Setting Up 301 Redirects in Squarespace
Learning Objectives
- Set up and test 301 redirects in Squarespace properly
- Identify and fix common redirect errors including syntax mistakes and trailing slash problems
- Troubleshoot caching issues that prevent redirects from working
Introduction
When you restructure your website or move content around, you need to tell visitors and search engines where your pages have gone. That's where 301 redirects come in. They're permanent redirects that automatically send anyone trying to visit an old URL to the new location instead.
Getting redirects wrong can hurt your SEO rankings and frustrate visitors who hit dead ends. This chapter walks you through setting up, testing, and fixing 301 redirects in Squarespace so your site works smoothly for everyone.
Lessons
Setting Up Your First 301 Redirect
Squarespace makes redirect setup straightforward through the URL Mappings feature:
Step 1: Log into your Squarespace account and go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings.
Step 2: Add your redirect using this format: /old-page -> /new-page 301
Step 3: Save your changes.
Here's a real example: If you're moving a blog post from /blog/old-post-title to /blog/new-post-title, you'd enter:
/blog/old-post-title -> /blog/new-post-title 301
The most important bit is getting the format exactly right. No quotes needed, just the arrow symbol (->) with spaces on either side, followed by 301.
Testing Your Redirects Work
Setting up the redirect is only half the job. You need to check it actually works:
Step 1: Open a new incognito or private browser window.
Step 2: Type your full old URL into the address bar (like yoursite.com/old-page).
Step 3: Press enter and check you land on the new page.
Step 4: Use a redirect checker tool like httpstatus.io to confirm the server returns a 301 status code.
Testing in incognito mode stops your browser's stored cache from interfering with results. This is the bit most people miss – they test in a regular browser window and get confused when cached versions show up.
Fixing Common Redirect Problems
When redirects don't work, it's usually one of these issues:
Syntax errors: Check your spacing and symbols carefully. It should be /old-page -> /new-page 301 with spaces around the arrow. Not /old-page->new-page 301 or /old-page > /new-page 301.
Trailing slash problems: /old-page/ is different from /old-page. If someone bookmarked the version with a trailing slash, you need to redirect that specific version. When in doubt, set up both:
/old-page -> /new-page 301
/old-page/ -> /new-page 301
Cache issues: Your browser might be showing an old version of the page. Clear your browser cache or test in a different browser entirely.
Wrong URL format: Make sure you're using the page slug (the bit after your domain name) not the full URL. Use /about not https://yoursite.com/about.
Practice
Pick an old page on your site (or create a test page you can delete later). Set up a 301 redirect to send visitors to your homepage instead. Test it works by typing the old URL into an incognito browser window and checking you land on the homepage.
FAQs
What happens to my SEO rankings when I redirect a page?
A proper 301 redirect passes most of the SEO value from the old page to the new one. You might see a temporary dip in rankings while search engines process the change, but they should recover.
How long do redirects take to work?
Redirects usually work immediately, but it can take a few minutes for changes to propagate. If it's not working after 10 minutes, check for syntax errors.
Can I redirect to external websites?
Yes, you can redirect to any URL, including external sites. Just use the full URL: /old-page -> https://external-site.com/new-page 301
Should I remove redirects after a while?
Keep important redirects permanently. People might have old bookmarks or links from other sites pointing to your old URLs for years.
Jargon Buster
301 redirect: A permanent redirect that tells browsers and search engines a page has moved permanently to a new location.
URL mapping: Squarespace's system for managing redirects through the Settings > Advanced section.
Trailing slash: The forward slash (/) at the end of a URL, which can affect how redirects work if not handled consistently.
Status code: The number servers use to tell browsers what happened to a request. 301 means "moved permanently".
Cache: Stored copies of web pages that help sites load faster but can sometimes show outdated content.
Wrap-up
You now know how to set up, test, and troubleshoot 301 redirects in Squarespace. The key points to remember: get the syntax exactly right, test in incognito mode, and be consistent with trailing slashes.
Redirects are one of those behind-the-scenes things that make a huge difference to user experience and SEO. Take the time to set them up properly and your visitors will thank you for it.
Ready to take your Squarespace skills further? Check out our advanced SEO course at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership