URL Redirection Tips & Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew Earlier

Looking for practical URL redirection tips to improve user experience and boost your search rankings?

Learn from my mistakes.

When I first started blogging, I didn't think twice about changing a URL. I’d update a post's slug, hit save, and move on.

It wasn't until a few weeks later that I noticed how my traffic had tanked, and how old URLs were leading to dead ends. Worse still, I lost valuable backlinks.

That's when I learned about redirects.

Redirects tell search engines and visitors where your content moved, preserving your traffic and SEO.

In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about URL redirects, from the basics to advanced tricks. You’ll learn:

• How redirects impact SEO
• Different types of redirects (and when to use them)
• Step-by-step instructions for setting them up in WordPress 

By the end, you’ll know how to avoid costly mistakes and handle redirects like a pro.

What Is a URL Redirect?

A URL redirect tells search engines content has moved to a new web page. 

It’s like saying, “This content isn’t here anymore, go to this page instead.” 

You can think of it like a forwarding address when you move to a new house. Instead of letting important letters (or visitors) go to the mailbox you no longer have access to, you tell the system to forward your mail (traffic) to the new address (URL).

Here are some common scenarios when URL redirection comes in handy:

• Site Migration: When a website changes its domain, setting up redirects ensures that visitors and search engines can find your new pages without running into errors
• HTTP → HTTPS: Redirecting from HTTP to HTTPS protects user data with encryption and signals to search engines that your site is secure. 
• Fixing Broken Links: Redirect old URLs to relevant alternatives.
• Merging Duplicate Content: Redirecting duplicates to a single authoritative page consolidates SEO value and strengthens your ranking potential.
• Seasonal Campaigns: Redirect temporary landing pages when the event ends.

Why URL Redirection Matters for SEO & UX

Redirects are essential for a positive user experience (UX) and search engine crawlability. When done properly, they help:

• Preserve link equity: When a high-authority site links to an old URL, a redirect ensures most of the “SEO value,” or link equity, flows to the new page.
• Prevent traffic loss: Without redirects, broken links result in 404 errors, leading to lost traffic. These can drive visitors and potential customers away.
• Enhance user experience (UX): Redirects keep visitors on your site, rather than causing them to bounce (leave your site) in frustration.

Ultimately, URL redirects keep visitors engaged, search engines happy, and your hard-earned rankings intact.

How to Handle URL Redirection in WordPress

Now that you understand what redirects are, let’s see how to set them up in WordPress.

Step 1: Install & Activate All In One SEO

The first step in handling URL redirection is to download and install All In One SEO (AIOSEO). 

AIOSEO is a powerful and easy-to-use SEO plugin with over 3 million active installs. Digital marketers and business owners use AIOSEO to boost their search engine rankings and drive qualified traffic to their WordPress sites.

One of its standout tools is the Redirection Manager, which makes it easy to create, manage, and track redirects. 

Whether you’re fixing broken links, moving content, or consolidating pages, this feature ensures visitors and search engines always reach the right destination.

Redirection Manager allows you to oversee redirects and eliminate 404 errors, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site. 

At the same time, it ensures your visitors enjoy a smooth, frustration-free experience by reaching their destination.

Step 2: Open the Redirection Manager & Redirect Your Page

Once you’ve installed AIOSEO, the next step is to set up your redirects. 

To do this, navigate to AIOSEO » Redirects. You’ll be taken to the Redirection Manager, where you can add your redirect.

Start by entering the Source URL (the page you want to redirect from). 

Then, add the Target URL, which is where you want visitors to land. 

You can even start typing the page title, slug, or ID, and AIOSEO will automatically suggest matching pages for you.

Common Types of URL Redirects Explained 

Not all redirects are created equal. Depending on your situation, you’ll want to use a specific type of redirect to ensure both search engines and users end up in the right place. 

Below are the most common types you’ll come across, along with when to use them.

301 Permanent Redirect

A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines that content has moved permanently. It’s the best choice when you’ve permanently changed a URL. 

For example, moving from http:// to https:// or rebranding with a new domain. 

The big advantage? 

301 redirects pass link equity from the old page to the new one, helping you preserve search rankings and backlinks.

302 Temporary Redirect

A 302 redirect is for short-term changes. Use it when you want to temporarily redirect visitors to another page. 

For example, imagine you’re promoting a seasonal sale, such as Black Friday. In this scenario, you’d only want users to reach this page for a specific period of time. And the rest of the year, when the sale isn’t active, you’d likely redirect them to your standard pricing page. 

A common mistake is using 302 redirects for permanent moves, which can confuse search engines and result in the loss of valuable SEO signals.

So, remember:

• 301 = permanent move
• 302 = temporary move

307 Temporary Redirect

A 307 redirect is the modern upgrade to a 302, with stricter handling of request methods. It’s useful for temporary scenarios where precision is required, such as testing or handling secure connections. 

In WordPress, plugins like AIOSEO make it simple to add a 307 redirect with just a few clicks.

Special Redirects

• 404 to Homepage Redirects: Sometimes, site owners redirect all broken pages (404s) to the homepage. While this can reduce bounce rates in the short term, it’s risky if overused. Google may see it as a poor user experience.
• Regex (Pattern-Based) Redirects: For more advanced setups, regex rules let you redirect multiple URLs that follow a pattern. For instance, you could send everything under /blog/* to /articles/* in one step, saving time on large sites.

6 URL Redirection Tips & Tricks You Should Know

1. Redirecting a Single Post or Page in WordPress 

Redirecting a single post or page is the most common type of redirect. And with AIOSEO, setting one up is simple.

To get started, navigate to Redirects in the All in One SEO menu in your WordPress dashboard.

You'll see the Redirects screen, and at the top will be the Add New Redirection form.

In the Source URL field, enter the URL you want to redirect from. Ensure that you use a relative URL. This means you should exclude the https://yourdomain.com part of the URL. For example, use /old-page instead of the full URL (https://yourdomain.com/old-page).

In the Target URL field, enter the URL you want to redirect to. You can use either a relative URL (e.g., /new-page) or an absolute URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/new-page).

You can also start typing the title, slug, or ID of any post, page, or other content on your site in the Target URL field. AIOSEO will display matching content automatically. Simply click the post or page you want to set as your target.

And just like that, anyone visiting the old URL will automatically land on the new page.

2. Redirecting Links in Bulk Using CSV

If your site has hundreds—or even thousands—of pages, setting up redirects one by one is a nightmare. 

The trick? 

Use AIOSEO’s CSV import feature to make the process quick and painless. It helps you add bulk redirects using a CSV file.

Start by gathering all the information about the links you want to redirect. 

Using a spreadsheet is a great way to organize this data. It allows you to track the source URLs, target URLs, and any notes about why the redirect is necessary.

Using a spreadsheet will make the process faster and help you avoid mistakes when setting up multiple redirects. I recommend using the following headers for your columns:

• Source URL
• Target URL
• Redirect Type
• Ignore Slash
• Ignore Case
• Regex

Once you’ve saved your CSV file, return to the AIOSEO Redirection Manager and upload it under the Import/Export tab.

Finally, click Import.

And that’s it. 

AIOSEO will set your redirects up in bulk from your CSV file, saving you valuable time and ensuring all your links point to the right place.

3. Setting Up Automatic Redirects in WordPress

Ever changed a page or post URL only to find your visitors hitting a dreaded 404 page? 

One of my favorite features in AIOSEO is the Automatic Redirects tool. It’s like having a safety net for your URLs. The Redirection Manager automatically detects when a URL changes and instantly creates a redirect for you. 

To enable this function, all you have to do is head over to the Redirects menu in AIOSEO. Then, open the Settings tab and make your selection for if you want to apply automatic redirects to all post types or just specific ones. 

You can even configure default settings so that any time you update or delete content, AIOSEO takes care of the redirect automatically. This is ideal for solo business owners who want help keeping their site and traffic running smoothly.

Once you’ve got it set up, I also recommend checking in on your redirects every so often. 

AIOSEO keeps an organized log under the Redirects tab, and marks the automatically added ones as Modified Post. This allows you to easily see which automatic redirects it created. 

Personally, I like to give them a quick test using the Check Redirects button just to make sure everything’s working as expected.

4. Scheduling Redirects in WordPress

One tip I wish I knew when I started managing websites is that you can schedule redirects.

Scheduling redirects in AIOSEO is one of those “set it and forget it” features that can save you a ton of time and stress. 

Instead of scrambling to fix broken links after the fact, you can plan ahead for URLs you know will change. 

This works perfectly whether you’re running a short-term promo, switching from HTTP to HTTPS, or permanently moving a page. 

And the good news is that the process is pretty simple. 

First, figure out which URLs need redirects and where they should go. 

Once you’ve got your list, you can add them using the Add New Redirection tool we saw earlier.

If you’re dealing with multiple links (like I was when cleaning up old blog posts), you can even upload them all at once using a CSV file. 

This bulk option is a lifesaver compared to adding them one by one. It’s like upgrading from washing dishes by hand to running a dishwasher.

After you’ve added the redirects, you’re ready to schedule. 

You can set redirects to go live at a specific time. And if it’s a temporary redirect, you can also set an expiration date. 

This way, your site automatically reverts back when the promo or event is over. No more late-night logins to fix expired links. (Trust me, I’ve been there, and it’s no fun.)

With scheduling, you get peace of mind knowing your redirects will run on autopilot, keeping your visitors (and Google) happy.

5. Using Regex-Based Redirects (Catch-All Rules)

Another trick I wish I’d learned earlier is how powerful regex (regular expressions) can be for redirects.

Instead of setting up dozens (or even hundreds) of individual redirects, you can create a single rule that handles them all at once. 

This is perfect for large sites, category cleanups, or URL structure changes.

For example, let’s say you moved everything from /blog/ to /articles/. Instead of adding redirects one by one, you can use a regex rule to catch every URL under /blog/ and send it to /articles/ in a single step. 

It’s a massive time saver and makes site management way easier.

So, how to do it?

In AIOSEO, setting up a regex redirect is simple. Just check the Regex box when creating your redirect rule, then enter your pattern. 

Don’t worry. You don’t need to be a coding pro to use this. With a few basics, you can unlock a powerful way to keep your site organized and error-free.

Want help? See this tutorial to learn how to use regex in Redirection Manager.

6. Monitoring & Tracking URL Redirects

One of the biggest lessons I learned after setting up redirects is this: your job doesn’t end once the redirect is live. (Disappointing, I know…sorry.)

The reality is that redirects can break, stack up in chains, or even stop working the way you expected. 

That’s why continuous monitoring is just as important as creating them in the first place.

Think of it like checking the oil in your car. You wouldn’t just fill it once and never look at it again. 

The same goes for redirects. Regular check-ins help you catch problems before they drain your SEO or frustrate visitors.

The good news? You don’t need to guess. There are plenty of tools that make monitoring easy. 

For example, AIOSEO’s Redirect Log let you see exactly which redirects are being used and how often. 

Google Search Console (GSC) also alerts you to crawl errors, broken links, and redirect issues. 

And for an even deeper dive, Screaming Frog acts like a site-wide X-ray, finding redirect chains, loops, and other hidden problems.

Common Redirect Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned site owners make mistakes with redirects. The problem is, a small misstep can quietly chip away at your SEO, and, before you know it, you’ve lost your traffic.

Let’s review the most redirect mistakes so you can avoid this unfortunate scenario.

Using 302 Instead of 301

This is one of the biggest mistakes I see. 

A 302 tells search engines that the move is only temporary, so they won’t pass link equity to the new page. 

If your page has permanently moved, always use a 301. 

That way, you keep your rankings and backlinks intact.

Creating Redirect Chains

A redirect chain happens when URL A points to URL B, which then points to URL C. 

This slows down your site and can confuse search engines. Visitors also notice the lag. 

The fix is simple: redirect straight to the final destination and cut out the middle steps.

Redirecting Everything to the Homepage

It’s tempting to dump all broken links onto your homepage, but this creates a poor user experience. 

Imagine clicking on an article about “SEO tips” and landing on the homepage with no clue where to go. 

Google sees this as unhelpful too, which can hurt your SEO.

Instead, redirect users to the most relevant page. (For example, that “SEO tips” link is probably better redirecting to an SEO best practices blog or something similar.)

Then, in cases where you do need to redirect to the homepage, you can automatically set them up in AIOSEO.

Overusing Redirects

Redirects are helpful, but too many of them can slow your site down and eat up crawl budget. 

Search engines only have so much time to crawl your site—wasting it on unnecessary redirects can hurt indexing. 

Use redirects only when truly needed, and clean up old ones regularly.

Mastering URL Redirection for Long-Term Success

URL redirection is a behind-the-scenes task that has a front-facing affect on user experience and how search engines crawl your site. When done right, it:

• Preserves your hard-earned rankings
• Safeguards your organic traffic
• Keeps visitors engaged
• Prevents broken links and 404 errors

Plus, when you have tools like AIOSEO, redirect management is relatively simple. 

Whether you’re setting up a quick 301, scheduling redirects for a promo, or handling complex regex patterns, you can do it all in just a few clicks. 

Combine that with regular monitoring and smart redirect habits, and you’ll avoid costly mistakes while keeping your site running smoothly.

I hope this post helped you know how the top ticks and tricks for managing redirects. You may also want to check out other articles like our ultimate guide to WordPress SEO or our list of the best redirect plugins for WordPress.

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FAQs About URL Redirection

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