Overview
This article helps you understand how to set up redirects in Access Volcanic to maintain SEO rankings and provide a seamless user experience when URLs change. Redirects ensure users and search engines are directed to the correct content, preventing 404 errors and preserving your website's search performance.
Key Benefits
Some benefits of using redirects are:
Preserve SEO Value: Maintain search engine rankings when moving or restructuring content.
Improve User Experience: Prevent visitors from encountering broken links and 404 errors.
Maintain Link Equity: Transfer the SEO value from old URLs to new ones automatically.
Professional Website Management: Show search engines and users that your website is well-maintained.
🤓 Tip: Set up redirects before making significant changes to your website structure to avoid any negative SEO impact.
Types of Redirects
There are three main types of redirects you can set up for your website:
Individual redirects: Set up single page redirects for moved or removed content
Bulk redirects: Upload multiple redirects at once using a CSV file for large-scale changes
Domain redirects: Redirect entire domains through your domain provider when migrating websites
📌 Note: Click on the sections below to expand detailed guidance for each redirect type.
Individual redirects
Individual redirects
Set up single page redirects (also known as 301 redirects) when moving pages, removing content, fixing broken links, or consolidating similar pages to preserve SEO value and user experience.
Watch our video
How to create an individual redirect:
Log in to your Access Volcanic admin area
Select the Your Website tab
Under SEO Area, click Redirects
Click the green New button
Add the Source: The page you're redirecting users from
Add the Destination: The page you're directing users to
Click Submit to save changes
Source setup
Format the source URL or link correctly:
Remove the domain from the beginning to leave just the path and slugs
Example: Instead of https://www.example.com/jobs add /jobs
Destination Setup
You have two options for setting up the destination:
Option 1: Page selection | Option 2: Destination URL field |
Use the Page dropdown to select a custom page from your website. | Use the Destination field to add a URL or link |
Best for redirecting to existing custom pages within your site. 📌Note: For non-custom pages, such as blogs, you'll need to use the Destination URL field. | Can be used for all pages and external pages e.g. your homepage. 📌Note: Include the full URL for external links. |
Example: Your About Us page. | Example: https://www.google.com/ |
Bulk redirects
Bulk redirects
Upload multiple redirects at once using a CSV file, ideal for large website restructures or migrations.
When to use:
Moving multiple pages during a website redesign
Migrating from an old website structure
Consolidating multiple old URLs
Large-scale content reorganisation
Step 1: Create a Redirect File
File format requirements:
Create an Excel document with two columns
Add column headings: source and destination
Fill in your redirects following the format below
Save as .csv UTF-8 format to ensure proper character encoding
Example redirect file:
source | destination |
source | destination |
/sectors/construction | /disciplines/construction |
/old-about-page | /about |
📌Note: Use the bulk redirect template provided to help you make a start.
Source formatting:
Remove the domain at the beginning (e.g., /blog)
Include only the permalink
Destination formatting:
For internal links: Use the relative path (e.g., /about-us/our-values)
For external links: Include the full URL (e.g. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/)
Step 2: Submit Your Redirect File
Bulk redirect files must be uploaded by our Support Team. To submit your file:
How to contact Support:
Create your CSV file following the format above
Contact our Support team via the Digital Assistant in your admin area
Provide your redirect file to the Support team
Wait for confirmation that the redirects have been implemented
⚠️ Important: Quality-check all redirects before submission. Once uploaded, bulk redirects cannot be undone or removed in bulk.
📌Before submitting your file:
Ensure all source URLs are correctly formatted
Verify destination URLs are accessible
Follow the specified format exactly to avoid delays, as incorrect formatting can cause the upload to fail.
Check for duplicate entries
Test a few redirects manually, if possible
Keep a backup copy of your file
Domain redirects
Domain redirects
Redirect an entire domain to your new Access Volcanic website when migrating from an old domain or consolidating multiple domains.
How it works:
Domain redirects are set up through your domain provider, not within Access Volcanic. Your domain provider manages the DNS settings that control where your domain points.
Basic setup:
Contact your domain provider (GoDaddy, 123 Reg, Namecheap, etc.)
Request domain forwarding or redirect services
Provide your new Access Volcanic website URL as the destination
📌 Note: Each domain provider has different processes and terminology. Check your provider's documentation or contact their support team for specific guidance.
Best practices
Follow these guidelines to ensure your redirects work effectively:
Dos and Don'ts
✅Do | ❌Don't |
Audit your website to identify important pages before implementing redirects | Use redirects to hide broken links without fixing the underlying issue |
Map old URLs to new URLs carefully and document your redirect plan | Create redirect chains (redirecting to a page that redirects again) |
Fix broken links directly when possible rather than adding redirects | Redirect to irrelevant content - choose the most relevant destination |
Use 301 redirects for permanent moves to preserve SEO value | Forget to test redirects before going live |
Prioritise high-traffic pages and important content first | Leave redirects in place indefinitely without reviewing them |
Use redirects as temporary solutions while fixing underlying issues | Keep redirect paths longer than necessary |
Regularly review and clean up unnecessary redirects | Ignore redirect performance: monitor using analytics tools |
⚠️ Important: Redirects are permanent changes that affect your website's SEO and user experience. Plan carefully before implementation.
FAQs
Q1: What's the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
Answer: Access Volcanic uses 301 redirects, which are permanent redirects that tell search engines to transfer SEO value from the old URL to the new one. 302 redirects are temporary and don't transfer SEO value, so they're not recommended for permanent content moves.
Q2: How long do redirects take to work?
Answer: Individual redirects work immediately after saving. However, it may take up to 2 hours for website caches to refresh. Bulk redirects require manual processing by our Support team and timing depends on the queue.
Q3: Can I edit or delete a redirect after it's created?
Answer: Yes, individual redirects can be edited or deleted through the Redirects area in your admin panel. Bulk redirects require a Support case to modify or remove.
Q4: How many redirects can I create?
Answer: There's no specific limit on individual redirects, but large numbers may affect website performance. For extensive redirect needs, consider bulk redirects or contact Support for guidance.
Q5: Do redirects affect my website's loading speed?
Answer: Redirects add a small amount of processing time, but properly configured redirects shouldn't significantly impact performance. Avoid redirect chains for optimal speed.
Q6: Can I redirect to external websites?
Answer: Yes, you can redirect to external websites using the Destination field with the full URL including http/https. This is useful for moving content to partner sites or new platforms.
Q7: What happens to my SEO rankings when I use redirects?
Answer: 301 redirects transfer most SEO value from the old URL to the new one. While there may be a small temporary impact, properly implemented redirects maintain most of your search engine rankings.
Q8: How do I know if my redirects are working correctly?
Answer: Test redirects by visiting the old URL and confirming it takes you to the correct destination. You can also use browser developer tools to check the HTTP status codes.
Q9: Can I set up redirects for pages that don't exist yet?
Answer: It's better to wait until the destination page exists before creating redirects. If you must set up redirects in advance, ensure the destination page will be available when the redirect goes live.
Q10: What should I do if I have hundreds of redirects to set up?
Answer: Use the bulk redirect feature by creating a CSV file and submitting it through a Support case. This is much more efficient than creating individual redirects for large-scale changes.
Q11: Do I need redirects when I delete a page?
Answer: Yes, especially if the page had incoming links or search engine visibility. Redirect deleted pages to the most relevant existing content to maintain user experience and SEO value.
Q12: How do I handle redirects when redesigning my entire website?
Answer: Plan your redirect strategy before launching the new site. Create a comprehensive mapping of old URLs to new URLs, then implement using bulk redirects. Consider keeping a backup of your redirect list for future reference.
Q13: My redirect isn't working - what should I check?
Answer: If your redirect isn't functioning, check the source URL formatting (ensure no domain is included), verify the destination URL loads correctly, clear your browser cache, wait 2 hours for cache refresh, then test again. Contact Support if the issue persists.
Q14: Users are still seeing 404 errors after I set up a redirect - why?
Answer: If users see 404 pages after setting up redirects, verify the destination page exists and is published, check for typos in the destination URL, ensure the destination page isn't hidden or restricted, and test the redirect using an incognito/private browser window.
Q15: My redirect is causing an endless loop - how do I fix this?
Answer: Redirect loops occur when pages redirect to each other in a circle. Check for circular redirects (A redirects to B, B redirects to A), review all related redirects to identify conflicts, remove conflicting redirects immediately, and contact Support for assistance with complex redirect issues.
Q16: Can Access Volcanic Support help with domain redirects?
Answer: While Access Volcanic Support can provide basic guidance on domain redirects, we highly recommend contacting your domain provider directly and using their resources, as they are the experts in managing DNS settings and domain forwarding. Your domain provider will have the most accurate and up-to-date instructions for their specific platform.