redirect

Types of redirects

If there is one thing that webmasters have become accustomed to online, it’s the fact that change is a regular occurrence. That change may occur in any number of different ways but sometimes, it has to do with changes in your website or website structure that make it necessary to redirect people from one area of the website to another. This is typically done by using either a 301 or 302 redirect. Understanding the difference between these two and how they can affect your website traffic and your rankings will help you to make the right choice.

302 temporary redirect

First of all, a 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that can have an effect on both web users and the search engines. 302 redirects are typically set up for a specific amount of time and can usually be accomplished by using JavaScript or perhaps a meta-tag. Some webmasters may prefer the 302 because it requires less server work and time to establish when compared to a 301 redirect.

301 permanent redirect

On the other hand, a 301 redirect is a permanent redirect in the eyes of the search engines. This type of redirect is used when a webpage is switched from one location to another permanently. If somebody should go to the old page, perhaps through a social media link or a bookmark, they will be automatically redirected to the new URL. This is also the preferred method when a new domain is used or if several domains are pointing toward a single domain. It is also the preferred use when migrating from http to https. A 301 redirect is accomplished using the .htaccess file on an Apache server.

To be careful with doing redirects

One of the concerns of many webmasters is the impact that redirecting web pages or an entire domain are going to have on the SEO. After all, you may have spent a considerable amount of time gathering backlinks to a particular webpage or domain and you would not want to lose that benefit when you transfer to a new page.

The best case scenario

Taking the time to set up a 301 redirect will ensure that there is not a loss of benefit from any existing links. This has even been verified by Google. It is the best way to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of benefit when making the change. It doesn’t mean, however, that it is not possible to experience some difficulties.

Relevancy is important here too

For example, using a 301 redirect to an unrelated webpage will often produce what is known as a soft 404, resulting in a loss of rankings. 301 redirect is best used when migrating from one page or domain to another that has a similar subject or content. There may also be a slight delay in passing the ranking on to the new pages, but it will take place eventually.

Minimize time rag for user experience

There may also be variations to the redirect. As an example, some webmasters have used a time delay redirect that waits a set number of seconds before redirecting the user to the new page. In addition, you may end up losing some of the benefits of incoming links if you use a redirect chain that makes several jumps from the original URL.

Conclusion

Redirecting web users to a new page or domain has many benefits. By setting things up properly, you can redirect them effectively and still maintain all of the benefits of any work you put into the original pages.

If anything you need any consultancy with your website traffic, contact us https://ryotaiwai.com/fort-lauderdale-SEO or Google + Site Fort Lauderdale SEO