Search Engine Opimization and Redirects
Choose a redirect method
An URL redirect sends your browser automatically away from the URL you entered initially. This can be achieved in different ways, but most visitors won’t notice the difference. There are 4 main possibilities :
- HTTP redirect – meta-refresh
- JavaScript redirect
- Temporary 302 redirect
- Permanent 301 redirect
Meta-refresh and JavaScript redirects are client side techniques, and should be avoided. A better choice is a server-side redirect.
You can use two types of server-side redirect : temporary or permanent.
Use a 302 redirect if the URL only changes temporary (e.g. website off-line for maintenance, and redirect to other location).
In all other cases use the 301 redirect !
A permanent redirect allows Google to replace (in the search index) the old URL with the new one. The new page will inherit the Page Rank of the old URL, and you have one worry less about duplicate content issues.
How to check a redirect-type
Because you can’t see which server side redirect is used, you need a tool.
I use the LiveHTTPHeaders plug-in for Firefox. This tool provides quite a bit of information. But for a non-technical user this can be a bit overwelming.
Online tools tend to be pretty straight forward like : redirect-check, redirect-check or http-header-check.
More on redirects and SEO
Redirects and Search Engine Optimization are often discussed on the web.
More info on the duplicate content issue : Google webmaster support, matt cutts, bruce clay,…
I use 301 redirects in my website:
isee.be redirects to www.isee.be/blog/
www.isee.be redirects to www.isee.be/blog/
www.search-engine-optimization.be redirects to www.isee.be/blog/