Having trouble with a 301 redirect in WordPress? You’re not alone. It’s a common roadblock that can have you pulling your hair out in frustration. The good news is, here we’ll take a look at how to nip those pesky redirects in the bud.
The 411 on 301 Redirects
If you’re trying to fix a 301 redirect, you first want to understand what it is. Heads up: it gets a little technical.Basically, a 301 redirect is an HTTP status code used to indicate a page has been permanently moved to a new location. In other words, when someone types in an old URL they’ll be redirected to the new one. Making sure that happens is the job of the 301 redirect.
Why Do 301 Redirects Happen?
The causes for 301 redirects vary, but here are a few of the most common:
- You’ve changed the URL of a page.
- A posted link is outdated.
- You’ve updated your website design.
What are the benefits of removing a 301 redirect in WordPress?
Improved website speed:
Removing 301 redirects can improve website speed and help ensure faster performance for users.
Improved SEO rankings:
301 redirects can potentially have a negative impact on search engine optimization (SEO) ranking due to the additional time it will take for search engine robots to crawl through all the new URLs. Removing 301 redirects can help improve SEO rankings as robots are able to crawl the content on your website more quickly.
Improved user experience:
As 301 redirects can slow down website loading time, users can be frustrated if they have to wait longer than usual to access content. By removing the redirects, users can navigate your website more quickly and easily, leading to a better user experience.
Better website organization:
When you remove 301 redirects, you are able to better organize your website. This is because the redirects can lead to different locations, and you don’t want your visitors to get confused about where to find the content they are looking for. Removing the redirects can help keep your website well-structured and organized.
How to Get Rid of 301 Redirects
When it comes to getting rid of 301 redirects, there are a few options.
- Change the permalink via the WordPress Post/Page editor.
- Use the ‘Redirection’ plugin.
- Go into your .htaccess file and edit the redirect.
Changing the permalink can be the easiest option if you only have a few redirects. You can do this from within WordPress. Simply bring up the Post/Page editor and make the adjustments directly to the permalink.
The ‘Redirection’ plugin is a popular choice for those with more redirects to tackle. This is an easy-to-use plugin that, once installed, will manage all of your proposed redirects in one place. Plus, you can monitor your redirects and how they’re working.
If you’re comfortable dealing with your .htaccess file, this is another option available. This works by physically typing the entire redirect into your .htaccess file. Simple!
Send 301 Redirects Packing!
Now you know how to handle those pesky 301 redirects. Whether that means changing the permalink, using a plugin, or dealing with the .htaccess file, you’ve got this one in the bag!