What is a 301 redirect? A complete overview

Redirect 301 explained: why does using a 301 redirect raise website traffic quickly, and also bring backlink real results? Let's MONA Media look at this method in detail in the article below!

Redirect overview

What is a redirect?

Redirect is a term that SEO often use when building links. It means forwarding one link to another. The 3 most common types of redirect are: 301, 302, Meta Refresh. 

Types of redirect

There are many ways to do a redirect, but in general redirects fall into 2 groups: Client-Side redirects and Server-side redirects. In detail:

Client-Side Redirects

Client-side redirects in simple terms, when you open a URL, after a set time you are automatically sent to another URL. This type of redirect is not very effective and Google often rates it poorly, so you do not need to pay it much attention.

Server-Side Redirects

Server-side redirects are carried out directly on the server, which then sends a small piece of content to the browser, called the HTTP status headers. From these, browsers know where to go and follow immediately. These HTTP headers carry the code for the server-side redirect and the new location the browser should go to.

Server-side redirects include these commands: Redirect 301, Redirect 302 and Redirect 307.

What is a 301 redirect?

301 redirect is a forwarding method that tells browsers and search engines that a webpage or website has moved permanently to a new address. At the same time, anyone who visits the old address is automatically sent to the new one.

Put another way, a 301 redirect (also called redirection 301) is usually understood as a permanent move (moved permanently). When the 301 code appears in the header, it tells searchers, browsers and servers that the page has moved to a new address.

Other types of server redirect:

• Redirect 302 is an HTTP status code meaning the URL or destination page has been redirected temporarily to a new address while the old URL still applies. It is commonly used during maintenance and site upgrades.
• Code 303 (See Other Location): This response applies when a user requests access to a different location, and the server forwards the request there.
• Redirect 304 (Not Modified): This code tells the browser the requested resources do not need to be sent again. It is a silent redirect to cached resources.
• Code 305 (Use Proxy): The requested resource can only be accessed through a proxy server.
• Code 307 (Temporary Redirect): This code works much like a 302. The difference is that a 307 is usually used while the source code is being upgraded or the website has a problem, and users should keep using the original address in the future.

How does a 301 redirect work?

A 301 is typically used in situations like these:

• The target page has moved or been replaced by a new link.
• Domain of the page has changed, the site has moved to another domain, or the brand has changed.
• The page returns a 404 errors or its content is out of date.
• The website has duplicate content, so several posts need to be merged into one.
• You want to bring more traffic to the website.

Once you understand how this works and how to use it, the results can be very strong. Google treats a 301 redirect as a permanent move. With a 301, you tell search engines that the website now lives at a new address, so the new site inherits all the links, anchor text and even any penalties the old site had received. Understanding what a 301 redirect actually does matters a lot, because plenty of people use 301 redirects and get nothing out of them.

Why some 301 redirects fail

Redirect 301 to build backlinks is not a new idea. In practice it brings no benefit and can even put your website at risk. In the old approach, you would take any domain with lots of backlinks and 301 redirect it to your site.

There are a few reasons this is risky:

• Irrelevant links: Google's Penguin algorithm flags websites whose backlink profiles are full of irrelevant spam links. Redirecting an unrelated domain with a 301 is basically asking Penguin to take your site down.
• Irrelevant anchor text: Redirecting an unrelated domain wrecks your healthy anchor text ratio with anchors that have nothing to do with your site.
• Confusing Google: Say you want to rank for the keyword “link building”. You find an expired domain about “cat training” with an impressive number of backlinks, and you redirect it to your website just for its metrics. By doing this, you hand Google a set of links and anchor text about “cat training” that has nothing to do with you.

That easily confuses Google. It can no longer tell what your site is about: cat training or link building? The end result is that your website stops showing up in search engines.

A new 301 redirect method

As you can see, the old 301 redirect method does not work. Below is the newer 301 approach, which is far more effective. With this technique, you only use expired domains on a “Topical Trust Flow (TFF)” topic similar to your own website.

Why redirect TFF sites instead of sites in exactly the same niche? Sites in exactly the same niche would be ideal, but they are much harder to find than sites on a related topic.

For example, if website design is about massage chairs, you would look for a domain about “health” or another TFF topic related to health. The method works because you focus only on expired domains with related topics.

Relevance is the single most important factor in building backlinks that work. Google can easily spot the traditional redirect method because the content and links don't match. This newer 301 technique is similar to buying another business in your own industry.

How to get the most out of 301 redirects

The point of this merging technique is to raise your website's authority. The more authority your site has, the easier it is to rank for important keywords. When you apply this Technical SEO method , make sure you have optimized SEO onpage properly. Just as important, don't overuse the technique, because doing so makes a penalty much more likely.

Redirects clearly have a real effect on your website's SEO results, so take care when setting them up. Or you can get professional help from a provider of SEO services full-scope SEO such as MONA Media – a leading SEO company in Vietnam.

The 12+ years in SEO, with successful SEO strategies delivered for businesses in Vietnam and abroad across many industries, the MONA Media team is confident we can give you complete, high-quality SEO.

From on-page SEO such as SEO titles and unique content, to technical work SEO offpage like building a backlink profile, handling 301 redirects correctly, and building sitemap for your website, our team works to get the most out of your site. CONTACT US with MONA via Hotline 1900 636 648 if you need SEO that works, grows organic traffic and multiplies by 200 your current revenue.

Contact MONA:

• Address: 1073/23 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Ward 7, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Hotline: 1900 636 648
• Email: info@themona.global

-> Read more: 10 Effective Ways to Speed Up a WordPress Website

Should you use a 301 or 302 redirect?

The answer depends on your situation and what you are trying to do.

• If your website is under maintenance or being changed for a short time, use a 302 redirect. Keep in mind that a 302 is not ideal and can hurt your keyword rankings if you leave it in place for a long time.
• If you want to move to a new URL for good, use a 301 redirect. That way the website keeps its existing value and rankings.

Common 301 redirect errors

• Not settling on one version, with “www” or without “www”: this splits your backlinks, authority and PageRank across two versions, and Google won't understand that the two are the same site. You need to set up a 301 between the two versions “http://” and “http://www”.
• Moving the domain without setting up the 301 redirect first: All the value and authority of the old domain is left behind. Always make sure the 301 redirect is in place before moving from the old domain to the new one.

How to fix a 302 Moved Temporarily error

• Cause: this error means the website address has been moved temporarily to another location, in other words the address has changed.
• How to fix it: When a website address (URL) moves to another location, the webmaster redirects it to the new address. If the redirect breaks, just contact the webmaster to sort it out.

Redirects Redirect 301 have a lot to offer when it comes to SEO. Used strategically, they help your website earn more organic traffic. First, though, make sure there are no 301 redirect problems on your site, because they can hold back your SEO work now and in the future. We hope this article from MONA Media has given you a clear picture of 301 redirects, so you can apply them to your own website with confidence.

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