301 Redirect
A permanent redirect that sends users and search engines from one URL to another.
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. When you move a page to a new address or change your domain, a 301 tells browsers and search engines "this page has permanently moved here." It's the HTTP status code that handles the forwarding automatically.
Think of it like a mail forwarding service. When you move houses, you tell the post office to send your mail to the new address. A 301 redirect does exactly that for web pages.
The "301" part comes from the HTTP status code. When a browser requests a URL with a 301, the server responds with the new location, and the browser seamlessly takes the user there. Most people never notice it happening.
One key benefit: 301 redirects pass most of the original page's link equity (ranking power) to the new URL. So if your old page had backlinks, those still help your new page rank.
Why It Matters for SEO
Without 301 redirects, changing URLs means losing all the SEO value your old pages built up. Search engines would treat the new URL as a brand new page with zero authority. Visitors clicking old links would hit 404 errors. A proper 301 preserves your rankings, passes link equity, and keeps users happy.
🔍 How to Check This
Use AuditMySite's Redirect Checker to verify your 301 redirects are working correctly and that redirect chains aren't slowing things down.
Try Redirect Checker →