Do you want to add 301 redirects to your WordPress site?
301 redirects assist in resolving 404 page not found errors and directing users to the correct page. It aids in improving your keyword rankings and providing a better user experience.
In this article, we’ll define 301 redirects and show you how to implement them on your website.
What is a WordPress Redirect?
A redirect is an instant message sent by your website to your reader’s browser notifying them that the page they choose to visit was already moved, as such their search engine could also automatically link them to a new page of your choice.
There are several types of redirects, including 301 redirects, 302 redirects, 307 redirects, and so on.
We will concentrate on 301 redirects in this beginner’s guide because they are the most important for your WordPress website.
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that moves a page to a new location. It informs the browser that the page has been permanently relocated to the new location and that we do not intend to relocate it again.
That being said, let’s look at when you should use them.
When Is a 301 Redirect Necessary in WordPress?
When your site or a page on your site has been relocated and you want to redirect the user to a new page, you should use 301 redirects.
When you plan to delete a post or page in favor of new content, you must create a 301 redirect. It is also required if you intend to change the permalinks of your post or page.
If you do not configure redirection, your users will receive a 404 page not found error. This is not only bad for the user experience of your site, but it can also have an impact on your WordPress SEO.
If your site has a high number of broken links, you may lose valuable backlinks. As a result, your domain authority and keyword rankings will suffer significantly.
That is why 301 redirects are critical. They enable you to notify browsers and users that the site they are attempting to access has also been permanently relocated to a new spot.
All of your old page’s traffic and backlinks will be transferred to the new page this way.
Now, let’s look at how to create 301 redirects in WordPress using the various methods available.
How to Use Plugins to Create Redirects in WordPress
Using one of the many WordPress redirect plugins is an easier way to create and manage 301 redirects. This allows you to create redirects without ever writing a line of code.
1. SEO All-in-One (AIOSEO)
The All in One SEO (AIOSEO) WordPress plugin is the simplest way to manage and create 301 redirects. It is the best SEO plugin for WordPress, with over 2 million professionals using it to improve their site’s SEO.
AIOSEO provides an effective redirection manager addon which always renders it much more simple to identify broken links on your site as well as create 301 redirections to resolve them.
To use the redirection manager, you must have AIOSEO Pro. AIOSEO also has a free version, but it does not include 301 redirects.
You must first install and activate the AIOSEO Pro plugin on your website. Please see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin for more information.
After activating the plugin, navigate to All in One SEO » Redirects from your WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Activate Redirects’ button.
Then, under Redirects, click the ‘Settings’ tab and select ‘PHP’ as the Redirect Method. It is the most basic method for creating redirects and requires no server-side configuration.
You can also choose Web Server as the Redirect Method in AIOSEO. It does, however, necessitate configuring Apache or NGINX on your web server. This method necessitates technical knowledge and is not suitable for beginners.
Then, go to the ‘Redirect’ button to generate 301 redirections.
You could still visit the link to also be redirected in the Source URL field and the new destination in the Target URL field. Then, from the dropdown menu, select ‘301 Moved Permanently’ as the Redirect Type.
After you’ve entered all of these details, click the ‘Add Redirect’ button.
Simply click the ‘Add URL’ button under the Source URLs field to redirect multiple URLs to a new location.
Then, scroll down to see the logs for the redirects you’ve set up. Under the ‘Hits’ section, it exhibits the number of individuals who reached the redirected link, as well as a choice to disable your 301 redirects.
Aside from that, AIOSEO can assist you in tracking down and fixing 404 error pages.
Simply go to the Settings tab and scroll down to the ‘Logs’ section. Then enable the ‘404 Logs’ and ‘Redirect Logs’ options.
You can also specify how long the logs should be kept. For smooth and fast server performance, we recommend keeping them for no more than one month.
After you’ve enabled these options, make sure to hit the ‘Save Changes’ button.
In the Redirects section, you should now see a new ‘404 Logs’ tab. AIOSEO will track and display broken links here, as well as allow you to set up redirections.
However, there will be no data when you first enable the 404 logs. After you enable the plugin, it will only begin to record 404 error pages.
Once enabled, you can view the URLs of your broken links in the 404 Logs section. You’ll also see the number of visits to the link under ‘Hits,’ as well as the date and time it was last accessed.
Then, select the 404 error URL you want to redirect and press the ‘Add Redirect’ button. You’ll now be able to enter a Target URL and choose a Redirect Type from a dropdown menu.
Enter your new URL, after which select 301 Moved Permanently as your redirection type but also select the ‘Add Redirect’ button.
For your broken link, AIOSEO will now create a 301 redirect. To see whether your redirections have all been functioning correctly, go on to the outdated URL to see if it opens the latest target destination.
2. Redirection
The Redirection plugin is another way to add and manage redirects in WordPress.
Setup the Redirection plugin on your site first. You can follow our step-by-step instructions for installing a WordPress plugin.
After activating the plugin, navigate to Tools » Redirection and click the ‘Start Setup’ button to begin configuring it.
Following that, you can choose whether to monitor permalink changes in WordPress and keep a log of all redirects and 404 errors. Simply enable these options and click the ‘Continue Setup’ button to proceed.
The Rest API will now be tested by the plugin. When the status returns to Good, click the ‘Finish Setup’ button.
After that, go to Tools » Redirection » Redirects and set up your 301 redirects.
You’ll see the fundamental settings for adding a redirection. However, if you click the gear icon, you will be presented with additional options for selecting your redirection type.
Simply enter the Source URL of your old page and the Target URL you want to redirect to after clicking the gear icon.
Then, from the dropdown menu, select ‘301 – Moved Permanently’ as the HTTP code. Once you’ve filled out all of the details, click the ‘Add Redirect’ button.
3. Page Links to
You may want to keep a post or a page but redirect it to another post or page at times. This is where Page Links to can help.
This straightforward plugin adds a meta box to your WordPress editor where you can enter the address of the new location to which you want to direct your users.
4. Simple 301 Redirects
Simple 301 Redirects is another simple-to-use plugin. It simplifies 301 Redirects, as the name implies.
To begin, you must first install and activate the plugin on your website. If you need assistance, refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Then, go to Settings » 301 Redirects and enter your old URL in the Request field and your new URL in the Destination field.
After you’ve entered the information, click the ‘Add New’ button to create a 301 redirect.
While using a WordPress plugin to set up 301 redirects is simple, it has some minor performance drawbacks. WordPress redirects may be a few microseconds slower depending on your WordPress hosting provider.
If you want to speed up your redirects, you can use the code method and the.htaccess file.
Using.htaccess to Set Up 301 Redirects in WordPress
WordPress users can also configure 301 redirects by editing the web server configuration file.htaccess.
Please keep in mind that a minor error in your.htaccess code can render your WordPress site inaccessible and cause it to display an Internal Server Error.
That is why, before making any changes, you should make a backup of your.htaccess file.
Using the All in One SEO plugin, edit your.htaccess file.
Using the All in One SEO for WordPress plugin is the simplest way to edit your WordPress.htaccess file.
Simply download and install the All in One SEO plugin. Then, go to the All in One SEO » Tools page and select the.htaccess Editor tab.
The contents of your.htaccess file will be displayed in the editor from here. You can simply add any redirect code you want at the bottom.
Here’s a simple redirect that attempts to send a user from an old post to a new post.
- RewriteEngine is enabled.
2. 301 redirect /a-very-old-post/ http://yoursite.com/a-very-new-post/
Do not hesitate to save your settings and click the Save Changes button. Your.htaccess file will then be updated by the All in One SEO plugin.
Edit Your WordPress.htaccess File Directly
You can also set up redirects directly in your WordPress.htaccess file.
To make changes to your.htaccess file, you’ll need to use an FTP client to connect to your website. The.htaccess file is stored in the root directory of your WordPress site.
If you can’t see your.htaccess file, you will have to push your FTP client to show hidden files.
Any plain text editor, such as Notepad, can be used to edit the.htaccess file.
Here’s a simple redirect that attempts to send a user from an old post to a new post.
- RewriteEngine is enabled.
2. 301 redirect /a-very-old-post/ http://yoursite.com/a-very-new-post/
You can add the above code to your.htaccess file, preferably at the end.
Remember to save your changes and re-upload your.htaccess file to the server. Following that, you can test your redirect to ensure that it is redirecting correctly as you intended.
We hope you found this beginner’s guide to creating WordPress redirects useful in setting up redirects on your site. You might also be interested in our guide on how to start a WordPress blog correctly or our list of the best email marketing services for small businesses.
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