The number of addresses in both fields must be the same.
To begin, prepare a list of the URLs you want to redirect. You can use tools such as Google Search Console or Ahrefs to generate this list. Make sure you have both old and new addresses prepared. You may want to use a spreadsheet to prepare the columns of addresses.
Then paste the prepared URLs into the corresponding fields of our htacces redirect generator. Put the addresses you want to redirect in the first field and enter the new addresses in the second field. Remember to place the addresses one below the other.
In this step you have the option to remove the domain from the URLs, which can be useful for internal redirects. Simply tick the appropriate checkbox so that the tool automatically recognizes whether redirects are taking place within the same domain and adjusts the redirect list.
Click the ‘Generate’ button so that the tool creates a list of 301 redirects in a format suitable for the htaccess file.
The final step is to copy the generated list of redirects and paste it into the htaccess file on your server. After pasting and saving the file, the new redirects should start working immediately, if this is not the case, it is worth making sure that the addresses have not been cached
When a user or search engine bot tries to access an URL, their browser sends a request to the server hosting your website.
Upon receiving the request, the server checks its configuration files (such as htaccess) to determine if the requested URL has a redirect in place. If a 301 redirect is set up, the server responds with a 301 status code and the new URL.
The browser receives the 301 status code and the new URL. It then automatically redirects the user to the new location without any further action required by the user.
When search engines encounter a 301 redirect, they should update the index to reflect the new URL. Over time, the old URL is expected to be replaced by the new URL in the search results, transferring SEO value from the old page to the new one.
301 redirects are key to maintaining your website traffic and ranking. Without proper redirects, users and search engine robots may end up on pages with a 404 error, leading to a drop in visibility in search results and a loss of potential customers. Properly implemented redirects will not only improve the user experience, but will also allow you to safely edit URLs or perform migrations correctly.
301 redirects allow you to transfer SEO value from old URLs to new ones. This ensures that you don’t lose the position you’ve gained over the years in search results, which is key to maintaining visibility and traffic to your website.
301 redirects help search engines understand the structure of your site and index your content correctly. Preventing robots from entering pages that generate 404 errors can allow you to optimise your site’s crawl budget.
Ensuring that users always end up on the right pages, even after changing URLs, significantly improves their experience. By avoiding 404 errors and directing visitors directly to the right content, you increase visitor satisfaction and the likelihood of repeat visits.
Changes to a site’s structure are inevitable, especially as it evolves and is updated. 301 redirects allow you to seamlessly manage these changes without affecting users or search engines. They allow you the freedom to modify the URL structure with the confidence that all links will work correctly.
A 301 redirect indicates a permanent move of a resource from one URL to another, transferring SEO value to the new URL. A 302 redirect , on the other hand, indicates a temporary move, which does not transfer SEO value in the same way. Use a 301 redirect for permanent changes to ensure SEO benefits are maintained. If you want to learn more about the types of redirects, check out our article!
Properly configured 301 redirects have a minimal impact on your site’s load time. However, excessive redirects or a poorly optimized redirect chain can slow down page loading. It’s best to keep redirect chains short and efficient to maintain optimal performance.
Yes, 301 redirects can be used to redirect traffic from one domain to another. This is particularly useful during domain migrations or rebranding. Ensure that the redirect is properly configured in the htaccess file to transfer SEO value and maintain user experience.
Let us handle it for you! Try Delante’s hands-on technical SEO services.
Technical SEO audit
Page speed optimization
Image optimization
Website migration
Structured data markup
Senior Web Developer
Let’s talk about how to improve your technical SEO!
