A 301 redirect map is the backbone of any migration. It tells search engines that an old URL has permanently moved, passing its ranking authority to the new page. Get the map right and the move is almost invisible to Google.
Redirect mapping is a core part of our Migration SEO service, where we match every old URL to its closest new equivalent and test each redirect before launch.
A 301 is a permanent redirect. It moves users to the new page and signals to search engines that ranking authority should follow. Without it, the old URL drops out of the index and its rankings are lost.
Crawl the old site, export every indexed URL and match each one to its closest equivalent on the new site. Map to the most relevant page, not the home page, so the redirect keeps its topical meaning.
A redirect chain passes a user through several hops before they land, which wastes authority and slows the page. Point each old URL straight to the final destination in one hop.
Test redirects in batches before launch. A single typo in a redirect rule can send hundreds of URLs to the wrong place or into a loop.
Once live, crawl the old URL list and confirm each one returns a single 301 to a working page. Fix any that return a 404 or land on the wrong destination before they are recrawled.
A migration only costs rankings when it is rushed or unplanned. With a full URL map, clean 301 redirects, preserved on-page signals and careful monitoring, you can move a site and hold or even improve its visibility.
TPR Media operates from Level 34, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000, serving clients across Brisbane and Australia-wide.
TPR Media builds complete 301 redirect maps for migrations, matching every old URL to its closest new page in a single hop and verifying each redirect after launch to preserve rankings.