Redirect Management
Redirect Management handles sending users from old URLs to new ones when you change your website. The core decision is choosing between 301 and 302 Server Response Codes for each redirect. This choice controls whether Link Equity passes to the new URL or stays with the old one.
Use 301 redirects for permanent moves that transfer SEO value to the new page. Use 302 redirects for temporary moves that keep SEO value with the original URL. Technical SEO requires avoiding redirect loops where pages point back to each other. Most URL Structure changes need 301 redirects to preserve search rankings.
Poor redirect setup hurts Crawlability when search bots cannot follow your redirect paths. Long redirect chains waste crawl budget and may cause search engines to give up entirely. Site Structure changes should include redirect planning to keep your content findable. Regular audits help catch broken redirects that damage Indexability and user experience.