How To Set Up A 301 Redirect On Wix

As websites evolve and URLs change, it's important to have a plan for redirecting visitors seamlessly from outdated pages to new ones. This ensures users and search engines are guided to the correct locations on your updated Wix site. A 301 redirect is a powerful tool that ensures a smooth transition for both users and search engines, preserving your site's functionality and SEO value even after significant changes.

Wix makes it simple to set up 301 redirects on your website. To begin, navigate to your SEO settings on your dashboard, then access the URL Redirect Manager. From there, click on create new redirects, where you'll add your old URL and new URL. This guide walks you through each step to ensure smooth traffic redirection from outdated to updated pages.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a 301 Redirect On Wix

Setting up a 301 redirect on Wix is an important task for any website owner or manager. A 301 redirect is a permanent way to send visitors and search engines from an old web page to a new one. Without proper redirects in place, visitors may end up on broken or outdated pages, which can lead to a poor user experience and negatively impact your website's search engine optimization (SEO). This guide helps you quickly and easily set up 301 redirects on your Wix website, helping to maintain a smooth browsing experience for your users and preserve your site's search engine rankings.

Here's how you can get started.

Step 1: Go to Your 'SEO Settings' in Your Wix Dashboard

In your Wix site's dashboard menu, click on 'Site & Mobile App'. A window will appear, select 'Website & SEO'. Another window will appear where you can click on 'SEO' to open your site's SEO settings.

Step 2: Select 'URL Redirect Manager' under 'Tools and settings'

In the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) section, scroll down until you find 'Tools and settings'. Click on the 'URL Redirect Manager' to add your 301 Redirect. What this feature does is it redirect site visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one.

Step 3: Click '+ New Redirect'

Once you've clicked on 'URL Redirect Manager', a new section will appear. You can either click '+ New Redirect' beside 'More Actions' on the top part of the section or click '+ Create New Redirect' in the 'Your redirects' section to begin adding your 301 redirects. 

Step 4: Select 'Single Redirect'

A new window will appear where you can choose between 'Single redirect' or 'Group redirect'. A single redirect redirects traffic from an old URL to a new URL while a group redirect redirects traffic for a group of URLs that share the same path. Select the 'Single Redirect'.

Step 5: Paste Your Old URL & New URL

Below the option for single redirect or group redirect are two text fields where you'll put the old URL and new URL. An old URL is the original you’re directing traffic from while the new URL is a list of page sites and external sites where you'll redirect your traffic. Wix makes things easier for you as it’ll trim the URL if you include the domain. Take note that for external pages, you should write the entire URL.

Step 6: Click 'Save' or 'Save & Add Another'

After filling out both text fields for the old and new URL, you can either click 'Save' to close the window or click 'Save & Add Another' to add more.

Why Use a 301 Redirect on Wix?

When it comes to managing a website, there are often times when you need to make changes to your site's structure, content, or even the overall branding. In these cases, using a 301 redirect on Wix can be an invaluable tool to ensure a smooth transition for both your visitors and search engines. This permanent redirect is instrumental in guiding visitors and search engines to the correct page, even when the URL has been changed.

Here are some of the key reasons why you might want to use a 301 redirect on your Wix website:

Rebranding

Rebranding often involves changing your website's domain name or URL structure. A 301 redirect ensures that users trying to access your site through the old URLs are automatically directed to the new ones. This way, you maintain your audience during the transition and prevent losing traffic due to outdated links.

Content Updates

As your business or website evolves, you may need to update or reorganize your content. When you move a page to a new URL, a 301 redirect can ensure that visitors who try to access the old page are automatically directed to the new, updated content. It transfers the search engine rankings, link equity, and traffic from the old URL to the new one, ensuring your content updates don't negatively impact your site's visibility on search engines.

Broken Links

Over time, it's common for websites to have broken links, either due to changes in your own site or updates made by external sites that link to you. Using a 301 redirect can help you redirect these broken links to the correct, working pages on your Wix website. This helps maintain your site's functionality and credibility.

SEO Optimization

A 301 redirect is a powerful SEO tool. It tells search engines that a page has permanently moved, transferring the old page's search engine rankings and link equity to the new one. This helps maintain your site's search engine visibility and rankings, even when you change URLs. It also prevents search engines from indexing multiple versions of the same content, avoiding potential duplicate content issues.

Conclusion: How To Set Up A 301 Redirect On Wix

Properly redirecting visitors from old pages to updated content can preserve your hard-earned search rankings, avoid broken links, and ensure a cohesive experience for your audience. A 301 redirect makes all of these possible. Setting up these powerful redirects is important in maintaining your website's integrity and effectiveness a Wix website owner. The platform itself makes the process of setting up 301 redirects incredibly simple, with a built-in redirect manager that allows you to quickly create and manage redirects with just a few clicks.

This guide helps you effortlessly set up 301 redirects, ensuring your website remains functional and optimized. By following these steps, you'll avoid common pitfalls like broken links and lost traffic, which can negatively impact your business. Properly managing redirects not only preserves your search rankings but also enhances user experience, making your site more professional and reliable. This attention to detail can give you a competitive edge, helping your business reach new heights and stay ahead of competitors.