Webmasters have been using 302 redirects instead of a 301 which can cause problems for websites and their users. The search engine results are similar, but not quite as good with both options giving the right webpage when clicked on – this might be due in part because Google looks at different things. When you compare the differences between 301 and 302 redirects, it becomes clear that one of them means your page has permanently moved while another takes pages temporarily.
HTTP Response Status Codes
When a browser requests a webpage from a server, the server sends a response to the browser to tell it if the request was successful.
That response is called an HTTP Response Status Code.
The response code tells the browser the status of the request for a webpage.
There are five kinds of HTTP Response Status Codes:
- Information responses.
- Successful responses.
- Redirection responses.
- Client error responses.
- Server error responses.
What is 301 Redirect?
A 301 redirect is like a Change of Address with the Postal Service.It is used to tell search engines and users the page has permanently moved. It signifies that content was redirected, meaning it’s permanent. When you use this code in your site or blog, they will be sent to a new page with all information intact.
One of the most important things to keep an eye on with SEO is how a redirected page will rank in search engine results. If you’ve invested time and effort into building your website, or starting up an online store – make sure that this doesn’t have any negative effects. A 301 redirect is like a Change of Address with the Postal Service.
What is 302 Redirect
The 302 redirects gives signal to the search engine that the webpage have been moved temporarily. 302 redirects are the quick fix for when you need to temporarily move your site’s content. They direct users and search engines back towards their original destination after a certain amount of time. 302 redirects are a faster and more efficient way to send your site visitors back to the page they were on.
When Should You Use 301 Redirects?
This type of redirection is used by many webmasters when they purchase new domains and want this domains to be sent to their main domain.It can be a good idea to use the 301 redirect when establishing your default site. You can also use a 301 for any of these reasons: merging two websites together, updating old URLs due to changes in the company’s strategy.
When Should You Use 302 Redirects?
This type of redirect is a way to send users to your site for just a few time. If you want to experiment with a new page, but don’t want your old one hurt in rankings then use an 302 redirect. The way you have to use a 302 if your plan is eventually bringing back the old page.
How to Implement Redirects
To implement a 301 redirect for websites that are hosted on servers running Apache, you’ll need access to your server’s .htaccess file – which can often be difficult in certain hosting environments. Apache tutorial and URL rewriter’s guide available for those who don’t know run on Apache. Contact your hosting provider if you need help with these guides. If you’re using WordPress, there are some plugins that will make redirecting to your site as easy as possible.
Some plugins are : Redirection, SEO Redirection, Simple 301 Redirects
How 301 and 302 Redirects impact SEO?
When you move a page with the help of a 301, Google removes it from their index and most value is transferred to your new version.The time it takes for search engines to notice a change in your page’s URL can have an impact on rankings when you move pages from one website address. The 302 redirects will not affect your SEO when you use it correctly.
You won’t be facing any kind of indexation problem using 302 redirect. Because, Google knows that your site is temporarily moved. So the traffic, authority will remain same.
