Introduction
Status Code 302 temporary redirection may hamper your SEO because search
engine bots still crawl the original URL instead of the redirect one.
But if it happens for a longer period, it might detect duplicate content,
which can negatively impact your website’s SEO. Here, you will get a guideline
on the 302 Status Code and its impact on SEO.
Table of Contents:
What is the status Code 302?
302 is a temporary redirect status code in the HTTP series. It tells you that
the resource or webpage you seek has been temporarily redirected to a
different location.
Example: If you renovate your house, you rent a house, stay there for a
few days, and then return to your home. The same is true here.
So 302 is a temporary redirection, and 301 is a permanent move, which means
you buy a new house and start living there immediately.
302 status code indicates the original URL or website can be reinstated again
in the future.
When does the 302 error arise?
If your website misconfigures, then it leads you to the 302 error. If it
happens, you may face various issues. Let’s go through the checklist:
-
If some particular page of your website redirects your visitors somewhere
else, that is unacceptable. -
Sometimes, your webpage redirects to the wrong resource in that scenario,
which can also affect your impression. - You also face a redirecting loop or too many redirect errors.
How does the 302 status code Affect SEO?
A status code 302 can damage your website’s SEO if misconfigured.
If you use 302 redirects for your website’s temporary pages, Search engines
will not index your new page or URL. But suppose your redirection is not
temporary, or you misconfigured it. In that case, you will have various SEO issues, such as broken links, canonical or duplicate content, and many other
errors, which will negatively impact your SEO.
You should use 301 permanent redirections for a new URL or page that
you will use permanently instead of the existing one. That way, the link juice
will pass to the new URL, and Search engines will give it authority instead of
the old one.
You should carefully handle the 302 status code. Otherwise, it will damage
your reputation in search engines and among your visitors, resulting in a
higher bounce rate.
Additional resources:
How do we fix the status code 302?
Double-check the redirects: The 302 Status code is not always an error;
it is mainly used for temporary redirections. But when you misconfigure it,
you will find a redirect loop. So before making your URL a 302 temporary
redirection, double-check your page or URL configuration.
Verify Your Plugins Correctly: Sometimes, your installed plugins are
the culprits for 302 errors. You should check each plugin to ensure that they
never conflict with each other.
Inspect WordPress URL Settings: A misconfigured website URL can trigger
302 errors. Make sure your WordPress URL and Site URL are the same. Otherwise,
you will receive the 302 status code error.
Look after your Server Configuration: A server error or
misconfiguration can cause a 302 redirect error, so you should carefully watch
your Server Configuration. Check your .htaccess file to see if your host uses
the Apache server.
Ask for Help from Your Web Host: If all the above fails, don’t hesitate
to ask for technical support from your web host service provider. They will
guide you to solve the 302 error seamlessly.
Bottom Line
Undoubtedly, status code 302 strongly impacts your website’s SEO. So whenever
you find any issues related to it, try to resolve or fix them carefully.
Otherwise, they will damage your reputation in Search Engines and among your
users.
FAQs
Q. Is 302 an error?
A. No, only sometimes. If you configure it correctly for your temporary URL or
webpage redirection, then it will not be an error.
Q. Is 302 permanent?
A. No, 302 is not a permanent redirection. Running any offers or
affiliates, or even if your particular webpage is under construction, leads to
temporary 302 redirections. After everything is normal, it will again lead
your visitors to the existing main page.
Q. What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
A. Both are redirection, which means both the status codes lead you
from one page to another. The only difference is if your page or URL has
permanently moved to a new URL, then it is called 301 redirection. On the
other hand, if your URL or web Page redirects to another URL temporarily, then
it is called 302 temporary redirection.
Q. Is the 302 affect SEO?
A. If you correctly use the status code, the 302 will not affect your
website’s SEO. The temporary page is not crawled by search engines.
Q. Does Google index 302?
A. 302 status code tells Google that the page or URL has moved
temporarily. So, Google and other search engines index the old URL and show
the existing or old URL on SERP (Search Engine Result Page).
