Question: How do you set up a 301 redirect in Wix?

Setting up a 301 redirect in Wix is essential for maintaining SEO performance when URLs change. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another, helping you guide visitors and search engines to a new URL instead of the old one, which might no longer exist.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up 301 Redirects in Wix

1. Log In to Your Wix Account: Go to Wix.com and sign in with your credentials.

2. Access the Site Manager: From your site's dashboard, find the 'Site Actions' dropdown and choose 'Manage Site'.

3. Open the SEO Tools Section: Inside the Site Manager, navigate to the 'Marketing & SEO' tab and select 'SEO Tools'.

4. Go to URL Redirect Manager: Scroll down until you find the 'URL Redirect Manager' and click on it. This area allows you to manage all your redirects.

5. Add New Redirect:

   • Click on '+ New Redirect'.
   • In the 'Old URL' field, input the URL path you want to redirect from (excluding the domain name). For example, /old-page.
   • In the 'New URL' field, enter the full URL where visitors should be redirected to, including the http:// or https://. For example, https://www.example.com/new-page.
   • Ensure that the status code is set to 301, indicating a permanent redirect.

6. Save Your Redirect: After entering the details, click 'Save'. The new redirect will be active immediately.

7. Test Your Redirect: It’s important to test the redirect by visiting the old URL and checking if it correctly redirects to the new destination without any issues.

Common Issues and Tips

• Relative vs. Absolute URLs: Make sure that the old URL is relative (just the path) and the new URL is absolute (the full URL).
• Redirect Chains: Avoid creating chains of redirects as they can slow down site loading times and reduce SEO effectiveness.
• Regular Review: Regularly review and update your redirects to ensure they are still necessary and correct, especially after major site updates.

By properly managing 301 redirects, you maintain your SEO ranking and provide a better user experience by seamlessly directing users and search engines to the right pages.