Understanding 301 Redirects in Squarespace

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

1. Understand what 301 redirects are and when to use them
2. Set up 301 redirects in Squarespace using URL Mappings
3. Troubleshoot common redirect problems
4. Recognise the SEO benefits of proper redirect implementation

Introduction

When you change page URLs on your Squarespace site, you need to tell search engines and visitors where the content has moved. That's where 301 redirects come in. They're like forwarding addresses for your web pages.

Without proper redirects, visitors clicking old links will hit dead ends, and you'll lose valuable SEO rankings. This chapter shows you how to set up 301 redirects in Squarespace to keep your site running smoothly and maintain your search engine visibility.

Lessons

What are 301 Redirects?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells browsers and search engines that a page has moved to a new location forever. The "301" is the HTTP status code for "moved permanently."

Here's what happens when someone visits a redirected URL:

1. They click a link to your old page
2. Your server sends a 301 response with the new URL
3. Their browser automatically loads the new page
4. Search engines update their records to show the new URL

The key benefit is that 301 redirects pass nearly all SEO value from the old page to the new one. This means you keep your search rankings when you change URLs.

You'll need 301 redirects when you:

• Rename pages or blog posts
• Restructure your site navigation
• Delete pages that still receive traffic
• Change your domain name
• Move from another platform to Squarespace

Setting Up 301 Redirects in Squarespace

Squarespace makes redirect management straightforward with its URL Mappings feature. Here's how to set them up:

Step 1: Log into your Squarespace account and go to Settings

Step 2: Click Advanced, then select URL Mappings

Step 3: In the text box, enter your redirect using this format:

/old-url -> /new-url 301

Step 4: Click Save

Here are some examples:

• Redirect an old about page: /about-us -> /about 301
• Redirect a blog post: /blog/old-post-title -> /blog/new-post-title 301
• Redirect to an external site: /old-page -> https://example.com 301

Important formatting rules:

• Always start URLs with a forward slash (/)
• Use spaces around the arrow (->)
• End with "301" after a space
• Put each redirect on a new line

Step 5: Test your redirects by visiting the old URLs in a private browser window

Troubleshooting Common Redirect Issues

When redirects don't work as expected, here's how to fix them:

Problem: Redirect isn't working at all
Solution: Check your formatting. Make sure you have:

• Forward slash at the start of both URLs
• Spaces around the arrow
• "301" at the end
• No extra spaces or characters

Problem: Getting a redirect loop error
Solution: You've created a circular redirect where Page A redirects to Page B, which redirects back to Page A. Check your URL mappings for conflicting redirects.

Problem: External redirects not working
Solution: Make sure external URLs include "http://" or "https://" at the beginning.

Problem: Redirects work but take too long
Solution: Avoid redirect chains where one redirect leads to another redirect. Always redirect directly to the final destination.

Testing your redirects:

1. Clear your browser cache
2. Visit the old URL in a private/incognito window
3. Check that you land on the correct new page
4. Use online redirect checker tools for additional verification

Practice

Set up a test redirect on your Squarespace site:

1. Create a new page called "Test Page"
2. Note the URL (something like /test-page)
3. Go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings
4. Add this redirect: /old-test -> /test-page 301
5. Save your changes
6. Test by visiting yoursite.com/old-test

You should automatically land on your test page. If it works, you've successfully set up your first 301 redirect.

FAQs

How many redirects can I set up in Squarespace?
There's no official limit, but keep redirects to a minimum for best performance. Only redirect URLs that actually receive traffic.

Can I set up wildcard redirects in Squarespace?
No, Squarespace doesn't support wildcard redirects. You need to create each redirect individually.

Do redirects slow down my site?
A few redirects won't noticeably impact speed, but hundreds of redirects could affect performance. Only redirect pages that need it.

How long should I keep redirects in place?
Keep important redirects permanently. Search engines and old bookmarks may reference old URLs for years.

Can I redirect to external websites?
Yes, you can redirect to any external URL. Just include the full URL with http:// or https://.

Jargon Buster

301 Redirect: A permanent redirect that tells search engines a page has moved forever and passes SEO value to the new location.

URL Mappings: Squarespace's built-in tool for creating and managing redirects.

HTTP Status Code: Numbers that web servers send to indicate what happened with a request. 301 means "moved permanently."

Redirect Chain: When one redirect leads to another redirect, which can slow down loading times.

Link Equity: The SEO value and ranking power that gets passed from one page to another through links and redirects.

Wrap-up

You now know how to set up 301 redirects in Squarespace to maintain your SEO rankings and keep visitors happy when you change URLs. Remember to test your redirects after setting them up, and only redirect pages that actually need it.

The key points to remember:

• Use 301 redirects when permanently moving or renaming pages
• Format redirects correctly in URL Mappings
• Test redirects in a private browser window
• Avoid creating redirect chains or loops

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