Answer hub · 53 pages · 11 languages
URL Mapping, 301 Redirects & Post-Migration Repair
Everything about URL mapping and 301 redirects around a migration: building the redirect map, redirect chains and loops, trailing slashes, www and non-www, 404 versus 410, how long to keep redirects, and how to repair rankings that dropped after a move.
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Answers in English (25)
301 or 302 redirect: which should I use for a migration?
Use a 301 for a migration, because the move is permanent. A 301 says moved for good and transfers ranking to the new URL; a 302 says temporary and tells search to keep the old URL. Using a 302 for a permanent move is the classic mistake that leaves rankings on a dead address.
Why am I getting 404 errors in Search Console after a redesign?
Because old URLs changed and were not redirected, so Google still requests them and finds nothing. Here is how to clear post-redesign 404s and stop them costing rankings.
Can I recover SEO traffic if I forgot to 301 redirect?
Usually yes, if you act before Google fully drops the old pages. Rebuild the old URL list, match each to its new page, and apply single-hop 301s. The faster you do it, the more recovers.
Do 301 redirect plugins slow down page speed?
A few redirects in a plugin are fine; thousands can raise TTFB, because the plugin checks rules in the database on requests. Server or CDN-level redirects resolve before WordPress loads.
Does changing my permalink structure hurt SEO?
It can, because every URL changes at once, but a full 301 map makes it safe. Here is when to change permalinks, when to leave them, and how to do it without losing rankings.
Why are my 301 redirects causing a too many redirects error?
A redirect loop: a URL points to one that points back, or to itself. Here is how to find and fix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS after a migration without breaking your SEO.
How do I clone a website's structure with a crawler?
Let a crawler follow every internal link, then turn the resulting URL-and-link map into an editable blueprint of the site's information architecture. Redesign from the real structure, not memory.
How do I handle pagination and parameter URLs in a migration?
Decide which of these URLs should be indexed, then keep, redirect, or consolidate each. Map paginated series to their new equivalents, canonicalize or block filter and tracking parameters, and do not let a migration multiply thin, near-duplicate URLs that waste crawling.
How do I keep Google sitelinks after migration?
Sitelinks are algorithmic, built from your URLs, navigation, and internal links. Keep that structure stable through the move and Google keeps showing them.
How do I keep my backlinks when migrating to a new site?
You cannot edit other people's links, so you keep their value by 301-redirecting every old URL they point at to its new page. Map the linked pages first, redirect each to its real equivalent, and ask your most valuable linkers to update where you can.
How do I set up a custom 404 page after a migration?
Build a helpful 404 page that returns a real 404 status, with navigation, search, and links to popular pages, so the misses your redirects do not catch still help visitors. It does not recover rankings, it catches people, and it must return 404, not 200, or it becomes a soft 404.
How long should I keep redirects after a migration?
Keep them at least about a year so search fully transfers signals, and keep indefinitely any that still get traffic or have backlinks. External links and bookmarks never expire, so valuable redirects are effectively permanent. Removing them too early strands those links.
How do I check if my 301 redirects are working correctly?
Confirm each old URL returns a single 301 to the right final page, with no chains or loops. Here is how to verify your redirects after a migration, fast and at scale.
How do I find all the URLs of a website for 301 redirects?
Combine a link crawl, the XML sitemap, and your analytics and Search Console exports. Here is how to build a complete URL list so no page is missed in the redirect map.
How do I fix broken links after a WordPress migration?
Crawl the new site for 404s and bad references, then redirect or repair each one. Here is how to find and fix every broken link a migration left behind.
How do I map 301 redirects for an e-commerce site?
Crawl every product, category, and content URL, match each to its new address, and apply the 301s in bulk. Here is the complete way to redirect a store without losing sales.
How do I migrate WooCommerce to Shopify without losing SEO?
Map every product, category, and content URL to a 301, carry over metadata, and verify before launch. Here is the SEO-safe order for a WooCommerce to Shopify move.
What is the best way to map product URLs from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Crawl every product URL, match each to its new Shopify URL, and 301 the lot in bulk. Here is the fast, complete way to map a store's product URLs without losing rankings.
Should I use 404 or 410 for deleted pages after a migration?
Use a 301 if the page has an equivalent on the new site. Only when a page is truly gone with no replacement do you choose: 404 means not found, 410 means gone for good. They end up at the same place; 410 just tells search to drop it a little sooner.
What should a website URL mapping template include?
A redirect map is a simple spreadsheet: old URL, new URL, status, notes. Here is the exact template to plan a migration, and how to build it from a full crawl.
What happens if trailing slashes change after migration?
A URL with and without a trailing slash are different URLs. Keep your old convention, or every page effectively changes and needs a 301 to avoid duplicates.
What happens to WordPress attachment pages after migration?
WordPress makes a thin page for every uploaded image. Do not recreate them; 301 each attachment URL to its parent post so you avoid 404s and wasted crawl.
What happens to my internal links when a website is redesigned?
If URLs change, internal links pointing at the old ones break unless updated. Here is how a redesign affects internal linking and how to keep the link graph intact.
What happens to WordPress tag pages after migration?
Most tag archives are thin and can be retired. Keep the few that earn traffic, 301 the rest to a relevant page, and do not recreate empty tag pages.
Why does my sitemap show errors after a migration?
Usually because the sitemap still lists old URLs that now redirect or 404, or it was not regenerated for the new site. A sitemap should list only live, canonical pages that return 200. Regenerate it, remove the stale URLs, and resubmit.
Español (6)
¿Cómo crear redirecciones 301 masivas para una migración?
Inventaría todas las URLs, empareja cada una con su nueva y genera el archivo. En sitios grandes se combinan coincidencias exactas y reglas con patrones.
¿Se puede migrar de WooCommerce a Shopify sin perder posiciones?
Sí, pero solo con un plan de redirecciones 301. Shopify cambia las URLs, así que cada producto y categoría necesita su redirección exacta.
¿Cómo redirigir los enlaces rotos (404) tras un rediseño?
Encuentra qué URLs dan 404 y empareja cada una con su nueva página mediante una 301. Construye la tabla de rescate y empieza por las que tenían tráfico.
¿Cómo notificar a Google un cambio de dominio en Search Console?
Usa la herramienta de Cambio de Dirección, pero solo funciona si antes verificas los dos dominios y tienes las redirecciones 301 activas. No sustituye a las 301: ellas hacen el trabajo.
¿Cómo rediseñar tu web sin perder el SEO?
Conserva dos cosas: las URLs y el contenido. Mantén las direcciones donde puedas, prepara las redirecciones 301 antes de lanzar, lleva los metadatos y mantén staging fuera del índice.
¿Qué hacer con los enlaces rotos al migrar de CMS?
Se rompen de tres maneras: enlaces internos a actualizar, URLs antiguas a redirigir con 301, y backlinks que esas mismas 301 protegen. Cada tipo se arregla distinto.
Nederlands (5)
Hoe behoud je je SEO-waarde bij een nieuwe website?
Behoud twee dingen: je URLs en je content. Houd dezelfde adressen waar het kan, neem de metadata mee en zet een 301-redirect voor alles wat verandert.
Hoe pas je je URL-structuur aan zonder SEO te verliezen?
Stuur elk oud adres met een 301-redirect naar het nieuwe. Wijzig je slugs of categorieën, dan wordt elk oud adres een 404 tenzij je het redirect.
Hoe stel ik 301-redirects in na de livegang van een website?
Breng de oude URLs in kaart en stuur elke gewijzigde met een 301 naar de juiste nieuwe pagina. Posities zijn niet meteen weg, dus hoe sneller je dit doet, hoe meer terugkomt.
Waar moet je op letten bij een nieuwe website om SEO te behouden?
Op vijf dingen: de URLs en redirects, de metadata, de testomgeving op noindex, de interne links en het sitemap. Dat zijn de punten waar verkeer verloren gaat. Doe het vooraf, niet achteraf.
Hoe behoud je je URL-structuur bij een overstap naar een ander CMS?
Gebruik in het nieuwe systeem exact dezelfde paden waar het kan, dan verhuizen de meeste pagina's niet. Voor wat het CMS wel afdwingt, zet je een 301-redirect.
Deutsch (4)
Was tun bei einem SEO-Einbruch nach dem Relaunch?
Erst unterscheiden: ein leichtes Schwanken ist normal, ein anhaltender Absturz bedeutet einen Fehler, meist fehlende Weiterleitungen. Diagnostizieren Sie in der Search Console, dann 301 nachziehen.
Wann sollte man eine 301-Weiterleitung löschen?
Erst wenn die alte Adresse niemand mehr braucht: kein Verkehr, keine Backlinks, aus dem Index verschwunden. Zu früh gelöscht, fällt die URL auf 404 zurück und der übertragene Wert geht verloren.
Wie wechsle ich von WordPress ohne SEO-Verlust?
Erhalten Sie zwei Dinge: Ihre URLs und Ihre Inhalte. Behalten Sie dieselben Adressen, nehmen Sie die Metadaten mit und leiten Sie jede Änderung per 301 um.
Was passiert mit den Google-Rankings bei einem Domainwechsel?
Mit korrekten 301-Weiterleitungen überträgt Google die Positionen auf die neue Domain, nach kurzer Schwankung über Wochen bis Monate. Ohne 301 fallen die alten URLs auf 404 und der Verkehr bricht ein.
Français (4)
Comment trouver les erreurs 404 après la refonte d'un site WordPress ?
Croisez trois sources : le rapport Pages de Search Console, une exploration du site neuf, et l'inventaire des anciennes URLs comparé au nouveau site. Aucune seule ne voit tout.
Comment créer des redirections 301 sans plugin WordPress ?
Écrivez la règle au niveau du serveur : .htaccess sur Apache, configuration Nginx, ou règles d'un CDN. Là, la redirection se résout avant même que WordPress ne se charge.
Comment faire un plan de redirection 301 pour une refonte ?
Inventoriez toutes vos URLs, associez chaque ancienne à sa nouvelle, puis générez le fichier. Sur un gros site, on mêle coïncidences exactes et règles.
Comment vérifier si la refonte a cassé votre référencement ?
Ouvrez la Search Console et regardez quatre signaux : pages indexées, erreurs 404, trafic et impressions, et un éventuel noindex resté actif. La vérification prend quelques minutes.
Polski (3)
Jak zmienić CMS bez utraty pozycji w Google?
Zachowaj dwie rzeczy: adresy URL i treść. System sam nie pozycjonuje, więc utrzymaj adresy tam, gdzie się da, ustaw 301 dla zmienionych i przenieś metadane przed startem.
Jak długo działa przekierowanie 301?
Tak długo, jak istnieje na serwerze, bo 301 nie ma daty wygaśnięcia. Haczyk: przy zmianie serwera reguła musi zostać przeniesiona razem z witryną, inaczej stary adres znów daje 404.
Jak sprawdzić uszkodzone linki na stronie (404) po migracji?
Sprawdź trzy miejsca: linki wewnętrzne przez przeskanowanie nowej strony, stare zaindeksowane adresy przez porównanie listy, oraz linki zwrotne. Jedno narzędzie nie pokrywa wszystkiego.
Italiano (2)
Come mantenere gli stessi URL cambiando piattaforma?
Chiedi alla nuova piattaforma di riprodurre la struttura di indirizzi esistente, invece di accettare quella predefinita. Un indirizzo che non cambia è una pagina che non rischia.
Come recuperare il posizionamento SEO dopo un restyling?
Individua prima la causa: quasi sempre URL cambiati senza redirect, un noindex attivo o metadati persi. Poi correggi la causa e chiedi una nuova scansione.
Čeština (1)
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Svenska (1)
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