How to Redirect a WordPress Page (Simple)

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How to Redirect a WordPress Page (Simple)

If you have a WordPress website, there may come a time when you need to redirect a page. Whether you have changed URL structures, removed outdated content, or moved your website to a new domain, redirecting allows you to guide visitors to the correct page – ensuring a user-friendly experience.

This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Understanding Redirects

Before diving into the steps, it’s important to have a basic understanding of redirects. In essence, a redirect serves to send users and search engines to a different URL than the one they originally requested.

There are three main types of redirects:

  • 301 Redirect: Permanent redirects used to point one URL to another.
  • 302 Redirect: Temporary redirects used when content needs to temporarily live at a different URL.
  • Meta Refresh: Page-level redirect giving the visitor a message that they will be redirected.

Steps to Redirect a WordPress Page

Step 1: Install a Redirection Plugin

While WordPress comes with a myriad of functionalities, redirection isn’t one of them. Luckily, there are plenty of plugins available to assist with this. The one we’ll focus on in this guide is the Redirection plugin.

To install it:

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to ‘Plugins’ and select ‘Add New’.
  3. Search for ‘Redirection’ in the search bar.
  4. Click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’.

Step 2: Set up the Redirect

Now that the plugin is installed, it’s time to set up the redirect.

  1. Navigate to ‘Tools’ and select ‘Redirection’ from your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Click the ‘Add New’ button at the top of the page.
  3. Fill in the ‘Source URL’ box with the URL you want to redirect from.
  4. Fill in the ‘Target URL’ box with the URL you want to redirect to.
  5. From the dropdown menu, select ‘301 – Moved Permanently’.
  6. Click ‘Add Redirect’.

Manual Redirect through .htaccess

Another way to implement a redirect is through the .htaccess file located in your website’s root directory. Before attempting to modify your .htaccess file make sure you have a complete backup of your site. Mistakes can make your website inaccessible.

  1. Connect to your website using an FTP client.
  2. Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory.
  3. Download and open it with a text editor.
  4. To create a 301 redirect, add the following line of code at the end of the file:

“`
Redirect 301 /oldurl http://www.yourdomain.com/newurl
“`

  1. Replace ‘/oldurl’ with your old page’s path and replace ‘http://www.yourdomain.com/newurl’ with the new page’s URL.
  2. Save the file and upload it back to your web server.

Conclusion

Knowing how to redirect a WordPress page is an essential skill for any website owner. It’s a great way to preserve your site’s SEO rankings while updating content, removing pages or changing domain names.

Never forget that user experience is pivotal. Redirections assist in creating a smooth browsing experience.

For more information on managing your WordPress website, check out the full suite of WordPress services and resources available.

Finally, remember to keep your website, themes, and plugins updated to ensure they remain secure and perform at their best!

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