Skip to content

URL Redirects Page

Menu Location: Settings > Website > URL Redirects

Access Level: Administrator

Last Updated: 2026-03-01

Overview

The URL Redirects page manages URL redirections for your website. Create 301 permanent redirects, 302 temporary redirects, and maintain SEO value when changing page URLs or site structure.

Primary Functions:

  • Create new URL redirects
  • Edit existing redirects
  • Delete outdated redirects
  • Test redirect functionality
  • Monitor redirect usage statistics
  • Import bulk redirects from CSV

Page Layout

Header Section

  • Page title and description
  • Add new redirect button
  • Import CSV button
  • Search redirects field

Redirects Table

  • Source URL (from)
  • Destination URL (to)
  • Redirect type (301 Permanent, 302 Temporary)
  • Created date
  • Hit count (times redirect used)
  • Last accessed
  • Status (Active, Inactive)
  • Edit and Delete buttons

Add/Edit Redirect Form

  • Source URL field
  • Destination URL field
  • Redirect type selector
  • Status toggle (Active/Inactive)
  • Notes field
  • Save button

Primary Features

301 Permanent Redirects

Create permanent redirects that tell search engines the page has moved permanently. Transfers SEO value to new URL.

302 Temporary Redirects

Create temporary redirects for short-term changes. Doesn't transfer SEO value. Useful for maintenance or seasonal pages.

Redirect Testing

Test redirects before activating to ensure they work correctly. Preview destination URL without leaving admin.

Usage Analytics

Track how many times each redirect is used and when it was last accessed. Identify unused redirects that can be removed.

Bulk Import

Upload CSV file with multiple redirects to create many redirects quickly. Useful for site migrations or restructures.

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Redirect Old Product URL

Goal: Redirect discontinued product to new product

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New Redirect"
  2. Enter source: /shop/old-product-name
  3. Enter destination: /shop/new-product-name
  4. Select type: 301 Permanent
  5. Set status: Active
  6. Add note: "Product discontinued, redirecting to replacement"
  7. Click Save
  8. Test redirect by visiting old URL

Goal: Redirect old site URLs to new site structure

Steps:

  1. Identify broken URLs from analytics
  2. Map each old URL to new equivalent
  3. For each redirect:
    • Add source URL (old)
    • Add destination URL (new)
    • Select 301 Permanent
    • Activate
  4. Test each redirect
  5. Monitor 404 errors to find missed URLs

Use Case 3: Temporary Maintenance Redirect

Goal: Redirect to maintenance page temporarily

Steps:

  1. Create redirect
  2. Source: /shop
  3. Destination: /maintenance.html
  4. Type: 302 Temporary
  5. Status: Active (during maintenance)
  6. After maintenance: Change status to Inactive
  7. Delete redirect when no longer needed

Use Case 4: Bulk Import After Site Redesign

Goal: Add hundreds of redirects after site structure change

Steps:

  1. Create CSV with columns: source_url, destination_url, type
  2. Add all redirect mappings to CSV
  3. Click "Import CSV" button
  4. Upload CSV file
  5. Review import preview
  6. Confirm import
  7. Verify redirects created successfully
  8. Test sample redirects

Use Case 5: Clean Up Old Redirects

Goal: Remove unnecessary redirects

Steps:

  1. Sort by "Last Accessed" column
  2. Identify redirects not accessed in 6+ months
  3. Review each redirect:
    • Still needed?
    • Source URL still linked anywhere?
  4. Set to Inactive (test period)
  5. Wait 30 days
  6. If no issues, delete redirect
  7. Document cleanup in notes

Troubleshooting

Redirect Not Working

Symptoms:

  • Visit source URL but no redirect happens
  • Still see old page or 404 error
  • Redirect showing in admin but not functioning

Check:

  1. Verify redirect status is Active
  2. Check source URL is exactly correct (case-sensitive)
  3. Clear browser cache and retry
  4. Test in incognito/private window
  5. Verify destination URL is valid
  6. Check for redirect conflicts (multiple redirects from same source)
  7. Review server logs

Redirect Loop Detected

Symptoms:

  • Browser shows "too many redirects" error
  • Page never loads
  • Infinite redirect loop

Cause: Source and destination create circular redirects Example: A→B and B→A

Solution:

  1. Identify the loop (check redirect chain)
  2. Delete or modify one redirect to break loop
  3. Verify destination URLs don't redirect back
  4. Test thoroughly after fix

CSV Import Fails

Symptoms:

  • Upload error message
  • No redirects created
  • Partial import only

Check:

  1. Verify CSV format is correct
  2. Ensure column headers match: source_url, destination_url, type
  3. Check for special characters in URLs
  4. Verify file size isn't too large
  5. Try smaller batch if large file
  6. Check for duplicate source URLs in CSV
  • Media Library - Manage images and files
  • News Items - Content management
  • Front Page - Website homepage settings
  • SEO Settings - Search engine optimization

Best Practices

Creating Redirects

  1. Always use absolute URLs (start with /)
  2. Use 301 for permanent changes
  3. Use 302 only for temporary situations
  4. Test redirects immediately after creating
  5. Add notes explaining purpose
  6. Double-check destination URL is correct

SEO Considerations

  1. Use 301 redirects to maintain SEO value
  2. Update internal links instead of relying on redirects
  3. Don't chain redirects (A→B→C), go direct (A→C)
  4. Remove redirects after 1 year if source URL no longer referenced
  5. Monitor for redirect loops

Maintenance

  1. Review redirect list quarterly
  2. Remove unused redirects (no hits in 6 months)
  3. Test random redirects monthly
  4. Document major redirect additions
  5. Keep redirect count reasonable (<500)

Site Migrations

  1. Plan redirect strategy before migration
  2. Map all old URLs to new equivalents
  3. Create redirects before launch
  4. Test extensively after migration
  5. Monitor 404 errors for missed redirects
  6. Use bulk import for efficiency

Quick Reference Card

Task Action/Location
Add redirect Click "Add New Redirect" button
Edit redirect Click Edit button on redirect row
Delete redirect Click Delete button, confirm
Search redirects Use search field in header
Test redirect Click Test button or visit source URL
Import multiple Click "Import CSV" button
View usage Check "Hit Count" column
Disable redirect Edit redirect, set Status: Inactive
Sort redirects Click column header to sort
Export redirects Click Export CSV button

FAQs

What's the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

301 is permanent - tells search engines the page has moved forever and transfers SEO value. 302 is temporary - for short-term redirects, doesn't transfer SEO value. Use 301 for permanent changes, 302 for temporary situations.

How many redirects can I create?

There's no hard limit, but keep the list manageable (under 500 recommended). Too many redirects can impact site performance. Regularly clean up old, unused redirects.

Can I redirect to an external website?

Yes, destination URL can be external. Use full URL including https://. Example: https://www.example.com/page

Why isn't my redirect working immediately?

Browser caching may show old page. Try hard refresh (Ctrl+F5) or incognito mode. Also check redirect is Active and URLs are exactly correct.

Can I chain redirects (A→B→C)?

Technically yes, but it's bad practice. Creates slower redirects and confuses search engines. Always redirect directly from A→C.

How do I redirect my homepage?

Use / as the source URL. Be very careful with homepage redirects as they affect all visitors. Test thoroughly.

End of Documentation

For additional help, contact your system administrator or Kiva Logic support.