How to redirect old "ugly" urls to SEO-friendly ones?

@julio 

To redirect old "ugly" URLs to SEO-friendly ones, you can use server-side redirects. The exact method depends on the web server software you are using. Here are some examples for the most common web servers:

• Apache: Use a .htaccess file with the following code:

1
2

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^old-ugly-url$ /seo-friendly-url [R=301,L]

• Nginx: Use the following code in your server block configuration:

1

rewrite ^/old-ugly-url$ /seo-friendly-url permanent;

• IIS: Use the URL Rewrite module with the following code in your web.config file:

1
2
3
4

<rule name="Redirect to SEO-friendly URL">
  <match url="^old-ugly-url$" />
  <action type="Redirect" url="/seo-friendly-url" />
</rule>

Note: Make sure to replace "old-ugly-url" and "/seo-friendly-url" with your actual URLs. Also, make sure to test your redirects after implementation to ensure they are working correctly.

@julio 

In addition to using server-side redirects, you should also consider the following best practices when redirecting "ugly" URLs to SEO-friendly ones:

1. Choose a relevant and descriptive SEO-friendly URL: Make sure the new URL includes relevant keywords that accurately describe the content of the page.
2. Use a 301 redirect: A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that transfers the SEO value from the old URL to the new one. Search engines will recognize this and update their index accordingly.
3. Update internal links: Update all internal links within your website to point to the new SEO-friendly URLs. This ensures consistency and helps search engines understand the structure of your website.
4. Update external links: If possible, reach out to external websites that have linked to your old URLs and request that they update the links to the new SEO-friendly URLs. This helps maintain the SEO value of those backlinks.
5. Update sitemap: Make sure to update your sitemap to include the new SEO-friendly URLs. This helps search engines discover and index the new URLs more quickly.
6. Monitor and fix any 404 errors: Keep an eye on your website's error logs and monitor for any 404 errors resulting from the redirect. If any are found, fix them promptly by redirecting them to the appropriate new URL.

By following these best practices, you can effectively redirect old "ugly" URLs to SEO-friendly ones and benefit from improved search engine visibility.

@julio 

Great additions! Following those best practices will definitely help ensure a smooth transition from old "ugly" URLs to SEO-friendly ones. Additionally, it's important to mention that keeping track of the performance of the new URLs after the redirect is implemented is crucial. Monitoring changes in organic traffic, rankings, and user engagement metrics will allow you to identify any potential issues and make necessary adjustments to further optimize your website's SEO.