301 Redirect

A 301 redirect is a type of HTTP status code that tells web browsers and search engines that a web page has permanently moved to a new URL. When someone visits the old URL, they are automatically redirected to the new one without needing to do anything. This is one of the most commonly used redirects in SEO and web development, especially when you change or remove pages on your website.

Why is a 301 redirect important?

301 redirects are critical for SEO. When you move or delete a page, search engines like Google need to understand what happened to the original content. A 301 redirect passes most (often around 90–99%) of the original page’s ranking power or link equity to the new URL. This helps preserve your search engine rankings and avoids broken links that could hurt your SEO performance.

Without a redirect in place, users would land on a 404 “Page Not Found” error. Not only does that create a bad user experience, but it can also lead to lost traffic and lower visibility in search results.

Common uses for 301 redirects

You might use a 301 redirect in many different situations, including:

• Website redesigns or restructuring: If your URL structure changes, a 301 redirect ensures old links still work.
• Moving from HTTP to HTTPS: Redirects help route all traffic to the secure version of your site.
• Changing domain names: A 301 redirect can send traffic from your old domain to your new one.
• Merging two websites or pages: If you’re consolidating similar pages, a 301 redirect helps avoid duplicate content and preserves ranking signals.
• Fixing or cleaning up URLs: Shortening or simplifying URLs for users or SEO reasons.

How to implement a 301 redirect

The exact method depends on your website platform and server type. Here are a few examples:

• Apache server (.htaccess file):

  Redirect 301 /old-page https://www.example.com/new-page
  

WordPress plugins: Tools like Yoast SEO Premium or Redirection make it easy to add 301 redirects without touching code.

CMS or hosting platforms: Many modern platforms (like Webflow, Wix, Squarespace, etc.) include redirect options in their settings.

301 vs. 302 Redirect

It’s worth noting the difference between a 301 (permanent) and a 302 (temporary) redirect. A 302 tells search engines that the move is not permanent, so they should not transfer SEO value to the new page. Always use a 301 when the change is permanent.