Page With Redirect Report in Google Search Console

Google Search Console's "Page with Redirect" report is a powerful tool for managing your website's SEO health. Here's what you need to know:

It shows all pages on your site that redirect elsewhere
Helps identify potential SEO issues like redirect chains and loops
Impacts how Google crawls and indexes your site

Key takeaways:

Use 301 redirects for permanent changes to preserve SEO value
Avoid redirect chains - they slow down your site and weaken link equity
Regularly audit your redirects to catch and fix issues early
Keep an eye on your crawl budget - efficient redirects help Google index your site better
Aim for a simple redirect structure to boost site performance

Important: Redirects are necessary for site changes, but they need careful management to avoid SEO penalties and slow loading times.

By using this report and following best practices, you can ensure your redirects help, not hurt, your site's search engine performance and user experience.

How to Find and Read the Redirect Report

Finding and understanding the redirect report in Google Search Console (GSC) is key for keeping your site's SEO in check. Here's how to do it:

Finding the Report

To get to the redirect report in GSC:

Log into your GSC account
Go to "Index" in the left sidebar
Click "Pages"
Scroll to "Why pages aren't indexed"
Look for "Page with redirect"

This report shows all your site's pages that redirect elsewhere.

Understanding Report Data

The redirect report gives you:

A list of redirecting URLs
A graph showing redirect trends over time
Filters to sort URLs by folders or directories

Tip: Export the list as a spreadsheet for easier analysis.

Reading Report Warnings

GSC doesn't just list redirects. It flags potential issues:

Redirect Chains: Multiple redirects before the final URL
Redirect Loops: URLs redirecting in circles
Incorrect Redirects: Pages redirecting to irrelevant or non-existent URLs

But remember, not all redirects are bad. As one Google Search Central Community member puts it:

"You shouldn't think of 'Page with redirect' as a 'error message'."

It's how you use redirects, not just having them, that affects SEO.

Want more details on a specific URL? Use the URL Inspection Tool in GSC. Just enter the redirected URL and check the "Coverage" section.

How Redirects Affect SEO

Redirects can make or break your site's search performance. Here's how they impact your SEO:

Link Power Transfer

Think of redirects as digital traffic cops. They guide users and search engines from one URL to another. When done right, they keep your pages' SEO juice flowing.

301 redirects are the SEO champs. They tell search engines a page has moved for good, passing most of its ranking power to the new URL. Gary Illyes from Google even said, "30x redirects don't lose PageRank anymore." That means 301s can move almost all of a page's link equity.

But watch out for redirect chains. These happen when you have multiple redirects between the old and new URLs. Each extra hop can weaken the SEO value. To keep your link equity strong:

Use direct 301 redirects from old to new URLs
Check for and fix redirect chains regularly
Stick to one redirect max in a chain

Site Speed and Crawling

Redirects can slow down your site and mess with how search engines crawl your pages. Each redirect adds another step to load a page, potentially making your site sluggish.

Here's a key fact: Googlebot only follows up to 5 redirects before giving up. Too many redirect chains can keep some of your pages from getting indexed.

To keep things speedy and crawlable:

Use as few redirects as possible
Fix redirect chains regularly
Map URLs correctly when updating content to avoid new chains

User Experience Effects

Redirects are often needed, but they can annoy users if not done well. Too many redirects can make pages load slowly, frustrating visitors and causing them to leave.

To keep users happy:

Use 301 redirects for permanent moves so users (and search engines) find the right content fast
Skip meta refresh redirects - they're bad for users and SEO
Check often for broken links or unnecessary redirects that slow things down

John Mueller from Google says:

"We can forward PageRank through 301 and 302 redirects."

So, when used right, redirects can keep your SEO value intact. But you need to use them smart and keep an eye on how they affect your site.

Finding and Fixing Redirect Problems

Spotting and solving redirect issues is key for a healthy website. Let's dive into some effective ways to do this.

Using URL Inspection

Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool is your go-to for quick checks. Here's how:

Log into Google Search Console
Type the URL you want to check in the top search bar
Hit "Inspect"
Check out the "Coverage" section in the results

If there's a redirect, you'll see where it's pointing. This tool is great for quick, single URL checks without crawling your whole site.

Finding Redirect Chains

Redirect chains can slow your site down. To spot them:

Use a crawler like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb
Crawl your entire site
Filter for "Redirection (3XX)" in the results
Look for URLs with multiple redirects

You might find something like olddomain.com/page1 → newdomain.com/page1 → newdomain.com/updated-page1. That's a chain you need to simplify.

Common Redirect Issues

Watch out for these frequent problems:

HTTP to HTTPS issues
WWW vs. non-WWW confusion
Trailing slash inconsistencies

Ryan Jones from Razorfish says:

"If you have redirect chains, simplify them. Update redirects to point straight to the final destination."

SEObot Page With Redirect Search tool

SEObot offers a free tool that helps you identify pages on your site that contain links with redirects. This useful crawler scans your website to locate any pages that have links redirecting to other URLs.

Key features:

Scans your entire website automatically
Identifies all pages containing redirected links
Shows both the original and redirect destination URLs
Helps you find and fix broken redirect chains

Using this tool, you can quickly discover any unintentional redirects in your site's links and fix them to point directly to the final destination URL.

Tips for Better Redirect Management

Managing redirects well is key for a healthy website and happy users. Here's how to handle redirects like a pro:

Basic Rules to Follow

When setting up redirects, remember these key points:

Use 301 redirects for permanent changes. They pass almost all link equity to the new URL. Gary Illyes from Google says, "30x redirects don't lose PageRank anymore."
Skip meta refreshes. They're slower and worse for SEO. Stick to server-side redirects.
Send users to relevant pages. Point to similar content. This keeps users happy and stops search engines from seeing your redirects as soft 404s.

Keep It Simple

Simple is best for redirect management. Here's how:

Cut out redirect chains. Use tools like Screaming Frog to find and fix them. Semrush says 8.58% of websites have these chains, which can hurt site speed and SEO.
Fix internal links. After setting up redirects, update your internal links to point straight to new URLs. This means fewer redirects and a faster site.
Use pattern matching for similar redirects. It makes future changes easier and cuts down on mistakes.

Check Regularly

Keep an eye on your redirects:

Set up routine checks. Review your redirects regularly to spot unnecessary ones and potential issues early.
Track with analytics. Use data to see which redirects are still needed and which you can remove.
Watch your crawl budget. John Mueller from Google says, "Consistency is key! Taking time to set up URL redirects right, even with thousands of them, pays off in the long run."

Summary

Managing redirects is key for a healthy website and good search engine performance. Google Search Console's "Page with Redirect" report helps spot and fix redirect issues that could hurt your site's visibility and user experience.

Here's what you need to know about managing redirects:

1. Use 301 redirects for permanent changes

These redirects pass almost all link equity to the new URL. Gary Illyes from Google says, "30x redirects don't lose PageRank anymore."

2. Avoid redirect chains

Chains can slow down your site and weaken link equity. Use tools like Screaming Frog to find and fix them. Semrush found that 8.58% of websites have redirect chains, which can hurt site speed and SEO.

3. Do regular audits

Check often to catch unnecessary redirects and potential issues early. This helps prevent SEO problems before they affect your rankings.

4. Keep an eye on crawl budget

John Mueller from Google says, "Consistency is key! Taking time to set up URL redirects right, even with thousands of them, pays off in the long run."

5. Keep your redirect structure simple

Aim for direct redirects from old URLs to their final destinations. This boosts site performance and keeps SEO value intact.

Redirects are often needed, especially during site changes or content updates. But they need careful handling. Too many or poorly done redirects can slow down your site, waste crawl budget, and even lead to search engine penalties.

FAQs

Which redirect is best for SEO?

The 301 redirect takes the crown for SEO. Here's why it's the go-to choice:

It's a permanent redirect that passes almost all link equity to the new URL. Google sees it as a clear sign that a page has moved for good. Plus, it's your best bet for keeping your SEO juice when you're moving content around.

Don't just take my word for it. Gary Illyes from Google dropped this bombshell: "30x redirects don't lose PageRank anymore." Translation? A 301 redirect can transfer pretty much all of a page's ranking power to its new home.

Does a redirect affect SEO?

Redirects are like a double-edged sword for SEO. Done right, they're harmless. Done wrong? That's when things get messy.

Here's the deal:

Good redirects keep your SEO value intact. It's like moving house without losing any of your stuff.
Bad redirects? They're SEO kryptonite. Think redirect chains or loops. They can tank your site's performance and SEO faster than you can say "404 error."
Speed matters. Too many redirects can slow your site down. And we all know Google isn't a fan of slow sites.

The folks at EverSpark Interactive put it best: "Redirects aren't inherently bad for SEO. But get them wrong, and you're in for a world of trouble."

So, what's the takeaway? Use redirects wisely. They're powerful tools when handled with care, but they can backfire if you're not careful.

Page With Redirect Report in Google Search Console