Domain redirects are a crucial part of website management, especially when moving content or retiring old pages. They automatically forward visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one, preserving **SEO value** and ensuring a good user experience. This guide will walk you through creating and managing redirects (specifically **301 Permanent** or **302 Temporary**) using the **Redirects** tool in your cPanel dashboard.
Important: Choosing the Right Type
- **301 Permanent:** Recommended for **long-term** or permanent content moves. It tells search engines the page has moved permanently, which helps preserve the original URL's SEO ranking.
- **302 Temporary:** Used for **short-term** redirects, like maintenance or temporary content changes. It indicates the page will return to the original URL eventually.
Redirect Setup Steps
Follow these steps to set up a new domain or page redirect:
- Log into your cPanel dashboard.
- In the **Domains** section, click the **Redirects** icon.
- Under the **Add Redirect** section, begin configuring your redirect:
- Type: Choose the redirect type (Permanent (301) is recommended for most long-term changes).
- Domain: Select the domain or enter the specific directory/URL you want to redirect (e.g., `old-page.html`).
- Redirects to: Enter the **destination URL** (the new page/domain) where visitors should be sent (e.g., `https://www.yourdomain.com/new-page`).
- www.redirection: Choose your preferred `www.` redirection setting (e.g., *Redirect with or without www.*).
- Click the **Add** button.
The new redirect will be active **immediately**.
Managing Existing Redirects
Once redirects are set up, you can easily manage them:
- Scroll to the bottom of the **Redirects** screen in cPanel.
- Under the **Current Redirects** table, you can view all active redirects.
- You have the option to **Edit** or **Remove** any current redirect by clicking the corresponding link next to the entry.
