What Is A Redirect? All You Need To Know


You always have to rework some pages once you have built a website. There are multiple reasons behind it, like improving search engine optimization (SEO), refining technical SEO, repurposing content, etc. How will you guide a visitor to that specific page that you have optimized on your website for information?


The solution is known as redirects. Redirects are bits of HTTP status code that take users to alternate URLs containing the information they were looking for if the page they were trying to visit is not functional. 


What is a redirect?


A redirect is a coding technique in which browsers directly send visitors to a specific URL if they try to visit a page that is not operational or is undergoing some work. For instance, you have an e-commerce website where you sell sports shoes, and your customers are trying to visit your "cricket shoes" page. Your "cricket shoes" page is currently undergoing some changes and is not functional. Therefore, you have created an alternative URL for that page, known as a redirect. Whenever the user tries to click the "cricket shoes" page, this page automatically opens. All the information from the original page is available on this redirected page.




When are redirects used?


Here are the reasons listed below when to use redirects on your website:


  • Page Maintenance - whenever your page is undergoing any maintenance, use a redirect so that your original information is still accessible to users in the meantime.
  •  Page Deletion - there are situations when you have to remove a page from your website entirely. In such cases, you can use a redirect which will take users to a different page that has similar information to that deleted page. 
  • Mergers - there are chances that one of the original pages' links will not survive when you merge two or more pages on your website. Use redirects for those merge pages. 
  • Change in the domain name - you can use redirects for your previous website on a large scale if you launch a new website with an entirely new domain. 


Types of redirects


There are various ways to use a redirect for your website. Each redirect has its own set of purposes. There are multiple factors on which choosing a redirect depends, like how they function, the duration, etc. There are two types of redirects: permanent and temporary. There are other two most commonly redirects are:


  • Server-side redirects (SSR)
  1. 301 redirects
  2. 302 redirects


  • Client-side redirects (CSR)
  1. Java script
  2. Meta refresh


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How do redirects impact SEO?


Redirects generally take more time to load as they do not reside on the leading website architecture. This implies slower page loading speed which impacts the user experience and adversely affects the SERP rankings. Therefore try to avoid the usage of redirects and only use them when necessary. If you don't want your SEO rankings to be affected by redirects, contact the best SEO agency in Kolkata


Redirects are very useful for a website, but it has only one disadvantage: they load slower than the original pages in most cases. For better SERP rankings, page loading speed is an essential factor.


Master redirects for your website


It would help if you managed a redirect without negatively impacting your SEO. Asseo is a leading SEO agency in Kolkata that can help you implement all types of redirects and drive your desired results. We have dedicated SEO experts who ensure that your redirects are executed seamlessly without negatively affecting your rankings. 




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