A 301 redirect is an HTTP status code that permanently redirects one URL to another. When a user or search engine visits the old URL, they are automatically sent to the new URL. It's one of the most important tools for managing URL changes while preserving your website's search engine ranking and user traffic.
Whether you're migrating your website, reorganizing content, or fixing broken links, understanding how 301 redirects work is crucial for maintaining your SEO rankings, affiliate tracking accuracy, and overall user experience. A properly implemented 301 redirect checker helps you verify that all your redirects are working as expected.
A 301 redirect tells both browsers and search engines that a page has permanently moved. This is different from a 302 (temporary) redirect. For SEO purposes, always use 301 redirects when permanently moving content.
Verify that redirects preserve your page rankings and prevent losing search traffic during migrations.
Ensure affiliate links and tracking parameters pass through redirect chains without breaking.
Confirm visitors reach the correct destination and reduce bounce rates from broken links.
Identify redirect loops, chains, and broken redirects before they harm your site.
Copy the URL you want to check (the old URL that should redirect) and paste it into RedirectChecker by PerkPilot.
The tool will analyze the URL and trace the complete redirect path. It typically takes 1-2 seconds.
View each step of the redirect, including HTTP status codes (301, 302, 200) and response times.
Confirm the final URL is correct. The final status code should be 200 (OK) for a successful redirect.
Ensure you're using 301 for permanent redirects, not 302 or other temporary codes.
If you find redirect chains, loops, or incorrect status codes, update your server configuration.
Pro Tip: When testing redirects, always check for the presence of query parameters and fragments. A properly implemented redirect should preserve these in the final URL.
A redirect chain occurs when one redirect points to another, which points to another, and so on. While a single redirect is harmless, multiple redirects in a chain can significantly impact performance and user experience.
Problem:
302 redirects tell search engines the change is temporary, so they keep ranking your old URL instead of the new one.
Solution:
Always use 301 for permanent URL changes. Only use 302 when the redirect is genuinely temporary.
Problem:
Multiple redirects in a sequence waste crawl budget, slow down pages, and leak link equity.
Solution:
Always redirect directly to the final destination, not to intermediate pages that themselves redirect.
Problem:
A page redirects to itself or creates a circular pattern, making the page inaccessible.
Solution:
Test your redirects with a 301 redirect checker before deploying to identify loops.
Problem:
Redirecting http → https → www or similar creates unnecessary redirect chains.
Solution:
Configure your server to redirect directly to the final HTTPS + www destination.
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301 redirects are permanent and pass all link equity to the new URL, while 302 redirects are temporary and tell search engines to keep indexing the original URL. Always use 301 for permanent URL changes.
Yes, but not negatively if implemented correctly. A single 301 redirect preserves your SEO value. However, multiple redirect chains or using 302 instead of 301 can harm your rankings.
Check redirects after any major site changes, migrations, or when updating internal links. We recommend doing a quarterly audit to catch any broken redirects.
Use RedirectChecker to test the URL. You should see a 301 status code on the first step and a 200 status code on the final destination. The final URL should match where you intended to redirect.
A redirect chain occurs when one redirect points to another. While harmless in small numbers, chains slow down pages and waste crawl budget. Always redirect directly to the final destination.
A redirect loop happens when a page redirects to itself. Check your server configuration to ensure the redirect points to a different URL. Use RedirectChecker to identify loops.
