URL Redirects

Set up URL redirects to prevent broken links when you rename, move, or delete pages. Keep your SEO value and avoid frustrating visitors.

Where to find this: Dashboard → Website Builder → Settings (gear icon) → URL Redirects → View/Edit

Why redirects matter

When you change a page URL or delete a page, anyone with the old link gets a “Page Not Found” error. This includes:

• Google search results still pointing to old URLs
• Social media posts you’ve shared
• Backlinks from other websites
• Bookmarks parents have saved
• QR codes on printed materials

A redirect automatically sends visitors from the old URL to the new one - no broken links, no lost traffic.

SEO impact: Broken links hurt your search rankings. Google sees 404 errors as a sign of poor site maintenance. Redirects preserve your SEO value by telling Google “this page moved here.”

Setting up redirects

1. Open Website Settings

   In the Website Builder, click the Settings gear icon in the left sidebar.

2. Open URL Redirects

   Scroll to URL Redirects and click View/Edit. The redirect manager opens.

   
3. Add a Redirect

   Fill in both fields:

   Field	What to Enter	Example
   Redirect From	The old URL path (without domain)	/summer-camp
   Redirect To	The new URL path or full external URL	/summer-camp-2026

   Click the + button to add another redirect if needed.

4. Save and Publish

   Close the modal and click Publish to activate your redirects.

Redirect examples

Renaming a page

You renamed “Summer Camp” to “Summer Camp 2026”:

Redirect From	Redirect To
/summer-camp	/summer-camp-2026

Deleting a page

You removed your “Evaluations” page and want visitors to see “Programs” instead:

Redirect From	Redirect To
/evaluations	/programs

Redirecting to external site

You want an old page to go to your booking calendar:

Redirect From	Redirect To
/book-now	https://cal.com/your-calendar

External URLs: When redirecting to a different website, enter the full URL including https://.

Using wildcards

Wildcards let you redirect multiple pages at once using * as a placeholder.

Example: You restructured your site and moved all camp pages under a new path:

Redirect From	Redirect To
/camps/*	/programs/camps/*

This redirects:

• /camps/summer → /programs/camps/summer
• /camps/winter → /programs/camps/winter
• /camps/spring-break → /programs/camps/spring-break

Wildcard syntax: Use /* at the end of a path to match all sub-pages. For example, /old-section/* catches everything under that section.

When to use redirects

Scenario	Action
Renamed a page	Redirect old slug → new slug
Deleted a page with traffic	Redirect → most relevant existing page
Restructured site sections	Use wildcards for bulk redirects
Migrating from old website	Redirect old URLs → new equivalents
Seasonal pages	Redirect last year’s camp → this year’s
Typos in shared links	Redirect typo → correct URL

Common mistakes to avoid

Redirect chains (A → B → C)

Don’t create chains where one redirect leads to another redirect. This slows down page loading and confuses search engines. Always redirect directly to the final destination.

Bad: /old → /temporary → /final Good: /old → /final

Redirect loops (A → B → A)

Never create a loop where pages redirect to each other. This breaks the page completely. Double-check your redirect destinations.

Forgetting the leading slash

Always include the / at the start of your paths.

Correct: /summer-camp Incorrect: summer-camp

Redirecting your home page

Be very careful redirecting / (your home page). This affects your entire site’s entry point. Only do this if you’re absolutely sure.

Testing your redirects

After publishing, test your redirects:

1. Open an incognito/private browser window
2. Visit your old URL directly (e.g., yourdomain.com/old-page)
3. Verify you land on the new page
4. Check that the browser URL shows the new address

Pro tip: Keep a list of your redirects somewhere (spreadsheet, notes) so you remember what points where. This helps when troubleshooting or making future changes.

Common questions

How many redirects can I create?

There’s no hard limit, but keep your redirect list manageable. Too many redirects can slow site performance and become difficult to maintain.

Do redirects affect page speed?

Slightly. Each redirect adds a small delay (usually milliseconds). This is almost always worth it compared to broken links, but avoid unnecessary redirect chains.

Can I redirect to a specific section of a page?

Yes, you can include anchor links. For example: /old-faq → /about#faq would redirect to the FAQ section of your About page.

How do I remove a redirect?

In the URL Redirects modal, click the X button next to the redirect you want to remove, then publish your changes.

Will Google update its search results?

Yes, but it takes time. Google will eventually crawl the redirect and update its index. You can speed this up by requesting re-indexing in Google Search Console.

Related articles

• URL Slugs & Page Management
• Sitemap Builder
• Google Search Console Setup
• Website SEO Basics