R
Redirect
Definition
A redirect automatically sends anyone who visits one URL to a different URL, and tells search engines whether the move is permanent.
In plain English
Two types matter in practice. A 301 says ‘this moved permanently, update your records’ and passes the old page’s ranking strength to the new one. A 302 says ‘temporarily, keep the old address’.
Using the wrong one is one of the quietest ways to lose traffic you already earned.
Why it matters
Every site restructure, domain change or deleted post leaves behind addresses that people and Google still hold.
Redirects turn those dead ends into working paths. Skip them and you trade hard-won rankings for missing pages.
How it works
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List the old addresses firstBefore you change anything. Export from your sitemap or your analytics.
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Map each to its closest new equivalentNot everything to the homepage, search engines treat that as a soft miss.
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Implement themA redirect plugin, your host’s dashboard, or rules on the server.
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Test, then watchCheck a sample by hand, then monitor Search Console for new missing pages.
Avoid redirect chains
A to B to C costs speed and dilutes signal at every hop. Point A straight at C.