Redirecting on WordPress – A Comprehensive Guide

Redirecting may seem daunting, but it’s crucial in managing a WordPress website. Redirecting refers to a method used to send users away from one URL to another. With the redirection process, you can ensure that your site visitors land on the correct page while search engines update their indexes with accurate information.

Understanding the Different Types of Redirects

There are different types of redirections used on WordPress websites. Knowing the right type of redirection is essential in redirecting your website effectively. Here are the different types of redirections:

301 Redirect

301 Redirect is commonly used and means the website has permanently moved to a new URL. It’s ideal for permanently moving content.

302 Redirect

302 redirect is also known as a temporary redirect. It’s ideal when you move content temporarily to a new URL.

307 Redirect

A 307 redirect is another temporary redirect used when the original URL is still valid, but the content has temporarily moved to a new location.

Meta Refresh Redirect

This type of redirect doesn’t pass on link equity or ranking to the new URL, but it’s a simple way to redirect visitors. It redirects visitors after a specified time delay.

JavaScript Redirect

JavaScript redirects aren’t ideal, and search engines usually don’t recognize them. They are useful when users have JavaScript enabled and redirecting the user is the only available option.

How to Redirect on WordPress

There are different methods to redirect on WordPress. The following methods should guide you in initiating proper redirection:

1. Redirecting with Plugins

Using plugins is the easiest way to redirect on WordPress since they are user-friendly, offer flexibility, and can be customized. Here are some plugins you can use to redirect your WordPress Website:

Redirection

Redirection is a simple and easy-to-use Plugin that offers 301, 302, and 307 redirects on your website. It also monitors 404 errors and redirects them to the right pages.

Quick Page/Post Redirect Plugin

This plugin is used to redirect pages or posts on a WordPress website. With this plugin, you can use 301 and 302 redirects, and it allows 404 error monitoring with proper redirection.

Yoast SEO

This plugin is not only an SEO Plugin but also offers a built-in redirection feature. With Yoast SEO, you can redirect posts or pages almost instantly from one URL to another.

2. Redirecting with .htaccess

This method involves using a configuration file used on web servers to redirect URLs. It’s technical and requires caution since a slight mistake can cause website crashes. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Connect to your website’s server via FTP
2. Navigate to the root folder of the website to find the .htaccess file.
3. Download a backup of the .htaccess file and save it to your computer.
4. Add the 301 redirect code to the file adding the following code to the top of the file, “Redirect 301 /old-url/http://www.example.com/new-url/”
5. Save and upload the file back to your website’s root folder using FTP.

3. Redirecting with Custom Function

This method involves creating a custom function in the functions.php file. With the custom function method, you can redirect specific pages or posts on your WordPress website. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open the functions.php with a code editor.
2. Add the following code to create the custom function:

function redirect_pages_and_posts() {
if ( is_page( ‘old-page-slug’ ) ) {
wp_redirect( ‘http://www.example.com/new-page-slug’ );
exit;
}
if ( is_single( ‘old-post-slug’ ) ) {
wp_redirect( ‘http://www.example.com/new-post-slug’ );
exit;
}
}
add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_pages_and_posts’ );

Change the old-page-slug and new-page-slug to the appropriate URL you want to redirect.

Change the old-post-slug and new-post-slug to the appropriate URL you want to redirect.

3. Save the file and upload it back to your WordPress website.

Conclusion

Redirecting is a crucial aspect of managing a WordPress website. Different ways to redirect can optimize the user’s experience while maintaining the website’s SEO ranking. Choose the best-suited option that matches your needs and goals and start redirecting your WordPress website today!