Status Code (Redirect, HTTP Response Status Code, Browser Error Code)

What is a Status Code?

A Status Code is a three-digit number returned by a web server to indicate the outcome of a user’s request. It informs both browsers and search engines about the status of a webpage, such as whether it’s loading successfully, has been moved, or encountered an error. Understanding status codes is crucial for diagnosing website issues and managing redirects effectively.

Importance of Status Codes

1. Efficient Crawling and Indexing:

Proper status codes ensure that search engines crawl and index pages correctly, which influences the rankings on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

2. User Communication:

Status codes also inform users about the page’s status (e.g., errors or redirects), which directly impacts user engagement and retention.

3. Improved Website Functionality:

Identifying and fixing status code errors helps improve your website’s functionality and its SEO performance. For instance, ensuring that error pages like 404 are fixed reduces user frustration and improves navigation.

4. Managing Redirects:

Redirect status codes (e.g., 301, 302) are crucial when moving or updating content, ensuring that the SEO value is transferred correctly and the search engines and users are directed to the most relevant page.

Types of Status Codes

1. 1xx (Informational):

Meaning: The request has been received, and the process is continuing.

Example: 100 Continue

2. 2xx (Success):

Meaning: The request has been successfully processed.

Example: 200 OK

3. 3xx (Redirection):

Meaning: Further action is needed to complete the request, such as a page redirect.

Examples:

• 301 Moved Permanently (permanent redirect)
• 302 Found (temporary redirect)

4. 4xx (Client Error):

Meaning: The error is caused by the client’s request (usually the user).

Examples:

• 404 Not Found (page not found)
• 403 Forbidden (permission denied)

5. 5xx (Server Error):

Meaning: The server has failed to fulfill the request.

Examples:

• 500 Internal Server Error
• 502 Bad Gateway

Uses of Status Codes in SEO

1. Efficient Crawling and Indexing:

Status codes are crucial in helping search engines crawl and index content properly. For instance, a 200 OK status means the page loaded correctly, while a 404 Not Found could prevent indexing.

2. 301 Redirects for SEO:

301 redirects are key for passing SEO value to new URLs. This helps preserve link equity and ensures search engines rank the correct page.

3. Reducing Bounce Rates:

404 errors (page not found) negatively affect user experience. Fixing them by implementing 301 redirects or correct 404 error pages can help lower bounce rates.

4. Handling Downtime:

503 Service Unavailable helps manage temporary website downtimes, ensuring users and search engines are aware that the site is temporarily unavailable but will be back.

Example of Status Code Usage

Scenario: An e-commerce site recently updated its product categories, which resulted in a change from old URLs to new URLs.

Actions Taken:

Implemented 301 redirects from the old product URLs to the new category pages to preserve SEO value and link equity.

Ensured all active pages returned a 200 OK status, confirming they were loaded correctly and were available for search engines and users.

Checked for 404 errors and redirected broken links to the most relevant, active pages to improve user experience and SEO health.

Results:

Successfully transferred link equity and maintained search engine rankings through 301 redirects.

Users were smoothly redirected, preventing frustrating errors and ensuring they could navigate the site easily.

The organic traffic remained stable after the URL changes, ensuring the site’s visibility and rankings were unaffected.

Final Thoughts on Status Codes

Understanding and applying the correct status codes is crucial for optimizing SEO performance and user experience. After managing redirects, error pages, and ensuring proper crawling and indexing, websites can maintain strong rankings, improve usability, and boost traffic.

Would you like help identifying and fixing status code errors on your website?