Choosing the wrong redirect type can hurt your SEO. Here's when to use 301 permanent redirects versus 302 temporary redirects.
What's the Difference?
301 Redirect (Permanent)
- Tells search engines the page has permanently moved
- Passes most link equity to the new URL
- Browsers cache the redirect
- Google will update its index to the new URL
302 Redirect (Temporary)
- Tells search engines the move is temporary
- May not pass full link equity
- Original URL stays in Google's index
- Used when you plan to bring the page back
When to Use 301
- Page permanently deleted or moved
- URL structure changed
- Domain migration
- Consolidating duplicate pages
- HTTP to HTTPS migration
When to Use 302
- A/B testing
- Temporary maintenance page
- Geolocation-based redirects
- Promotional landing pages that will change back
Common Redirect Mistakes
Using 302 When You Mean 301
Many CMS defaults to 302. Always verify your redirects are the correct type.
Redirect Chains
A redirects to B, which redirects to C. This slows crawling and dilutes link equity. Point directly to the final destination.
Redirect Loops
A redirects to B, which redirects back to A. This breaks pages completely.
How to Implement Redirects
WordPress
Use a plugin like Redirection or Yoast Premium.
Shopify
Settings > Navigation > URL Redirects
.htaccess (Apache)
Redirect 301 /old-page/ https://example.com/new-page/Related: Fix 404 Errors
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