How Can a Page Have Both a 301 Redirect and a 200 Status Code? A Strange Issue Explained
Redirect issues can significantly impact your website’s SEO. This issue can appear to be caused by improper behavior in the redirect plugin and automatic redirect system. When multiple pages on a website redirect to each other automatically, there’s a chance of generating conflicting HTTP statuses (202 and 301) for a single page. This situation arises when two different URLs point to the same content, which creates disruptions in redirect management and can lead to errors.
Why Redirect Issues Occur and How They Impact Your SEO
In your case, a page that was once accessible and has now been deleted might automatically redirect to a new URL using the redirect plugin. However, simultaneously, the redirect system or plugin may trigger another redirect, leading the new URL to redirect to yet another page. This conflict results in the page having two different HTTP statuses (200 and 301).
Step-by-Step Guide to Resolve Redirect Issues
1. Disable Automatic Redirects to Prevent Conflicts
The first step is to disable the automatic redirect plugin or system to stop further conflicting redirects from happening.
2. Remove Incorrect Redirect Entries
Once automatic redirects are disabled, the next step is to delete any URLs that were mistakenly added to the redirect list.
3. Correct Redirect URLs for Accuracy
Ensure that any pages that were deleted or are in draft mode are properly redirected to the appropriate new URLs. Double-check that these URLs are correctly listed in your redirect system.
4. Update Internal Links and Backlinks
If the deleted page has numerous internal links or backlinks, make sure to update or remove them. This helps avoid unwanted redirection to incorrect pages. Once redirects are fixed, remember to update the internal links and backlinks as well.
5. Use 301 Redirects for Permanent URL Changes
If a page has been deleted, using a 301 redirect is essential to ensure that users and search engines are directed to the new page. This also helps search engines understand that the change is permanent, ensuring that relevant links are passed to the new page.
Case Study: Managing Redirect Issues and Improving User Experience
Background:
The website Zing.com uses an automatic redirect plugin to handle pages that are deleted or redirected. While this plugin effectively manages redirects, it can also cause conflicts between different HTTP statuses in certain cases.
The Problem:
Suppose a page, such as Zing.com/blog/safe-moode, is deleted for reasons like a content strategy update, technical issues, or an SEO specialist mistake. After deleting this page, the redirect plugin automatically redirects users to Zing.com/blog/Best-shop. However, because the original page was valid and now redirects to the new one, two different URLs (the deleted page and the replacement page) are being displayed at once. Additionally, internal links to the deleted page still exist.
This can result in HTTP status discrepancies:
- The page /blog/safe-moode, which redirects to /blog/Best-shop, might display a 301 status (permanent redirect).
- The page /blog/Best-shop, showing new content, may display a 200 status.
The Cause of the Problem:
This issue arises when automatic redirects are functioning simultaneously, and different URLs point to the same content. This causes confusion for both search engines and users and can result in SEO and user experience problems.
How to Fix Redirect Issues:
1. Disable Automatic Redirects
Begin by disabling the automatic redirect plugin to stop conflicting redirects from happening.
2. Remove Extra URLs from the Redirect List
After disabling automatic redirects, make sure to remove any mistakenly added URLs from the redirect list.
3. Recovery:
If you want to recover /blog/safe-moode, you can do so, and the issue will be fixed. If you plan to delete the page, proceed with the following steps:
- Remove Internal Links: If the deleted page has many internal links or backlinks, remove these links to prevent misdirecting users to incorrect pages.
- Set Up Correct Redirects: Properly redirect the deleted page to the intended new page to fix the redirect issues.
- 301 Redirects: Use a 301 redirect to ensure search engines know the change is permanent and pass relevant external links to the new page.
Key Takeaways to Avoid Redirect Errors and Boost SEO
By implementing these actions, you can manage redirects effectively, prevent HTTP status conflicts, and improve the SEO and user experience on your website.
To summarize
- Stop using automatic redirects and manually audit existing ones.
- Use 301 redirects for permanent moves and ensure the target page returns a 200 status.
- Update internal and external links to reflect the new structure.
- Routinely monitor and maintain the site to prevent future issues.
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