What Is a Redirect Map and When Do You Need One?
A redirect map is a table listing every old URL on your site next to the new URL it should send visitors to. You need one before any site migration, platform move, redesign that changes URLs, or content consolidation. Without it, every changed URL becomes a 404 and its ranking power evaporates.
The columns that matter
Old URL, new URL, status (planned, live, verified), date and notes. That is it. Spreadsheets beat clever tools here because everyone involved can read one.
Generate the map free
Enter your old and new URL sets into the Redirect Map Generator and export the CSV. After go live, sweep the site with the Broken Link Checker to catch anything the map missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if an old URL has no new equivalent?
Redirect to the nearest relevant page, or the homepage as a last resort. Never leave a naked 404.
How long do I keep the map?
Forever, or at least as long as anything anywhere still links to the old URLs.
Related reading
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