Setting Up 301 Redirects in SEOSpace
TL;DR:
- 301 redirects tell search engines a page has moved permanently
- Set up redirects in SEOSpace using the URL mappings section
- Mark redirects as 301 to keep SEO rankings and link equity
- Use SEOSpace's built-in tools to monitor redirect performance
- Check redirects every few months to catch errors early
Setting up 301 redirects properly keeps your SEO intact when you move or delete pages. Here's how to handle them in SEOSpace without getting tangled up in technical details.
How to Set Up 301 Redirects in SEOSpace
Head to your site settings and find the "URL mappings" section. This is where you'll add your redirects.
You'll need two things for each redirect:
- The old URL (where people used to find your content)
- The new URL (where you want them to go instead)
When you add the redirect, make sure you select "301" as the redirect type. This tells search engines the move is permanent, which means they'll pass along the SEO value from your old page to the new one.
The interface is straightforward – no coding required. Just paste in your URLs and save.
Keeping Track of Your Redirects
Once your redirects are live, you need to check they're working properly. SEOSpace includes monitoring tools that show you how your redirects are performing.
Set up a routine to check your redirects every few months. Look for:
- Broken redirect chains
- Redirects pointing to pages that no longer exist
- Any redirect errors in your analytics
Your site analytics will show whether traffic is flowing to the new URLs as expected. If you see a drop in traffic to redirected pages, that's usually a sign something's gone wrong.
Quick tip: Add a calendar reminder to review your redirects quarterly, especially after you've made major changes to your site structure.
Common Redirect Mistakes to Avoid
Don't redirect everything to your homepage. If you've deleted a specific page, redirect it to the most relevant page on your site instead.
Avoid redirect chains where Page A redirects to Page B, which redirects to Page C. Search engines don't like these, and they slow down your site.
Test your redirects after setting them up. Click through a few to make sure they're working as expected.
FAQs
Can I set up 301 redirects in SEOSpace without technical knowledge?
Yes, SEOSpace's interface is designed for non-technical users. You just need to know your old and new URLs.
How often should I check my redirects?
Every few months is usually enough, but check them immediately after any major site changes or restructuring.
Will 301 redirects affect my site speed?
A few redirects won't slow things down noticeably. Problems start when you have hundreds of redirects or redirect chains.
What happens if I don't set up redirects for deleted pages?
Visitors and search engines will hit 404 errors, which hurts user experience and can damage your SEO over time.
Jargon Buster
301 Redirect: A permanent redirect that tells search engines a page has moved to a new URL forever
URL Mapping: The process of connecting old URLs to new ones through redirects
Link Equity: The SEO value that gets passed from one page to another through links and redirects
Redirect Chain: When multiple redirects are linked together, which slows down loading and confuses search engines
Wrap-up
301 redirects are one of those things that seem complicated but are actually pretty straightforward once you know what you're doing. SEOSpace makes the technical side easy, so you can focus on making sure your visitors end up in the right place.
The key is being systematic about it. Set up your redirects properly from the start, then check them regularly to make sure they're still working. Your SEO will thank you for it.
Ready to get your redirects sorted? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more hands-on SEO guidance.