What Is An HTML Redirect?
An HTML redirect, also called a meta redirect or a meta refresh redirect, tells the customer’s net browser to ship customers from one webpage to a different.
HTML redirects can both be instantaneous or delayed.
On the spot redirects occur instantly. Delayed redirects occur after a selected variety of seconds (set by the web site proprietor).
Right here’s the way it works:
- A consumer lands on a webpage with a meta redirect
- The redirect is triggered in one among two methods:
- If the redirect is instantaneous, the consumer is shipped to the brand new web page as quickly because the HTML of the present web page masses
- If the redirect is delayed, the consumer is shipped to the brand new web page after the HTML masses and the set period of time has handed
- The redirect happens, and the consumer is now on the brand new web page and might proceed their journey
Why Use an HTML Redirect
HTML redirects may be handy to implement since they’re set inside the HTML of a webpage. You don’t want entry to server recordsdata—just like the .htaccess file—to implement one.
They are often helpful if you’re doing upkeep on a web page and must redirect customers to a brief web page. Or if you now not need to use a web page and must ship customers some other place completely.
Different kinds of redirects—like server-side redirects—could require you to entry your server recordsdata. Which may be difficult (though plugins usually make this a lot simpler).
Though HTML redirects may be handy, there are just a few causes to keep away from them:
- They may not work correctly on older browsers and result in a poor consumer expertise
- Because the HTML of the outdated web page must load earlier than the redirect happens, they are often gradual and irritating to customers
- They don’t move alongside as a lot hyperlink fairness (from the unique web page) as different kinds of redirects which might have an effect on your website positioning
- Delayed HTML redirects can current accessibility points for folks with display readers or people who find themselves unable to learn textual content rapidly
- Because you want the HTML of the primary web page, you possibly can’t completely delete any of the pages you need to redirect and should maintain them up and operating. This isn’t ultimate if you wish to reorganize your website’s construction.
The best way to Redirect a Web page to One other Web page in HTML
So as to add a redirection in your HTML, paste the beneath code into the <head> part of the web page you need to redirect (and change the URL worth):
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content material="3; URL=https://www.yoururl.com/newpage" />
On this code:
- http-equiv=“refresh” tells the browser to redirect the web page
- content material=“3; tells the browser what number of seconds to attend earlier than refreshing the web page. On this instance, it’s three seconds. To make it an instantaneous redirect, set it to “0.”
- URL=“URL=https://www.yoururl.com/newpage” tells the browser which URL to ship customers to
Simply ensure you’re cautious when selecting between an instantaneous and a delayed redirect. Google interprets instantaneous redirects as everlasting (which means you don’t plan to make use of the redirected web page once more) and delayed redirects as non permanent.
HTML Redirect Greatest Practices and Examples
1. Keep away from Redirecting to Redirected Pages
Redirecting to a web page that already has a redirect is called a redirect chain.
Think about you land on a web site, and shortly after getting there, it redirects you to a brand new web page. After which that web page redirects you to a brand new web page …
Sounds irritating, proper?
Not solely is that this annoying for customers, it’s additionally dangerous in your website positioning.
You’ll be able to simply keep away from redirect chains—and maintain customers completely happy—by sending site visitors to pages that don’t have any redirects configured.
2. Redirect to a Related Web page
When attainable, ship customers to a related web page to lower the prospect of them leaving your website altogether.
Customers land in your web page as a result of they’ve a necessity.
Possibly they need to be taught extra about your enterprise, contact you, or make a purchase order.
Attempt to decide that want and redirect customers to an identical web page.
For instance, let’s say you promote sneakers and have a product web page for purple sneakers. Someday, you promote out of purple sneakers and must direct site visitors elsewhere briefly.
Which product web page makes extra sense: one other sneaker web page or a web page for high-heels? Most likely the sneaker web page.
By sending site visitors to a related web page, you’re assembly customers the place they’re to allow them to proceed their journey.
3. Inform Customers Why You’re Redirecting Them
While you set a redirect in HTML, your HTML must load earlier than the redirect happens.
Even in the event you set an instantaneous redirect, in case your consumer’s web is gradual, they may nonetheless see a portion of the preliminary web page earlier than they’re redirected.
As an alternative of exhibiting them a clean web page, add a blurb in order that they know why you’re redirecting them.
Simply make certain the copy you embrace on the web page is brief and simple to learn. Purpose for 20 phrases or fewer. This fashion, customers can rapidly learn concerning the redirection earlier than it occurs.
4. Embody a Hyperlink to the New Web page
Older browsers could not help HTML redirects, which suggests if somebody lands in your web page, they gained’t get redirected to the brand new one.
Whether or not your redirect is delayed or instantaneous, embrace a hyperlink to the brand new web page so customers can click on onward if the redirect doesn’t work.
This fashion, you don’t want to fret about dropping any site visitors and might guarantee guests find yourself on the proper spot.
5. Guarantee Delayed Redirects Are Timed Correctly
Be certain your redirects aren’t too lengthy or too quick. 5 seconds is normally adequate.
If a delayed redirect takes too lengthy, you threat customers bouncing—and people customers could by no means find yourself in your website once more.
And if customers need to learn a message, however the redirect is just too quick, they could really feel simply as pissed off.
Check your delayed redirect to verify it’s not too lengthy—or quick.
Higher Options to HTML Redirects
301 and 302 redirects are quicker than HTML redirects, are much less more likely to harm your website positioning, and have much less affect on the consumer expertise in your website.
Right here’s when to make use of each:
301 Redirects
301 redirects are everlasting redirects that inform serps you’ve moved content material to a brand new URL.
Use these if you:
- Wish to direct customers from HTTP to HTTPS
- Merge two pages collectively
- Delete a web page and change it with one thing else
With a 301 redirect, you’re telling serps the outdated web page now not exists.
This fashion, you move on a lot of the hyperlink fairness from the outdated web page to the brand new web page. And serps know to replace the outdated hyperlink with the brand new one within the search outcomes.
302 Redirects
302 redirects are non permanent redirects.
They’re helpful if you could redirect customers for a sure time frame. Like when you could carry out web page updates or need to run an A/B check.
For instance, you possibly can implement a 302 redirect for a touchdown web page to check which call-to-action copy ends in extra conversions.
Nevertheless, as a result of 302 redirects are solely non permanent, serps could not replace the search outcomes with the brand new hyperlink.
This implies you could maintain observe of your 302 redirects and take away them if you now not want them.
The best way to Audit Your Redirects
In case your website has redirects, you’ll desire a fuss-free solution to audit them and ensure they’re working as supposed.
You’ll be able to maintain a spreadsheet, however spreadsheets may be tedious to handle.
Plus, in the event you overlook so as to add a redirect to your sheet, you would possibly overlook about it (and overlook to take away it if wanted).
A better approach is to make use of Semrush’s Website Audit software.
To start out, go to “Website Audit” and arrange a brand new venture or click on on the present venture you’d wish to determine the redirects for.
Then, click on the quantity beside “Redirects.”
Right here, you’ll see a listing of the redirects in your website, the place you can also make positive every web page has the correct kind of redirect.
This report additionally helps you notice redirect chains.
Right here’s how.
Below “Points” seek for “redirect chain.”
Click on on “# redirect chains and loops.”
Use this report back to determine—after which repair—pages with a number of redirects to present customers a greater expertise in your website.
Utilizing Semrush’s Website Audit software, you may be assured that customers all the time find yourself the place they’re purported to, with none trouble.
