What is a 301 redirect?
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect: the server answers a request for an old URL with status code 301 and the new address, and the browser goes there automatically. Search engines treat it as a strong signal to move the old page's ranking signals to the new URL.
When to use one
Whenever a page moves for good: a changed slug, a merged article, a new domain or a move to another platform. Every old URL with traffic or links should point to its closest new equivalent, not to the home page.
301 versus 302
A 302 says the move is temporary, so search engines may keep the old URL indexed. Use a 302 for short-term cases such as a seasonal page, and a 301 for anything permanent.
Redirects in a migration
Before launch, list every live URL, map each one to its new path and test the redirects. Avoid chains of several hops, update internal links to the final URLs and submit the new XML sitemap. Our free Migration Planner drafts the map from a sitemap.
