Almost every website owner will eventually need to set up a redirect. Simply put, a website redirect takes visitors from an old URL to a new page. It\u2019s a way to make sure people don\u2019t land on a dreaded 404 page<\/a> and instead find something relevant. Plus, it helps preserve the SEO value of the links pointing to your old pages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re managing a website, knowing how to set up redirects is a crucial skill. You can do it for individual pages or at the domain level, depending on what you need. <\/p>\n\n\n There are plenty of scenarios where you might need to set up a URL redirect, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you need to redirect a single URL or a bunch of them, or even an entire domain, there’s a solution for that. But keep in mind, the type of redirect you choose depends on your specific situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s dive into the most common redirect types and when to use each one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three main types of redirects you should know about, though most of the time, you\u2019ll only need to use the first one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 301 redirect is like sending out a permanent change of address. It works on both the browser and server levels and is the most common and powerful type of redirect. What makes it awesome is that it passes along all the SEO power of your old URL to the new one, which search engines love. If you’re looking to maintain your SEO rankings, this is your go-to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In almost all cases, this is the type of redirection you\u2019ll want to use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 302 redirect is more of a temporary detour. You\u2019d use this when you plan to go back to the old URL eventually. For example, if you’re redesigning your site and want to temporarily send users to a different page or domain, or if you\u2019re A\/B testing different versions of a page before making a final decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 302 redirects aren\u2019t used that often, so before going this route, make sure a 301 isn\u2019t the better option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve probably come across a meta refresh if you’ve ever seen a message like, “The original URL has moved, and you\u2019re now being redirected. “Click here if you\u2019re not redirected in 5 seconds\u201d. A meta refresh tells the browser to take you to a new page, but it doesn\u2019t update the server. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When setting up a meta refresh, you can control how long it takes to redirect. Sometimes, search engines treat a meta refresh like a 301 redirect, especially if it happens in a second or less. But it\u2019s a bit hit-or-miss with how search engines handle these, and they can frustrate users by making them wait to get where they want to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re thinking about using a meta refresh, a 301 redirect is usually a better choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting up a redirect doesn\u2019t have to be a headache. In fact, it\u2019s often easier than you think. Most website owners have a few different ways to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a quick rundown of three popular methods: <\/p>\n\n\n\n First, log into your cPanel account and scroll down to the Domains<\/strong> section. Look for the Redirects<\/strong> icon and give it a click. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Type<\/strong> dropdown menu, you\u2019ll see options for a Permanent (301)<\/strong> or Temporary (302)<\/strong> redirect. Go ahead and pick the one that suits your needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, choose the domain you want to set up the redirect for. If you want to apply the redirect across all your domains, select All Public Domains. <\/strong>Otherwise, pick the specific domain from the dropdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, it\u2019s time to enter the details. In the first box, add the last part of the URL you want to redirect (since the root domain is already selected). In the second box, pop in the full URL where you want the traffic to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re using the Gator Website Builder<\/a>, start by selecting Edit Site<\/strong> for the website where you want to set up the redirect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, click on Manage<\/strong> from the left-hand menu. This will take you to the management menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hit the Add Rule<\/strong> button. In the box on the left, enter the page you want to redirect. Then, choose the type of redirect from the dropdown menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the type of redirect, you can either select the destination page from the dropdown on the right or manually enter the URL where you want the old link to lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, click OK<\/strong> to save your changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For WordPress users, the easiest way to set up a redirect is by using a plugin. Redirection<\/a> is a popular choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re new to adding plugins in WordPress<\/a>, start by selecting Plugins<\/strong> from the left-hand menu. Click Add New<\/strong>, then search for the plugin you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve found it, click Install Now<\/strong> and then Activate<\/strong>. Each plugin will have its own set of instructions, but for Redirection<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find it under Installed Plugins<\/strong>. Click Settings<\/strong> to go through the setup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After setting it up, look for Redirection<\/strong> under the Tools<\/strong> menu. Click on Redirects<\/strong> at the top and fill in the URL you want to redirect, along with the new URL where you want visitors to end up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, click Add Redirect<\/strong> to finish up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know how to set up redirects, you might wonder when you\u2019d need to use them. Here are five common scenarios where redirects come in handy: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe when you first set up your site, you decided to host your blog on a subdomain<\/a>, like blog.mysite.com<\/em> instead of mysite.com\/blog<\/em>. But now, it makes more sense to bring everything under one roof. This is where a redirect saves the day. You can apply the same principle if you\u2019ve got any other section of your site on a subdomain that you want to move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a case where you\u2019d set up a redirect. The same goes for any other reason you\u2019ve created a site or section of your site on a subdomain, and now you want to switch the URL structure to something new. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duplicate content is bad for SEO<\/a>. If your site is large, chances are you\u2019ve got some duplicate pages floating around. When Google sees two versions of the same page, it gets confused about which one to rank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid this headache by redirecting the duplicate pages to the original content. Not only will this clear up any confusion for your visitors, but it\u2019ll also boost your search engine rankings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou might like…<\/h4>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/shared-150x150.png\")
<\/a><\/span>Shared Hosting<\/a><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/website-builder-150x150.png\")
<\/a><\/span>Website Builder<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\nWhen to Use Redirects<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
3 Types of URL Redirects<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
301 Redirect<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
302 Redirect<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Meta Refresh<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Set Up a Redirect<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Set up a Redirect in cPanel<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Set up a Redirect in HostGator<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Set up a Redirect in WordPress<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5 Reasons Why You\u2019d Create a Website Redirect<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Redirect a Subdirectory to a Page on Your Site<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Redirect Duplicate Content to the Original Page<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Redirect Multiple Domains to a Single Domain<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n