Every page request returns a status code. Search engines read them, and a wrong one can cost you rankings.
The codes that matter
- 200: the page loaded normally.
- 301: moved permanently. Use this when a URL has changed for good.
- 302: moved temporarily.
- 404: not found.
- 500: server error.
Common redirect mistakes
- Using 302 where you meant 301.
- Redirect chains (A to B to C) that waste crawl time.
- Redirect loops.
- Sending every deleted page to the homepage instead of a relevant page.
Check your site
Use the www Redirect Checker to confirm that the www and non-www versions of your site go to a single preferred address. To write friendly URLs and rules, see the URL Rewriting Tool.