How to manage 404 and 301 redirects in ExpressionEngine?

@hanna 

Managing 404 and 301 redirects in ExpressionEngine involves a few steps to ensure your website maintains proper navigation and SEO integrity. Here's a guide to help you manage these redirects:

404 Errors

1. Custom 404 Template: First, ensure you have a custom 404 error template set up. This can provide a better user experience by guiding users back to the main site or suggesting similar pages. In your ExpressionEngine Control Panel, create a template specifically for 404 errors. Use the {redirect='404'} tag in your config to point to this custom 404 template.
2. Monitor 404 Errors: Use tools like Google Search Console or server logs to monitor 404 errors. These tools can give you reports on pages that result in 404 errors. Regularly check these reports to identify problematic URLs.

301 Redirects

1. Using .htaccess: For Apache servers, you can manage 301 redirects using the .htaccess file. Add redirect rules in the following format: Redirect 301 /old-page.html /new-page.html
2. Using ExpressionEngine Add-ons: Consider using add-ons like Structure or Redirector that provide user-friendly interfaces to manage redirects within ExpressionEngine. These tools can help automate and simplify the process. Install the add-on and set up the redirects in the add-on’s interface.
3. PHP Redirects: If needed, you can manage redirects using PHP within your template files. Make sure to use a correct status code for 301 redirects. Example code:
4. ExpressionEngine Extensions: Some developers might build custom extensions for more advanced use cases. If your site has specific redirect requirements, working with a developer to create a custom solution might be appropriate.

Best Practices

• Update Internal Links: Always update internal links to reflect new URLs when implementing 301 redirects to maintain SEO value and avoid redirect chains.
• Test Redirects: After setting up redirects, test them to ensure they work correctly using browser tools or online tools like redirect-checker.org.
• Limit Redirect Chains: Avoid multiple successive redirects as they can decrease performance and have a negative impact on SEO.

By effectively managing 404 and 301 redirects, you can ensure better user experience and maintain the SEO value of your ExpressionEngine site.