301 and 302 redirects are important so make sure you know the difference!
You won’t believe how many SEO specialists and web designers are still unfamiliar with 301 and 302 redirects. It is essential that you know the difference because it can have serious effects on your SEO efforts. To help you better understand the difference between 301 and 302 redirects, we answered basic questions that you might have.
What is a redirect?
This is exactly what it sounds like. A redirect moves visitors to a different page on your website, most often because the page they requested is currently unavailable. There could be several reasons why you are redirecting your visitors:
- The page or website is no longer active
- You are currently fixing the webpage
- The URL isn’t working or may be broken
- You have a new website that you want people to visit
What is a 301 redirect?
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect. Think of it like a change of address: you’ve found your dream home and you have no intentions of moving.
What is a 302 redirect?
A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect. Similar to the change of address, think of it as though your house is being fumigated, so you’re taking up residence in the hotel down the street until your house is livable again.
How Do 301 and 302 Redirects Affect SEO?
It is essential that you know the difference between 301 and 302 redirects and when to use them because they seriously affect your SEO.
When you use a 301 redirect between page A and page B, then all of page A’s SEO quality is passed on to page B. This includes:
- Domain Authority
- Page Rank
- Traffic
- “Link Juice”
Many webmasters make the mistake of using 302 redirects when they should be using 301 redirects. If you want your new page to keep all the great SEO qualities of your old page, then it is recommended that you use a 301 redirect.
When should I use a 301 redirect?
By using a 301 redirect, you are essentially letting the search engine know that your page has moved and you want them to find the latest version at this new location. The most common instance of a 301 redirect is when you are changing your website’s domain. Perhaps you realized that it does not match your brand’s image. Another reason you might use a 301 redirect is that you are cleaning up the URL and redirecting them to a shorter version that is more search engine friendly.
When should I use a 302 redirect?
Perhaps the best instance to use a 302 redirect is for your e-commerce website. Many websites might feature holiday sales or items. Since these are not permanent, it is the perfect place to use a 302 redirect because it lets the search engine know that this webpage is offline and unavailable at the time.
Another time to use a 302 redirect could be if you’re improving a specific web page. Maybe you’re updating content or adding new images. You don’t want your visitors to see a 404-error page because that looks entirely unprofessional. So instead, you simply redirect them to another resource on your website.
At Kraus Marketing, we specialize in website design and SEO. If you have any further questions regarding 301 and 302 redirects, please contact us at (973)-998-5742 or visit us online at www.KrausMarketing.com. We would be more than happy to help assist you with your website.