What are URL Redirects and How do they Impact SEO?

A redirect is a way to send users and search engines to a different URL from the one they requested. A URL redirect is a technique used to forward users from a non-existent URL to another URL that’s active. Redirects are used for forwarding traffic temporarily during server maintenance or merging duplicate content. 

It is normal for most website owners to deal with redirects at one point or another. The main objective of redirects is to keep things accessible for users and search engines when you rebrand your website. In today’s cluttered digital space, redirects can help maintain your website’s usability. You can enhance the user experience of your website and its overall visibility with URL redirects.     

When to Use Redirects in SEO? 

You can use redirects when moving content from one webpage to another. Listed are the top scenarios when you can use redirects. 

Domain Transfer 

If you are moving from one domain to another, you must redirect all your pages permanently to the new domain. 

Merging Websites 

URL redirects come in handy when you are combining multiple websites into one website. It is crucial to redirect old URLs to newer ones permanently. 

Making a Switch to HTTPS 

Website owners switching to HTTPS should permanently redirect every webpage to the secure (HTTPS) location. 

Types of URL Redirects 

Nowadays, website owners can use a wide variety of redirects to boost their website’s UX. When choosing which redirect code to implement, you must opt for the right type for maximum benefits. Here are the common URL redirects prevalent these days. 

307 Redirect URL 

A 307 redirect is a temporary URL redirect. The 307 code is a server-side redirect specifically used for HTTP. It ensures that the HTTP request doesn’t change when the server responds to the redirect prompt. Note that this URL redirect doesn’t impact SEO adversely. 

302 Redirect URL 

It is a common redirect code that’s used when your webpage moves to another URL. Search engine bots can index the original URL and scan it thoroughly. 

301 Redirect URL 

A 310 redirect URL comes into the thick of things when the page is permanently deleted. Most SEO experts rely on this URL redirect to preserve their website’s rankings, backlinks, and traffic. Website owners can use this URL redirect when fixing broken links and creating a new subdomain.

The Impact of URL Redirects on SEO 

Redirecting your webpage to another URL does not affect SEO. But you should consider the following points if you want to change the structure of the pages. 

• Never alter the structure of the URL 
• Make changes to the temporary URL initially, then apply them to the actual URL 
• Keep track of the inbound links to the page 
• Consider how URL redirects can affect the user experience of the webpage 

When executed properly, redirects won’t affect your SEO rankings. However, if you execute them poorly, URL redirects can make your website rank lower. You can now learn the ins and outs of URL redirects by consulting with Yandovskiy SEO. The company has rich expertise in developing client-friendly SEO strategies.