301 Redirects FAQ

What is a 301 Redirect?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that automatically sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. When a page is moved or deleted, a 301 redirect ensures users reach the correct page while preserving your SEO rankings and link equity.

How do I set up 301 Redirects in CMS Max?

To use 301 redirects in CMS Max, you first need to install the SEO Max plugin. Once installed, the redirect management feature will be available in your admin panel.

How do I install the SEO Max plugin?

  1. Navigate to your CMS Max admin panel
  2. Go to the Plugins section
  3. Find and install the SEO Max plugin
  4. Once installed, you'll see "SEO Max" appear in your main admin menu

Does CMS Max automatically create redirects when I change a URL?

Yes! This is one of the biggest perks of using CMS Max with the SEO Max plugin installed.

When you change a page's URL in CMS Max, the system automatically creates a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new URL. This means:

  • Zero manual work - No need to remember to create redirects yourself
  • No broken links - Visitors using old links are automatically sent to the new location
  • Preserved SEO rankings - Search engines follow the redirect and transfer ranking power to your new URL
  • Worry-free URL updates - Feel confident updating URLs to improve structure without losing traffic

This automatic redirect creation happens instantly when you save a page with a new URL, ensuring there's never a gap where visitors would encounter a 404 error.

Example:

  • Original URL: old-product-name
  • You update it to: new-product-name
  • CMS Max automatically creates: old-product-name → new-product-name

This feature saves countless hours of manual redirect management and protects your SEO investment every time you optimize your site structure!

How do I access the 301 Redirects feature?

After installing SEO Max:

  1. Click on "SEO Max" in your main admin menu
  2. Select "301 Redirects" from the menu options
  3. You'll see a table displaying all your existing redirects with their original URLs and new destination URLs
  4. Click the "Create 301 Redirect" button to add a new redirect

How do I create a single 301 redirect?

Creating a redirect is simple:

  1. Click the "Create 301 Redirect" button
  2. Enter the original URL you want to redirect (the old page)
  3. Enter the new URL where visitors should be sent (the destination page)
  4. Save your redirect

The new URL can be:

  • An existing page on your website
  • An external URL on another domain

Can I redirect to external websites?

Yes! You can redirect to any external URL. Simply enter the complete URL including https:// in the new URL field.

What are wildcard redirects and how do I use them?

Wildcard redirects allow you to redirect multiple URL variations with a single rule using an asterisk (*).

How it works:

The asterisk matches anything that follows the specified pattern.

Example:

  • Pattern: blog/*
  • Matches:
    • blog/post-1
    • blog/post-2
    • blog/category/tech
    • blog/2024/january/article

Common use cases:

  • old-blog/* → new-blog/* (redirect an entire blog section)
  • products/discontinued/* → products/current/ (redirect discontinued products)
  • en-us/* → / (redirect old language-specific URLs)

How do I create a batch redirect?

Batch redirects allow you to redirect multiple URLs to a single destination at once:

  1. Click the "Batch Redirect" option
  2. Enter your original URLs, one URL per line in the text field
  3. Enter the single destination URL where all these pages should redirect to
  4. Save your batch redirect

Example:

old-page-1
old-page-2
old-page-3

All redirect to: new-landing-page

When should I use a batch redirect?

Batch redirects are perfect for:

  • Redirecting multiple old product pages to a single category page
  • Consolidating several outdated blog posts to one comprehensive guide
  • Redirecting various legacy URLs to your homepage
  • Cleaning up duplicate content by pointing all versions to one canonical URL

Do I need to include the full URL or just the path?

You only need to enter the URL path (the part after your domain name).

Correct:

  • old-page
  • blog/old-article
  • products/item-123

No need for:

  • https://yourdomain.com/old-page

How can I see all my existing redirects?

All your redirects are displayed in the table on the 301 Redirects page. The table shows:

  • Original URL - The URL being redirected
  • New URL - The destination URL
  • Management options (edit/delete)

Can I edit or delete a redirect?

Yes! From the redirects table, you can:

  • Edit existing redirects to change the destination
  • Delete redirects that are no longer needed

What happens if I delete a redirect?

When you delete a redirect, visitors going to the original URL will see a 404 error page instead of being redirected. Only delete redirects when you're certain they're no longer needed.

Why are 301 redirects important for SEO?

301 redirects are crucial for SEO because they:

  • Transfer link equity (ranking power) from the old URL to the new URL
  • Prevent 404 errors that hurt user experience and SEO
  • Maintain your search engine rankings when URLs change
  • Preserve traffic from external links pointing to old URLs
  • Help search engines understand your site structure changes

Common use cases for 301 redirects

  • URL structure changes - When reorganizing your site navigation
  • Deleted pages - Redirect old content to relevant existing pages
  • Rebranded products - Update old product names to new ones
  • Merged content - Combine multiple pages into one comprehensive resource
  • HTTPS migration - Redirect HTTP to HTTPS versions (though this is typically handled automatically)
  • Domain changes - When moving to a new domain name

Best practices for 301 redirects

  • Redirect to relevant content - Always redirect to the most relevant page possible, not just your homepage
  • Test your redirects - Visit the old URL to verify it redirects correctly
  • Keep redirects simple - Avoid redirect chains (A → B → C); redirect directly to the final destination
  • Document your redirects - Keep track of why redirects were created for future reference
  • Regular maintenance - Periodically review and clean up unnecessary redirects

How do I test if my redirect is working?

  1. Open an incognito/private browser window
  2. Type in the old URL
  3. Verify you're automatically redirected to the correct new URL
  4. Check that the new URL displays in your browser's address bar

Can I have multiple redirects for the same original URL?

No, each original URL can only have one active redirect. If you create a new redirect for a URL that already has one, the new redirect will replace the old one.

What's the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

  • 301 Redirect - Permanent redirect that transfers SEO value (what CMS Max uses)
  • 302 Redirect - Temporary redirect that does not transfer full SEO value

CMS Max uses 301 redirects because they're best for most scenarios, especially when permanently moving or consolidating content.

Do redirects slow down my website?

Properly configured 301 redirects have minimal impact on site speed. However, avoid creating redirect chains where possible, as multiple sequential redirects can add latency.

Need help with redirects?

If you have questions about setting up redirects for specific scenarios, contact our support team for personalized assistance.

Remember: Always install the SEO Max plugin first to access the 301 Redirects feature!

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