What Is Redirect 301 And 302 In SEO?

There may be several reasons to redirect your audience to a new page. When you have a well-reputed page with lots of engagement and a good page ranking on Google SERPs and you wish to publish a new website (similar to the old website) then the redirection helps you not to lose your audience.

Your traffic still goes to the old domain but is then automatically redirected to the new one. In time, as search engines update their databases, the new domain will pick up its own search results. A redirect can also cause several different URLs to be directed to a single website and can shorten complex URL addresses.

Redirect: 301 & 302. What is Redirect 301 & 302? from W3training School Dehradun

What Is A Redirect?

A redirect is a way to send both users and search engines to a different URL from the one they originally requested. Below are descriptions of some of the commonly used types of redirects.

What Is The Purpose Of Redirecting?

URL redirection is done for various reasons: for URL shortening; to prevent broken links when web pages are moved; to allow multiple domain names belonging to the same owner to refer to a single website; to guide navigation into and out of a website; for privacy protection; and for hostile purposes such as phishing attacks or malware distribution.

Here are the several reasons to use URL Redirection:

1. Similar Domain Names: Similar domain names can be purchased. When you try to find a new domain then you get some suggestions for purchasing similar domains also. So if any visitor trying to visit on a different website, then you can easily redirect him to your another website.
2. Moving pages to New Domains: Redirecting webpage to another domain can be done by:
   •   When you have published a new website
   •   When your other websites merge with each other.
3. Device targeting: Device targeting has become increasingly important with the rise of mobile clients. There are two approaches to serve mobile users: Make the website responsive or redirect to a mobile website version. If a mobile website version is offered, users with mobile clients will be automatically forwarded to the corresponding mobile content.
4. Geo-targeting: Geo Targeting is the approach to offer localized content and automatically forward the user to a localized version of the requested URL. This is helpful for websites that target audience in more than one location and/or language. Usually, server-side redirects are used for Geotargeting but client-side redirects might be an option as well, depending on requirements.
5. Manipulating Search Engines: Misleading redirects is to drive search traffic to land pages, which do not have enough ranking power on their own or which are only remotely or not at all related to the search target. The approach requires a rank for a range of search terms with a number of URLs that would utilize sneaky redirects to forward the searcher to the target page.
6. Manipulating Traffic: URL redirection is sometimes used as a part of phishing attacks that confuse visitors about which website they are visiting. Because modern browsers always show the real URL in the address bar, the threat is lessened. However, redirects can also take you to sites that will otherwise attempt to attack in other ways.

What Are The Types Of Redirect?

1.   Redirect 301: Moved Permanently
2.   Redirect 302: Moved Temporarily

What Is A 301 Redirect?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. 301 redirects send site visitors and search engines to a different URL than the one they originally typed into their browser or selected from a search engine results page.

Why We Use 301 Redirect?

301 Redirect can be useful in many different ways. Here is the reason that describes the use of 301 Redirect:

1. To send visitors to a new website with a different URL which is more attractive and responsive to users and search engines and also for Rebranding.
2. To send visitors to a website owned by the same organization.
3. You’re merging two websites and want to make sure that links to outdated URLs are redirected to the correct pages.
4. When we using SSL certificate: means moving “HTTP” to “https”.
5. When you need to delete a page or blog post.
6. When you switch domains and need to move your content over to the new one.
7. When you plan to merge or combine websites.

What Is 302 Redirect?

A 302 redirect means that the webpage temporary moved. Search engines need to figure out whether to keep the old page or replace it with the one found at the new location.

Why We Use 302 Redirect?

Here are the reasons to use 302 redirects on your website:

1.   A/B testing of a web page for functionality or design.
2.   Getting client feedback on a new page without impacting site ranking.
3.   Updating a web page while providing viewers with a consistent experience.

Conclusion:

Redirect 301 code is used when you’re moving your audience to a new website or page for a reason for branding or another good information. Whereas, Redirect 302 code is used for a shorter time. Redirect 302 used when you have to test a webpage for functionality or design.

Both redirect code 301 and 302 looks familiar in adding on a webpage. At some point, you can add any of the code on your page, but the Google understands your purpose of redirecting. So, Google gives priority to Redirect 301 instead of Redirect 302.