top of page
Search

Wait, What’s a 301 Redirect (and Why Should You Care)?

If you’ve ever updated your website, changed a product name, or redesigned your homepage, you’ve probably broken something. Don’t feel bad — it happens to everyone. The good news? Redirects and error pages exist to keep things from falling apart.


Let’s decode the mystery behind those annoying numbers — 301, 302, 404, 503 — and talk about how to keep your site (and your SEO) running smoothly.


301 Redirect: The “I Moved, But I Left a Note” Option


A 301 redirect is like forwarding your mail when you move — except it’s for web pages. It tells browsers and Google,

“Hey, that page’s new address is over here, permanently.”

You’ll want a 301 when:


  • You’ve renamed a page (like changing /services to /digital-marketing)

  • You’ve deleted old blog posts but want traffic to go somewhere else

  • You’ve moved to a new domain


Setting it up depends on your platform — WordPress and eCommerce sites usually have easy redirect managers. If you’re on Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace, it’s built right in.


💡 Pro Tip: Always test your redirects! One misplaced slash (/) can send your visitors into a digital black hole.

ree

If you’re restructuring your website, our web development and redesign team handles redirect mapping as part of every project — so you can rebuild without tanking your traffic.


302 Redirect: The “We’ll Be Right Back” Option


A 302 redirect is temporary — think of it as putting up a “Gone fishing, back soon!” sign. It tells Google not to move your ranking juice just yet because the original page will return.


Use a 302 when:


  • You’re testing a new landing page

  • You’re running a seasonal promo

  • You’re redesigning a page and don’t want to lose traffic


Just remember: temporary means temporary. Forgetting to remove a 302 is like keeping up your holiday lights in March — not a great look.


404 Error: “Page Not Found” (and Not the End of the World)


A 404 page appears when someone tries to visit a URL that doesn’t exist — maybe they mistyped it, maybe you deleted it.

ree

A few 404s are normal, but if Google finds a ton of them, it starts thinking your site’s a ghost town.


Here’s what to do:



Something like:

“Well, this page didn’t make it. But our marketing ideas did — start here.”

503 Error: The “We’re Under Construction” Page


A 503 error means your server is taking a nap — it’s either in maintenance mode or temporarily overloaded.


The key here is temporarily. A 503 tells search engines, “Don’t panic, this is just a quick refresh,” which helps you avoid losing your SEO placement.


To fix it:

  • Turn on your maintenance mode plugin before updates

  • Check your hosting dashboard for downtime alerts

  • Don’t use a 301 to cover a 503 — that tells Google you’re gone forever

  • And most importantly, it's NOT your fault!


Other Codes You’ll See in the Wild

Code

Meaning

Real-World Translation

Fix

200

OK

Everything’s fine

Carry on

410

Gone

You deleted something for real

Use when a page’s purpose is over

500

Server Error

Your site threw a tantrum

Call your developer

403

Forbidden

Locked door

Check permissions

429

Too Many Requests

Slow down!

Happens when bots flood your site

How to Stay Ahead of It All


  1. Run regular SEO audits (we do this monthly for clients 😉).

  2. Document changes — track what moved, merged, or vanished.

  3. Update your internal links after page name changes.

  4. Keep your redirect list short — too many can slow your load time.

  5. Use humor wisely — it makes broken pages less awkward.


If your site is racking up errors or you’re prepping for a full redesign, we’ve got you. Check out our Website Development & Redesign services to clean up your site map — or explore how other clients handled their redirect nightmares in our Case Studies.


In Short


Redirects and error pages aren’t scary — they’re part of keeping your website healthy and search-friendly. Think of them like digital signposts that make sure nobody gets lost on the way to your best content.


If you’re still staring down a maze of 404s, 503s, and "where-did-that-page-go" moments, we can help straighten things out.


👉 Let’s talk SEO and site structure — because broken links shouldn’t break your business.

Comments

bottom of page