HTTP response status codes fall into the category of designated numbers that indicate the response of web server against the requested URL. They inform the browser as well as search engine crawlers some of the best ways to handle request. Apropos to the Search Engine Optimization, both 301 as well as 302 codes are duly important.
The variance that persists between them will definitely reflect the true difference in SEO efforts along with ranking and overall effectiveness. If you are familiar with SEO, then you must have come to learn about the most common phrase “link juice”, where redirect status codes come into role.
Why Go for Redirecting?
It is very much essential to go for redirecting in order to suggest the search engine crawlers about moving of page, URL, content and site. The status with regards to that particular form of redirect comprises of substantial importance in reassigning the ranking value. You must know that HTTP status codes list five various classes of status codes with the first digit helpful in terms of identifying response class.
301 Redirects – Reflecting Permanent Move
Status code represented in the form of 3xx implies that the code is available into the redirect class. 301, also known as permanently moved is a redirect that gets carried and distributed in an absolute manner. It helps in signifying the fact to crawlers that your content has moved permanently.
Changing of domains, launching of your website in a new CMS or change in the structure of the URL are some vital examples creation of 301 redirects for your old content towards new one will inform the search engine that you have relocated to a new position for your own benefit. It will permit search engines to direct value signals and ranking to new URL.
The new URL is considered to be the new permanent home for that content.
302 Redirects – Reflecting Temporary Move
While on the other hand, the 302 status code refers to the fact of temporary moving. This particular hardly carries the link value towards the new location. Instead it takes the user towards an appropriate location for you so that you do not show them a broken link, error page or a 404 page not found.
In case of an e-commerce setting, it is advised to go for a 302 redirect. In case you hold a product that is either unavailable or about to sell the same again, then in such a case a 302 redirect is sent to the category page. It permits them to look at similar items. At the same time you are informing the search engine crawlers that your content is temporarily offline.
302 prevent crawlers from passing it to another URL so that the value of that page may be kept in an intact manner. At the time of approaching your SEO along with changes implemented into the location and structure of the site, it is very much important to keep into consideration the technical signals.
You must prevent improper usage of signals as doing so may result into a catastrophic loss in link value.