Changing or deleting URLs on your Blogger site can cause visitors to land on missing pages (404 errors). These errors not only hurt your user experience but also affect your SEO rankings. To fix this, Blogger offers a built-in feature called Custom Redirects that lets you easily redirect old URLs to new ones using either 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary) redirects.
What Are Custom Redirects in Blogger?
Custom redirects tell search engines and visitors where to go when a page is moved, renamed, or removed. Instead of showing a "Page Not Found" error, Blogger sends users to the correct URL. This helps:
- Keep your visitors engaged by avoiding dead links.
- Maintain your SEO rankings by transferring link authority.
- Improve site navigation when reorganizing your content.
Types of Redirects: 301 vs 302
There are two common redirect types supported in Blogger:
- 301 Redirect (Moved Permanently): Best for permanent URL changes. It passes almost all SEO value to the new page.
- 302 Redirect (Found/Temporary): Used when the change is temporary, such as during a maintenance update or seasonal campaign.
Why Are Redirects Important for SEO?
When search engines crawl your website, they use links to understand your content structure. If a link leads to a 404 error, it creates a bad user experience and can cause you to lose ranking power. A properly implemented redirect:
- Prevents crawl errors in Google Search Console.
- Transfers link equity (PageRank) to the new page.
- Helps Google reindex your updated URLs faster.
How to Add Custom Redirects in Blogger
Follow these steps to set up a custom redirect in your Blogger dashboard:
- Log in to your Blogger dashboard.
- Go to Settings → Errors and Redirects → Custom Redirects.
- Click “Add”.
- Enter the old URL path (e.g.,
/old-post.html). - Enter the new URL path (e.g.,
/new-post.html). - Check Permanent (301) if the change is permanent.
- Click Save and then Save changes.
Note: Only use the path, not the full domain (e.g., do not include https://yourblog.com).
Practical Use Cases for Blogger Redirects
- Renaming a blog post URL for better SEO.
- Migrating from old labels to new categories.
- Deleting outdated content and pointing it to a related page.
- Fixing broken internal links detected in Google Search Console.
Best Practices for Blogger Custom Redirects
- Always use 301 for permanent changes to keep SEO value.
- Avoid redirect chains (e.g., A → B → C). Redirect A directly to C.
- Do not redirect all 404 pages to the homepage (Google treats it as a soft 404).
- Update internal links after creating redirects to keep your blog clean.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using 302 redirects when you mean 301.
- Not submitting your sitemap after major URL changes.
- Creating too many redirects, which can slow down crawling.
FAQs About Blogger Redirects
1. Do custom redirects hurt my SEO?
No, they protect your SEO if used correctly. 301 redirects transfer most of your page authority.
2. Can I redirect an external URL to my Blogger post?
No, Blogger custom redirects only work within your blog domain.
3. How many redirects can I add?
Blogger allows multiple redirects, but keep them organized and avoid excessive use.
4. Should I use 301 or 302?
Use 301 for permanent moves. Only use 302 when the change is temporary.
5. Do I need to resubmit my sitemap?
Yes, if you have made several changes, resubmitting helps Google index them faster.
Final Thoughts
Setting up custom redirects in Blogger is a small but powerful SEO practice. It keeps your visitors on your site, transfers valuable link authority, and prevents 404 errors. Whether you’re rebranding, optimizing URLs for SEO, or cleaning up your blog structure, redirects should be part of your maintenance checklist.
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