Websites · 3 min read
Set Up 301 URL Redirects
A 301 redirect permanently sends visitors and search engines from an old address to a new one. Use it so old links, bookmarks, and search results still land somewhere useful.
When to use one
- You renamed a funnel step or website page path
- You moved content to a new URL
- You deleted or replaced a page and want to keep its traffic
- You moved content to another domain
- An old campaign link should go to a current page
- One version of a domain should always point to another
If several URLs should stay reachable and you just want search engines to prefer one, use a canonical URL instead.
Create a redirect
The domain you redirect from must already be added to your account.
- Go to Settings > Domains & URL Redirects.
- Open the URL Redirects tab.
- Click + Add Redirect.
- Under Source, pick the domain in Redirect From.
- Choose what to redirect:
- A specific path, such as
/contact, for a single page. - The entire domain, to send all traffic from it to your target.
- Under Target, choose where visitors go:
- Custom URL: enter the full destination address.
- Funnel: pick a funnel linked to that domain, then one step.
- Website: pick a website linked to that domain, then one page.
- Click Add Redirect.
Keep paths clean
Don't use special characters like
?, %, &, =, or # in a redirect path. Stick to lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and slashes. Nested paths, like /offers/summer, work fine.- Good:
/special-offer - Avoid:
/special?offer=summer&utm_source=email
If the old URL had query parameters, enter only the clean path.
301 redirect or canonical URL?
| | 301 redirect | Canonical URL | | --- | --- | --- | | Visitors are sent somewhere else automatically | Yes | No | | The old URL is permanently replaced | Yes | No | | Several URLs stay reachable | No | Yes | | Tells search engines which URL you prefer | Indirectly | Yes | | The address in the browser changes | Yes | No |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check | | --- | --- | | Redirect doesn't work | The source domain is connected, and the path exactly matches the URL visitors use. | | Redirect loop | The destination doesn't redirect back to the source. | | 404 after changing a page path | There's a redirect from the old path to the new page. | | Funnel or website isn't listed as a target | It's linked to the source domain you picked. | | Path redirect fails | Remove query parameters and special characters. | | Odd redirect behavior | No other redirect affects the same source or destination. | | Google still shows the old URL | Search engines need time to recrawl. You can request a recrawl in Google Search Console. |