What Is a Website Redirect?

A redirect automatically sends a visitor from one URL to another. It tells the browser and search engines that the original page has moved or is no longer available and directs them to the most relevant replacement page.

What Happens If You Delete a Page Without a Redirect?

When a page is deleted without a redirect, visitors may encounter a 404 error. This can result in:

• A poor user experience
• Lost website traffic
• Visitors leaving your website
• Broken links
• Lost SEO value associated with the old page

Why a 301 Redirect Is Important

A 301 redirect indicates that a page has permanently moved. It helps search engines understand that the old URL should be replaced with the new destination.

When used correctly, a 301 redirect can help preserve the value and authority associated with the original page while ensuring visitors are directed to useful, relevant content.

Always Redirect to the Most Relevant Page

A redirect should take visitors to a page that is closely related to what they were originally looking for.

For example, if an old service page has been replaced with a new service page, redirect the old URL directly to the new service page rather than sending everyone to the homepage.

Relevant redirects provide a better experience for visitors and give search engines clearer information about the relationship between the old and new content.

Redirects Are an Important Part of Website Maintenance

Redirects are especially important when you:

• Delete outdated pages
• Change page URLs
• Rename services or products
• Rebuild or redesign a website
• Move content to a new location
• Consolidate several pages into one

Deleting a page does not mean that its URL immediately disappears from the internet. Old links can remain in search results, bookmarks, social media posts and other websites for a long time.

Before removing or changing a page, decide where visitors should go next and set up a relevant 301 redirect. It is a small step that can help protect your website traffic, maintain a better user experience and support your SEO efforts.

Contact iTTConnect to fix your website redirects.