranking errors. Fixing the issue will take time, which can directly impact the audience’s sentiment, who will encounter a 404 error when making a request.

Meta Content

‍This is a convenient format for redirecting the user to the desired page. You can set a certain number of seconds, after which the audience can access the necessary information or product. If you set the value to “0”, the search engine will perceive metacontent using the 302 redirect functionality.

Htaccess Redirect

‍The setup is carried out at the site’s root, which looks like a file. To configure the transition, you must create this file or find an existing one. An Htaccess redirect can work in a server-side format with status codes 301 and 302.

JavaScript Redirect

‍It is widely used and has different types of settings. A JavaScript redirect improves user experience by redirecting between browsers and target devices.

‍When working with a site, it is crucial to understand that using redirects can bring positive dynamics to the resource’s development and reduce ratings. Our experts say you cannot do without such a tool, but you should use it sparingly and wisely. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the problems of incorrect Google redirect URL use to avoid mistakes that could lead to the loss of audience or customers.

The Emergence of Chains

‍The operation of the site may malfunction if redirects are constantly added. The occurrence of such chains must be monitored continuously and removed.

‍The simplest thing that can happen is a warning in the form of a “too many redirects” message. When receiving such a signal, it is necessary to take action immediately. Otherwise, the chains can destroy the site’s established client base.

Redirect Delay

‍This problem often occurs when URLs are frequently corrected. As a result, the rapid formation of chains of redirects is inevitable; the user’s waiting time during redirection increases.

‍This cannot be allowed: the longer the audience waits, the greater the percentage of its losses. Our experts always recommend that website owners minimize the length and number of chains that can lead to errors.

Scan Budget Problem

‍Any redirection is an unnecessary action by the search engine. The requested budget is limited to a certain period of time, and if it is exceeded, robots may stop visiting site pages.

‍Before using redirects, our specialists carefully consider the length of the chain of them. After all, the more links there are, the longer the system will search for the necessary information to return when requested.

URL Display Failure

‍Such situations are not uncommon when the search engine begins to display the starting and ending addresses unpredictably. If redirect link chains are constructed incorrectly, failures begin, resulting in the user going to one page and being shown another.

‍Such errors are unacceptable; if they occur, they can significantly reduce the site’s quality in front of search engines.

Redirect Loop

‍It is also a common mistake that can lead to unpredictable consequences. The website redirect loop can be easily eliminated by repeating the request or by setting up the site owner, but it causes problems for potential clients.

‍When both addresses are open to the audience, the transition may result in them ending up on non-existent pages. Such failures are dangerous. After all, they result in the loss of consumers because many of them find any errors irritating.

Inappropriate Redirect during Pagination

‍Changing the number of elements by pagination over different periods can cause problems for the site’s audience. The error looks like this: when a consumer “walks” around the resource for some time and wants to return to the first page, he is given an error message.

‍Interest in a product or information drops sharply during such transitions, so it’s worth constantly monitoring the site’s performance. There are many resources available on the Internet that can help you track redirects and the presence of chains. Some of them are accessible to the common man. Some are more complex but more effective.

‍But if you want your website to work without failures and problems, then if you doubt your abilities, it is better to turn to our specialists for help.

‍Fine-tuning redirect website chains requires knowledge of the basics of configuration and a creative approach. For many website owners, it’s easier to “curtail” their brainchild than to understand the intricacies of redirecting consumers to the correct addresses. Our team is ready to help and will do everything quickly and efficiently.

‍If you have decided to modernize your website, make it a mobile version, or are planning to expand, you can only do so with the competent use of redirects for SEO. Such a simple yet complex tool will allow you to maintain your position in search engines and not lose your audience.

‍Professionals do this work quickly and efficiently, so the audience needs to notice that the site address has changed. In principle, using link redirect is nothing complicated, but the slightest mistake can be fatal. The site will continue to be visited but also collapse in the search engine rankings. Any job has subtleties, and it is essential to understand that saving money is inappropriate here.

‍Redirecting in the capable hands of a specialist can be an effective tool for improving a site’s position in search engine results. At the same time, owners of Internet resources often do not understand how to use them and, most importantly, why they are needed. Pay special attention to this aspect of technical optimization of your resources. If you do not want to understand the nuances, seek the help of specialists.