{"id":8431,"date":"2020-07-09T09:34:29","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T16:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ryrob.com\/?p=8431"},"modified":"2026-04-23T15:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T22:57:05","slug":"what-is-301-redirect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ryrob.com\/what-is-301-redirect\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a 301 Redirect? The Complete Guide + How to Set One Up (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Understanding technical terms when you\u2019re new to blogging<\/a> can take time, so let me break this one down. What is a 301 redirect?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short answer: it\u2019s the SEO-friendly way to permanently forward one URL to another. Long answer: it\u2019s one of the most important tools you\u2019ll use as a blogger, because done right, it preserves the organic search traffic you\u2019ve spent months or years building, even when you change URLs on your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, I\u2019ll walk you through exactly what a 301 redirect is, when to use one, the three easiest ways to set one up on your blog in 2026, plus the mistakes I\u2019d warn any blogger about before they start redirecting anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What is a 301 Redirect? (Definition)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the plain-English definition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 301 redirect is the permanent redirection of one URL, forwarding both traffic and search engine crawlers to a different URL.<\/strong> The \u201c301\u201d is the HTTP status code that tells browsers and search engines, \u201cthis page has permanently moved, go here instead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"What<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

301 redirects are best for SEO because they pass 90\u201399% of the link authority<\/strong> from the old URL to the new one. That means the organic rankings, backlinks, and SEO value<\/a> you\u2019ve built on a page travel with it when you move it. You don\u2019t have to start from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without a 301 redirect, changing the URL (also known as a permalink<\/a>) of an existing blog post will result in what\u2019s called a broken link<\/strong>, and that\u2019s a bad experience for readers and a worse one for your Google rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, here\u2019s the important part: not every redirect is a 301. Some redirects pass SEO value, others don\u2019t. So before you go redirecting anything, let\u2019s quickly compare the three types of redirects you\u2019ll actually run into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>301 vs 302 vs 307: Which Redirect Should You Use?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll see three redirect types most often. Pick the right one for your situation and you\u2019ll keep your SEO intact. Pick the wrong one, and you\u2019ll split your link equity or lose rankings entirely. Here\u2019s the quick tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

301 \u2014 Permanent Redirect (the SEO favorite)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use a 301 when the move is permanent \u2014 you\u2019ve changed a URL for good and you want the old one to retire. Google treats 301s as a signal to transfer ranking authority from the old URL to the new one. This is the redirect you\u2019ll use 95% of the time as a blogger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

302 \u2014 Temporary Redirect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A 302 tells Google the move is temporary, meaning the old URL will be back. Google mostly<\/em> passes ranking signals through a 302 these days, but not fully or as quickly. If you set up a 302 and leave it in place for a long time, Google will usually eventually treat it like a 301. But why gamble? If the move is permanent, use a 301.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

307 \u2014 Temporary Redirect (HTTP\/1.1)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A 307 is the modern version of a 302: same \u201ctemporary\u201d meaning, but it preserves the request method (important for form submissions and API calls, rarely for blog posts). For blogging purposes, treat 307s the same as 302s: temporary only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quick Rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n