Managing links effectively is essential for SEO and a seamless user experience, and 301 redirects are a valuable tool for this. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirection that sends visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one, preserving SEO value and preventing 404 errors.
What is a 301 Redirect?
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirection that automatically sends visitors from one URL to another. When set up correctly, 301 redirects transfer the SEO value from the old URL to the new one, preserving your site’s search rankings and ensuring visitors land on the correct page.
Setting Up 301 Redirects Using .htaccess
If you’re comfortable with code, editing the .htaccess file directly is a quick and efficient way to create 301 redirects. Here’s how to do it:
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Access Your .htaccess File:
- Connect to your website’s server via an FTP client (such as FileZilla) or hosting provider’s file manager.
- Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation, where you’ll find the .htaccess file.
2. Backup Your .htaccess File:
- Before making any changes, download a copy of your .htaccess file as a backup. This will let you restore it if something goes wrong.
3. Edit the .htaccess File:
- Open the .htaccess file in a text editor.
- To set up a 301 redirect, add the following line at the bottom of the file
Redirect 301 /old-page-url https://yourdomain.com/new-page-url
- Replace /old-page-url with the path of the page you want to redirect from.
- Replace https://yourdomain.com/new-page-url with the full URL of the page you want to redirect to.
4. Save and Upload the .htaccess File:
- Save the changes and upload the updated .htaccess file to your server.
- Test the redirect by visiting the old URL to ensure it takes you to the new page.
Example of Multiple 301 Redirects in .htaccess
If you have multiple pages to redirect, simply add each redirect on a new line:
Redirect 301 /old-page-1 https://yourdomain.com/new-page-1
Redirect 301 /old-page-2 https://yourdomain.com/new-page-2
Redirect 301 /old-page-3 https://yourdomain.com/new-page-3
This method is quick, but be cautious when editing the .htaccess file, as incorrect edits can cause server errors.