A permanent redirect that passes most of the SEO value (link equity) to the new URL.
Ever feel like you are losing traffic to an old page on your website that you want to get rid of? It can be tough to know what to do without hurting your SEO. But what if I told you there is a simple, powerful way to fix this and keep all of your hard-earned traffic? I am talking about something called a 301 Redirect. I have been in this game for 15 years, and I have seen firsthand how much of a difference this can make. I am going to explain exactly what is a 301 Redirect and give you some simple, actionable tips to use it correctly. You will walk away with a clear plan to clean up your website and boost your SEO.
So, what is a 301 Redirect? It is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. When a user or a search engine tries to visit the old URL, the 301 redirect automatically sends them to the new one. The “301” is a status code that tells search engines that this is a permanent move and that they should transfer all the SEO value, like link equity, from the old page to the new one.
Using a 301 redirect is a major part of good SEO because it helps you keep all the SEO power from your old pages. If you just delete a page, all of its link equity is lost. But by using a 301 redirect, you are telling Google that the new page is the new version of the old one, and you want all the authority to be passed to it. This is a great way to avoid broken links and a drop in your rankings.
How a 301 Redirect Impacts Different CMS Platforms
The principles of a 301 redirect apply to every website, no matter the CMS. Your platform is just the tool you use to create and manage the redirect. I am going to show you how to think about this with some of the most popular platforms. The goal is to make sure you are not losing any of your SEO power.
WordPress
WordPress is a great platform for a 301 redirect because there are a lot of plugins that can help you. I recommend you use a plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO. They make it super easy to set up a redirect without having to touch any code. You just type in the old URL and the new URL, and the plugin does the rest.
Shopify
For Shopify, you can set up a 301 redirect in your admin panel. Just go to “Online Store” > “Navigation” > “URL Redirects.” You can then add a redirect from an old URL to a new one. This is a great way to handle products that are out of stock or that you have changed the URL for.
Wix
Wix makes it easy to set up a 301 redirect in their SEO settings. Just go to “SEO” > “SEO Tools” > “URL Redirect Manager.” You can then add a redirect from an old page to a new one. This is a great way to make sure you are not losing any traffic to a page you have deleted or changed the URL for.
Webflow
Webflow has a very simple and easy-to-use redirect manager. You can set up a redirect from an old page to a new one in a few clicks. I would also recommend you check a page in Google’s Search Console to make sure the redirect is working correctly and that there are no errors.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control to set up a 301 redirect. You can build a system that automatically creates a redirect when you change a page’s URL. I would also recommend you build in a way to easily check for broken links and a way to redirect them to a new, relevant page.
How a 301 Redirect Applies to Different Industries
The concept of a 301 redirect is the same for every business, but the way you use it changes depending on what you do. It is all about making sure you are not losing any of your hard-earned SEO power. I am going to show you how to do this for a few key sectors.
Ecommerce
In ecommerce, a 301 redirect is crucial for a product that is out of stock or that you have changed the URL for. You should redirect the old product URL to a similar product or a product category page. This helps you keep all the SEO power from the old page and guide your customers to a new one.
Local Businesses
For a local business, a 301 redirect can help you when you change a service page or a location page. You should redirect the old URL to the new, relevant page. This helps you keep all the SEO power from the old page and not lose any of your local traffic.
SaaS
For a SaaS company, a 301 redirect can help you when you change the URL of a blog post or a landing page. You should redirect the old URL to the new, relevant page. This helps you keep all the SEO power from the old page and not lose any of your qualified leads.
Blogs
For a blog, a 301 redirect is a perfect strategy for an old article that you have deleted or updated. I recommend you redirect the old article URL to a new, more comprehensive article. This helps you keep all the SEO power from the old article and guide your readers to a better one.
FAQ Section
What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells Google to pass all the SEO power to the new page. A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that tells Google that the change is not permanent. You should almost always use a 301 redirect unless the change is temporary, like for a seasonal promotion.
When should I use a 301 redirect?
You should use a 301 redirect when you have changed a page’s URL, deleted a page, or merged two pages together. You should also use it to fix any broken links on your site, as this is a great way to get a quick SEO boost.
How can I check if my redirect is working?
You can use a few simple tools. Google’s Search Console has a “URL Inspection” tool that can tell you if a redirect is working correctly. You can also use a free online tool to check the redirect status of a URL to make sure it is a 301.
Does a 301 redirect pass all the SEO power?
Yes, a 301 redirect passes almost all of the SEO power from the old page to the new one. This is why it is so important to use it correctly. If you just delete a page, all of its SEO power is lost, which can hurt your website’s rankings a lot.
