Redirect Management Guide

Master URL redirect management to maintain SEO rankings, improve user experience, and handle site restructuring. This guide covers both simple and advanced redirect strategies for Site Admins and Root Admins.

Redirects are essential for:

• SEO Preservation: Maintain search engine rankings when URLs change
• User Experience: Prevent visitors from hitting 404 error pages
• Link Equity: Transfer authority from old URLs to new ones
• Site Restructuring: Safely reorganize content without losing traffic
• Marketing Campaigns: Create clean, memorable URLs for campaigns
• Analytics: Preserve UTM tracking parameters during redirects

The system supports two types of redirects:

• Exact Redirects:
  • Simple path-to-path redirects
  • Example: /old-page → /new-page
  • Fast performance (O(1) lookup)
  • Best for individual page redirects

• Pattern Redirects: - Use regex patterns for bulk redirects - Example: /blogs/(.*) → /posts/$1 - Powerful for site restructuring - Support capture groups and variables

To create a basic redirect:

1. Access Redirects Editor: User Menu → "Redirects Editor"
2. Click "New Redirect"
3. Configure the Redirect:
4. Source Path: The old URL (e.g., /old-page)
5. Destination Path: The new URL (e.g., /new-page)
6. Redirect Type: Select "Exact"
7. Status Code: Usually 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary)
8. Save and Test: Verify the redirect works correctly

Pattern redirects use regex for powerful bulk redirects:

• Basic Pattern: /blog/(.*) → /news/$1
• Multiple Captures: /([^/]+)/([^/]+) → /new/$1/$2
• Optional Segments: /products/([^/]+)/? → /items/$1

Examples:

• /blog/my-post → /news/my-post
• /category/product → /new/category/product
• /products/widget/ → /items/widget

The system includes robust security protections:

• Circular Redirect Detection:
  • Prevents infinite redirect loops
  • Detects complex redirect chains (A → B → C → A)
  • Shows detailed error messages for cycles

• ReDoS Protection: - 100ms timeout limit for regex processing - Pattern length limits (500 characters) - Capture group limits (10 groups maximum)

• Rate Limiting: 100 pattern redirects per minute per IP
• Query String Preservation: UTM codes and tracking parameters are maintained

Follow these best practices for effective redirect management:

• Use 301 for Permanent: When content has permanently moved
• Use 302 for Temporary: For temporary moves or testing
• Avoid Redirect Chains: Redirect directly to final destination
• Test Thoroughly: Verify redirects work with various URL formats
• Monitor Performance: Watch for slow pattern redirects
• Document Changes: Keep records of major URL restructuring
• Preserve Parameters: Ensure UTM codes and tracking are maintained

Typical redirect scenarios:

• Page Restructuring: /services/roofing → /roofing-services
• Blog Migration: /blog/(.*) → /news/$1
• Category Changes: /old-category/(.*) → /new-category/$1
• Domain Changes: External redirects to new domains
• Campaign URLs: /promo → /special-offer
• Mobile URLs: /m/(.*) → /$1

Common issues and solutions:

• Redirect Not Working:
  • Check if redirect is active
  • Verify source path matches exactly
  • Clear browser cache

• Circular Redirect Error: - Review redirect chain - Ensure destination doesn't redirect back

• Pattern Not Matching: - Test regex pattern separately - Check for special characters - Verify capture group syntax

• Performance Issues: - Simplify complex patterns - Use exact redirects when possible