Search Engine Optimization All-in-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 4

Implementing 301 Redirects

In This Chapter

• Redirecting a page to a new URL
• Creating 301 Redirects on an Apache server
• Doing 301 Redirects on a NGINX server
• Implementing 301 Redirects in Microsoft IIS
• Setting up 301 Redirects in ISAPI_Rewrite
• Accomplishing 301 Redirects using header inserts
• Setting up 301 Redirects with a WordPress plug-in
• Moving a site to a new host

Redirects are HTML or server commands that automatically forward incoming links and users from one page’s URL to another URL, so redirects provide you with an extremely useful website–maintenance technique.

Of the four types of redirects we cover in Chapter 3 of this minibook (301 Redirect, 302 Redirect, Meta refresh, and JavaScript redirect), only the 301 Redirect passes the test for search engine optimization (SEO)–friendliness. In this chapter, we cover how to set up 301 Redirects and show you some specific situations that call for them. Because a lot of this explanation involves step-by-step instructions, we give a set of instructions for each kind of server. Your server is the software that runs your website. The server receives and “serves up” user requests to display pages or perform other site tasks.

If you don’t know what type of server your site runs on, ask your webmaster or your hosting provider (the service that physically hosts your website).

Getting the Details on How 301 Redirects Work

A 301 Redirect tells the search engine that the page at Location A has permanently moved to Location ...