The web is always evolving. Some sites like the archive.ore are explicitly designed to estimate those changes.
To understand these changes made on the internet, HTTP 301 and HTTP 302 status codes are developed to ensure that if you want to adjust a URL or if you change sites, you don’t need to worry about losing your backlinks, breaking your site’s structure, or swapping the real places.
301 Redirect
301 redirect is permanent. Using 301 redirects generally does not imply any intentions of using the first URL further. It assures that Google will treat the new URL, just like a canonical one.
While doing so, it will transfer all the link material and rank of the page from /page-first to /page-second.
Previously, Google will pass partial page rank through 301 redirects only. Google search engine has updated the algorithms, and now it gives from all the link juice to the targeted URL.
In this process, the old URL becomes the new URL in the eyes of the search engine. Eventually, this process will de-index and replace the old URL with the new one. Also, if you are totally new at this, you should first learn how to create redirects in WordPress.
Using HTTP 301 code
The following are the main uses of the 301 code.
Changing/Moving a Page’s Content
HTTP 301 code is typically used when a page is changed or moved to a new location. For example, when a site audits its content and realizes that they don’t need as many pages.
They wish to move to a single-page website, along with all the things sectioned off and made available through scrolling. Usually, this process also involves getting a new SEO-friendly theme at times.
Typo or Bad URL
The URL is merely bad or wrong sometimes. If you misspelled a word, maybe an automatic post importer(or a writer unlike your style-guide), you get a slug that is unwanted as per the web. Then you will aim to redirect the URL to something more friendly.
Performing SEO Audit
In case you have to perform an SEO auditor your website and you realize that you have non-optimized URLs, HTTP 301 code is your savior.
You can change the URL to better capitalize on the keyboard. You should also make sure that your URL and keyword change is pertinent to the site’s content.
Majores Slots Online used the 301 redirects for an SEO site audit and then it was the 301 redirects that came to save the day for their SEO strategies.
Creating a Branded Redirect
You may need to take a cumbersome URL and transform it into something branded for your website. If you are using a Discord server and wish to change the invite URL to be easier to share and remember, you can use HTTP 301 code to redirect.
Archive Updates
You may need to clean the older content if your site’s been going for a long time. Search engines index the unwanted pages. You can use 301 redirects for the outdated content.
You can refresh, update, and even rewrite the existing content. You can redirect the old URL to the new content with an updated URL. Moreover, if you want to delete a present post, you can use 301 redirects to guide the users to a similar position without a 404 error occurrence.
302 Redirect
Let’s brief you on the HTTP 302. Mainly, a 302 redirect is a temporary redirect. If you use 302 redirects over 301 redirects, the search engine adapts that the page under consideration hasn’t moved; moreover, it still exists, and you detour your audience for some reason.
In this scenario, the search engine won’t re-index the targetted URL to replace it with the old URL. Google knows that just a hiatus is taken from the URL.
Furthermore, as it is a temporary redirect, zero link juice is transferred via 302 redirects. It is an essential distinction between the two types of redirects.
Using HTTP 302 code
There are few uses of HTTP 302 than the 301. Going through the points below will help you use them correctly.
- While you are A/B testing for a new design or a site, you can determine how the audience reacts to the updated page or site.
- You can set up a quick 302 redirect when a page or site breaks for any reason. It gives you the time for debugging and troubleshooting without affecting users’ retention. The same goes for site maintenance.
- Suppose your client/boss wants to give a feature, feedback, or design. When you want to show off working in a production environment, you can use 302 redirects without affecting your SEO practices or SERPs.
These are the primary reasons for temporary redirecting. HTTP 302 is mainly used for a short period and the right reason.
Final Word
You would have noticed now that there are many good reasons to use the HTTP 301 and HTTP 302 codes. Your website is going to change consequently with the changes on the internet.
You will feel to adjust matters on a production site at some point. You will be able to accommodate them without imparting a negative image upon your users, SERPs, and the SEO basics.
Be it about getting a new WordPress theme, shifting pages, SEO audits, A/B testing, or whatsoever, You can use these 2 redirects and perform all these tasks without a hitch.
