301 Redirect Guide: Blogger, WordPress & SEO Explained

 



301 Redirect Guide: Blogger, WordPress & SEO Explained

Writer: Exponect.com Team

1.

Introduction

A 301 redirect is one of the most important tools in website management and SEO. It allows you to permanently send users and search engines from one URL to another, preserving traffic, backlinks, and rankings. Whether you are using Blogger, WordPress, or managing domain changes, understanding 301 redirects is essential to maintain your website’s authority and user experience.

 

2.

Why We Use Redirects

Redirects serve multiple purposes. Here are the main reasons:

Preserve SEO Value & Backlinks

Prevent 404 Errors (Broken Links)

Improve User Experience

Handle URL Changes (Post Renames)

Manage Deleted or Moved Content

Redirect Domain Changes / Rebranding

Enable HTTPS / Secure Protocol Upgrade

Consolidate Duplicate Content

Guide Search Engines to Correct URLs

 

3.

What is a 301 Redirect?

 

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirection from one URL to another.

I 

Purpose:

Inform search engines that the content has moved permanently.

II

SEO Benefit:

Transfers link equity, rankings, and authority from the old URL to the new one.

Difference from 302 Redirect: 302 is temporary and does not transfer SEO value.

4.

Link Juice and 301 Redirects

I

What is Link Juice?

Link juice is the SEO value, authority, or ranking power passed from one page to another through backlinks.

When a page has backlinks from other websites, it accumulates link juice.

Higher link juice = better chances of ranking on Google.

II

Why 301 Redirects Affect Link Juice

 

A 301 redirect passes most or all link juice from the old URL to the new URL.

This is why 301 redirects are crucial when:

A post is renamed or moved

A post is deleted and replaced

A domain is changed

Migrating from Blogger → WordPress

III

Example:

Old URL: example.com/seo-tips

Backlinks from 10 sites → SEO value accumulated

301 Redirect: example.com/seo-tips → example.com/advanced-seo-tips

All link juice transfers → new page keeps ranking

IV

Key Point

Without a 301 redirect, the old page may give 404 errors, and all accumulated link juice is lost, hurting SEO.

 

5.

301 Redirect Implementation – Blogger

In Blogger, you can set up 301 redirects in a few ways:

 I

Custom Redirects

Navigate to Settings → Search Preferences → Custom Redirects

Add the old URL → new URL mapping

I

Example:

/old-post.html → /new-post.html

 II

Domain Migration / Blogger → Custom Domain

Blogger automatically sets 301 redirects when moving to a custom domain

Old blogspot.com links will redirect to the new domain

III

Deleted or Moved Post

Always redirect to a relevant post to avoid 404 errors and preserve backlinks

 

6.

301 Redirect Implementation – WordPress

In WordPress, 301 redirects can be implemented using:

 I

Redirection Plugin

 

Install plugin → add old URL → new URL → choose 301

Easy for non-technical users

 II

.htaccess (Apache Servers)


Add rules to .htaccess for permanent redirects

III

Example:

 

Redirect 301 /old-post https://www.yourdomain.com/new-post

 IV

Use Cases in WordPress

 

Post renamed or deleted → redirect to new post

Domain migration (old domain → new domain)

HTTP → HTTPS or www → non-www redirection


7.

Real-Life Examples for 301 Redirection

 

Moz: SEOmoz.org → Moz.com (Rebranding)

I

Blogger → WordPress:

 myblog.blogspot.com → www.mywordpresssite.com

II

HTTP → HTTPS:

http://example.com → https://example.com

 

Domain Rebranding: Old company domains redirecting to new branded domains

These examples show how 301 redirects preserve traffic and SEO value in real-life scenarios.

 

8.

Social Links & Traffic Considerations

Old URLs shared on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, or Telegram will still send visitors to the correct page

301 redirects help maintain referral traffic from social platforms

 

9.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Redirecting old posts to irrelevant pages

Creating multiple chained redirects (old → middle → new)

Not redirecting old domains or deleted posts

Using 302 instead of 301 for permanent moves

 

10.

White-Hat vs Black-Hat 301 Use

I

White-Hat:

Preserving SEO, user experience, backlinks, and authority

II

Black-Hat:

Manipulative redirects, irrelevant pages, or spammy redirections

III

Key Insight:

301 redirects themselves are neutral tools — the intention defines ethical use.

 

11.

Conclusion

A 301 redirect is essential for permanent URL changes, whether it’s for posts, pages, domains, or protocols. Proper use ensures:

 

SEO rankings are preserved

Backlinks remain effective

Users have a smooth browsing experience

Google understands your content’s permanent location

 

Remember:

301 redirects are the digital traffic signs of your website — guiding users and search engines safely while maintaining trust and authority.

 

Optional Note:

A 302 redirect is temporary and does not transfer SEO value. Use it only when content is moved for a short time. For permanent changes, always use 301 redirects.


This post has been published by Exponect.com Team


Also Read: 

302 Redirect: Move Traffic Temporarily Without Losing SEO

How To Redirect Deleted Post on Blogger To Fix 404 Error



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