Redirection 301 vs 308: Which One to Use in SEO
Site redirections are among the key aspects that should be put in place while designing the SEO of a given website. They help pass link juice from the old URLs to the new URLs, passing the ranking factors and ensuring that users and search engines can find the moved or updated content. There are two types of redirections: 301 redirection, a permanent redirection, and 308 redirection, a temporary redirection. Which of these is better for SEO? In this article, we will give you all the information you need to decide between 301 and 308 redirects.
What is the Meaning of 301 Redirect?
A 301 redirect is the most frequently used type of redirect in SEO work among all the types of redirects. The 301-status code informs the search engine that a page has been moved to a new location, and the new location is provided.
Here are some key features of 301 redirects:
– Permanent – Informs the search engines that the move is permanent, and the redirect should remain in place.
– Transfers the link juice – The link that was previously earned by the old URL is transferred to the new URL
– Notify search engines – Search engines change their indexes to let customers know that content has been moved to another URL
– Temporary change in rankings – There will also be a change in ranking for some time as the search engines re-index the new URL
When to Use a 301 Redirect
301 redirects are ideal for the following situations:
– URL structure changes – For example, changing .htm to. HTML or non-friendly to SEO-friendly URLs
– Domain migrations – Moving content from one domain to another
– Domain shifting – Content has moved to another part of the same domain, and the change is permanent
– Page duplications – Two URLs contain similar content, and the content from both is combined into a new URL
Benefits of 301 Redirects
There are several benefits that make 301 redirects the go-to choice for most SEO redirections:
– Preserve link equity – It is important to pass on the “link juice” from old URLs to support the rankings for new URLs
– No broken pages – Guarantee that internal site users and external searchers can find moved content
– Sustain rankings – When executed correctly, the 301 redirects help sustain search engine rankings for the redirected pages
– Support indexing – This is an indication to the search engines to update their indexes with new URLs
What is a 308 Redirect?
A 308 redirect has the status code of “308 Permanent Redirect.” It also transfers all the SEO equity from an old URL to a new URL.
However, 308s have a key difference from 301s:
– Temporary – This means that the change does not last, and the original URL should still be used as an additional source.
Therefore, 308 redirects mean “permanently temporarily” – the content has moved somewhere for now. However, the original URL is still a live page that search engines and users can visit.
Use of 308 redirects:
Because 308s maintain the original URL while also passing SEO value to the new URL, they’re ideal for special situations like:
– Split testing – Content is tested at a new URL while the original URL is available
– Domain migrations – Maintaining the old domain online for any missed traffic during the migration
– URL redirection – Sometimes, traffic is briefly redirected to the changed URL in preparation to return to the original URL
– Site maintenance – Guiding users during site downtimes or development work
The only scenario where you would usually not utilize a 308 is when you have a permanent URL change. As 308s indicate a temporarily redirected page, using these codes in the long run after a more permanent change is made can mislead a search engine and users.
308 Redirect Considerations
While 308s do offer specific benefits, they come with a few cautions:
– Increased server load – Hosting content under two different URLs puts extra pressure on the servers
– Search engine confusion – there remains a possibility that the original URL shall be considered to contain the original and complete information.
– Additional redirect required – Once testing or migrations are complete, 308s will have to be changed to 301s
Thus, while the 308s can be used for some specific scenarios, they should not be used as a permanent solution and should stay for short-term redirections.
301 vs 308 Redirects – Which is Most Effective for SEO?
In most situations where you want to redirect a URL for SEO, a 301 redirect is ideal. 301s indicate a permanent redirection, which is a permanent behavioral change that allows for clean indexing updates, maintains ranking, and avoids broken links.
308 redirects have some specific SEO uses but are probably most beneficial for an IT administrator or developer experimenting with a site. While 308s can be helpful for temporary redirections, if left in place, they can cause more harm than good in terms of SEO.
In Summary
– For SEO optimization, it is recommended to use 301 redirects where the URL of the web page changes permanently
– Use 308 redirects sparingly if at all, especially when it is needed for temporary testing or migration purposes
– Be careful when employing 308s for constraining the duration of redirections and to avoid misleading search engines
– It is relevant to mention that 301 redirects are helpful in most of the SEO URL shifts and site transfers.
When used correctly, redirects are extremely powerful for moving websites and at the same time maintaining hard-earned rankings. To increase your SEO success when making URL or website changes, follow these best practices for 301 and 308 redirects.
Bill Yeager, Co-Owner of High Point SEO & Marketing in CT
