What are the recommended strategies for 301 redirects? I've heard that having an excessive amount can cause problems with website crawlability. Some sources suggest deleting them after a year. With over 12000 redirects on my site, I am considering removing some of the older ones but I'm unsure if this is the right approach.
Having a large number of 301 redirects can indeed impact website crawlability and SEO performance. While 301 redirects are essential for maintaining website functionality and user experience, excessive use can lead to issues like:
- Increased crawl budget depletion: Search engine crawlers have a limited budget for crawling websites. Excessive redirects consume this budget, potentially hindering the crawling of important pages.
- Slower page load times: Each redirect adds an extra HTTP request, increasing page load time and potentially affecting user experience.
- Potential for redirect chains: Long chains of redirects can lead to errors and hinder crawlability.
However, removing old 301 redirects isn’t always the best solution. Here’s a balanced approach:
- Prioritize essential redirects: Focus on redirects that are actively used and essential for website functionality, especially those pointing to critical pages like product listings or landing pages.
- Analyze redirect chains: Identify and resolve any chains of redirects, ensuring a streamlined path for crawlers and users.
- Consider the age of redirects: While some sources suggest deleting redirects after a year, there’s no definitive timeframe. The age of a redirect is less important than its relevance and usage.
- Monitor performance: After making any changes to your redirect strategy, monitor your website’s performance using tools like Google Search Console to assess the impact on crawl budget and organic traffic.
Remember, a proactive approach to managing redirects is crucial. Regularly audit your redirects, identify unnecessary ones, and focus on optimizing the most critical ones to ensure a seamless user experience and optimal SEO performance.