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Move a URL without losing the trail
A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines that a URL has permanently moved to another address. Learn when the destination is relevant and how to avoid weak migration paths.
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A 301 redirect marks a permanent move.
Suppose a café moves its menu from /food/ to /menu/. A 301 response at the old address sends visitors to the new menu, including people using an old bookmark.
Check the destination before setting the redirect. Someone following a menu link should reach the menu, not have to find it again on the homepage.
Use a 301 redirect when
Use it when the old address should lead directly to a relevant permanent destination.
A page has moved
Pages are being consolidated
The URL structure changes
There is a relevant replacement
Common questions about 301 redirects
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How can I check that the redirect works?
Open the old address and check that the expected page loads. To confirm the status, open your browser’s Network panel before loading it: the old address should return 301 and point to the intended new address. Check the final page for missing content too.
Does a 301 redirect help SEO?
Google treats a permanent redirect as a strong signal that the new URL should be the preferred address. Rankings can still fluctuate during a move. See Google’s redirect guidance.
Should I redirect every old page to the homepage?
No. Someone looking for a specific product needs that product or a useful replacement. If neither exists, a helpful not-found page is clearer than an unrelated homepage. See Google’s site-move guidance.
What is the difference between 301 and 302?
A 301 indicates a permanent move. A 302 indicates a temporary move and should be used only when the move is genuinely temporary.
Can redirect chains cause problems?
Yes. If /food/ leads to /menus/ and then /menu/, change the first redirect to lead straight to /menu/. Update links on your own site to use /menu/ directly.
Unsure which URLs should redirect?
Send the old and proposed new addresses, and say whether the page moved, merged, or was removed. We can check whether visitors will reach the content they expected.