Understanding 301 Redirects and SEO

At first glance, the question of “what is a 301 permanent redirect” is a simple question to answer. In short, 301 redirects tell browsers that a page has been permanently redirected to another URL. Typically, this is done in an attempt to transfer previously obtained traffic and keyword rankings from one page to an updated URL, but there is more to understand with 301 redirects than you may think.

Types Of Redirects

301 redirects are not the only type of redirection that may apply to your site, and understanding how redirect codes interact with each other can be beneficial to your SEO.

301 Redirects

301 redirect codes indicate that a page has permanently moved to a new location. This code may be used if you need to delete a current page, the URL has been renamed, you change domain names, or need to link to a broken URL. 301 redirect codes are versatile because they allow you to transfer the page authority or “power” from the original to the new URL, according to Ahrefs.

302 Redirects

A 302 redirect code indicates that a page has temporarily moved to a new location. This type of redirect may be used to test changes or redirect traffic while you are updating a page.

303 Redirects

303 response codes, also referred to as “see other” codes, are used to redirect traffic temporarily, usually in order to conduct maintenance on the original page.

307 Redirects

307 redirects are used to temporarily relocate a URL in a similar manner as 302 redirects. This is considered the “updated” 302 redirect as 307 response codes deliver a more precise set of instructions.

308 Redirects

308 codes are the newer version of 301 redirects and have a slightly different set of instructions. 308 redirects require clients to perform the same set of instructions on a target location and forbid POST to GET conversion.

Why Would I Use Redirects?

Generally, 301 and 308 redirects are used to permanently relocate a page, whether it is because of a domain change, URL rename, or traffic redirect. In theory, you can use these redirects without suffering a loss of rankings or page authority, so it is helpful to use 301 and 308 redirects to prevent loss of effort on a changing page.

302, 303, and 307 redirect codes are all used to transfer traffic temporarily from one URL to another. These codes are typically used to experiment with new page designs, content, or give viewers a place to go while edits are being made.

How Do Redirects impact SEO?

So, now that you know what the redirects are, what is a 301 redirect with SEO? Do these codes have an impact on your website’s search rankings? In short, no, 3xx redirects will not negatively influence your SEO efforts when they are used correctly. It can actually hurt you substantially to avoid redirects when changes are made, however, be careful because improper practices can cause a loss of PageRank or page authority.

Conclusion

When used properly, 301 redirects and all other 3xx status codes are a natural part of the SEO process and should have no negative impact on your site. It is imperative that you use these redirects properly, however, to avoid a loss in URL authority, or “PageRank”, which existing pages have surely accrued. Be sure to use the proper redirect status codes while performing website maintenance or updating the location of URLs to avoid affecting your rankings negatively. Furthermore, be decisive about how you use meta tags and off-page optimization to draw attention to specific pages.

written by Jimmy Huh

28th March, 2025

View All

What Is A 301 Redirect in 2022?