If you're new to SEO, you're probably interested in the301 redirectConfused.301 redirectWhat is it? Why use it? How to use it properly? This article will answer these questions and help you master the301 redirectThe basics of the
First, what is 301 redirection?
If you want to change your website's domain name or structure, you may need to use 301 redirects to avoid affecting your SEO rankings and user experience.301 redirects are a permanentweb redirect, which tells search engines and users that a web page has been permanentlymobilityWent to another URL.
For example, if you migrate your website from example.com to example.net, you can use a 301 redirect thatLet search engines and users know, the original URL is no longer valid and the new URL is example.net.
Second, why use 301 redirection?
There are several benefits of using 301 redirects:
- Retain the original web pageSEO Weight
When you move a web page from one URL to another, you don't want to lose your original rankings and traffic. Using a 301 redirect lets the search engines know that the new URL is the successor to the original URL, thus passing the original weight to the new URL. - Avoid duplication of content
If you haveTwo or more identical or similarpages, search engines may think that you are trying to trick them, thus lowering your rankings or penalizing your site. Using 301 redirects lets the search engines know which URL is the main content you want to show, while the others are just secondary. - Improve user experience
If a user comes to your website through a search engine and visits a URL that doesn't exist or has changed, they may be disappointed or confused. Using a 301 redirect will allow users to jump to the correct URL without any problems, thusIncrease their satisfaction and trustThe
Third, how to correctly use 301 redirection?
Using 301 redirects is not complicated, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Use only when necessary
Don't abuse 301 redirects, because it increases server load and user wait time. Use 301 redirects only if you really need to permanently change the URL of a web page. - Use one-to-one mapping
Try to match the content of the original web page with the new one, this ensures that search engines and users will be able to find the information they are looking for. Don't redirect a number of different web pages all to the same page, this can lead to confusion and disappointment. - Update internal and external links
Once you have used a 301 redirect, remember to update the links on your own site that point to your original URL, as well as notify other sites that link to your original URL to update their links. This willAvoid unnecessary jumps and errorsThe
Fourth, how to use 301 steering in WordPress
In WordPress, there are various ways to realize 301 steering, below we introduce several common ways:
- Using plug-ins
This is the simplest and most convenient method, you only need to install a WordPress steering plugin, and then add the source and target addresses you want to redirect in the settings page of the plugin, and then you can automatically complete the 301 redirection. This method is suitable for users who are not familiar with the code or do not want to modify the file.Commonly Used WordPress 301 Redirect Plugins
- Redirection: This is a powerful free plugin for easy 301 redirection and incorrect link management, with support for regular expression matching and import/export functionality.
- Simple 301 Redirects: This is a very simple and easy to use plugin that allows you to quickly and easily perform 301 redirects, supporting redirects to specific URLs as well as redirects to the entire site.
- Quick Page/Post Redirect Plugin: This plugin allows you to easily set up redirection rules for pages and posts in WordPress, with support for 301 and 302 redirects.
- Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO is a very popular SEO plugin that, in addition to optimizing your content and metadata, includes a redirection module that can help you with 301 redirects.
- Using .htaccess files
This is a more advanced and flexible approach where you need to pass theFTP or file managerAccess the .htaccess file in the root directory of your site and add some rules to the file to specify the address you want to redirect to. This method is suitable for users who are familiar with the code or who want more control, and is usually targeted at server environments using Apache.
RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.aaa\.com [NC] RewriteRule ^(. *)$ https://www.bbb.com/$1 [L,R=301]
In the above rule, we enabled RewriteEngine and used RewriteCond to check if the HTTP_HOST is"www.aaa.com". If yes, use RewriteRule to forward all requests to "https://www.bbb.com" and add R=301 to ensure permanent redirection.
- Using PHP code
This is a more complex and precise method, you need to add some PHP code to your site's theme or plugin to detect the conditions you want to redirect and use thewp_redirect
function to perform a 301 redirect. This method is suitable for users with programming experience or who want to implement a specific function.
add_action('template_redirect', 'custom_redirect'); function custom_redirect() { if (is_page('old-page')) { wp_redirect(home_url(' new-page'), 301); exit(); } }
In the above code, the use ofadd_action
mounts a file namedcustom_redirect
function that checks if the current page is "old-page", and if so, use thewp_redirect
function redirects the user to the"new-page"The
Whichever method you choose, you should back up your site before using a 301 redirect and test that your site is working properly afterward. You should also be careful to avoid creatingCircular redirects or too many redirect chains, because it will affect your website performance and user experience.
summarize
301 redirection is a common and effective SEO technique that can help you retain your original rankings and traffic when you change the URL of a web page, avoid duplicate content, and improve user experience. However, it is also important to use it correctly and update relevant links in a timely manner. I hope this article can help you better understand and apply 301 redirection to bring better SEO results and user experience for your website.