Redirecting Domains: Setting Up 301 Redirects

Redirecting Domains: Setting Up 301 Redirects

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that sends visitors and search engines from one URL or domain to another. It’s an essential tool for managing domain changes, merging websites, protecting branding, fixing outdated links, and improving SEO.

With QuickServers, you can set up 301 redirects directly through your customer portal or by editing DNS and hosting settings, depending on your needs.

This guide explains how 301 redirects work, when to use them, and how to set them up step-by-step.

1. What Is a 301 Redirect and When Should You Use It?

A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines that a page or domain has permanently moved to a new address. It ensures users are automatically sent to the correct destination.

Common reasons to use a 301 redirect:

• Switching from one domain to another

• Redirecting www to non-www (or the opposite)

• Merging multiple websites into one

• Fixing outdated URLs or old pages

• Protecting your brand by redirecting alternate domains

• Improving SEO by consolidating traffic to the correct domain

A proper 301 redirect preserves your SEO value, prevents broken links, and ensures a smooth user experience.

2. Log in to Your QuickServers Customer Portal

To begin:

1. Visit the QuickServers website

2. Sign in to your customer portal

3. Access the sections for domains, DNS, and hosting tools

You will manage your redirects from the domain settings or your hosting configuration depending on the method you choose.

3. Set Up a 301 Redirect Using DNS + Hosting Settings

If your domain is hosted on a QuickServers hosting plan, you can create more advanced redirects through server files.

Option A: Redirect Using .htaccess (for Apache hosting)

If your hosting uses Apache:

1. Open your hosting file manager or connect via FTP

2. Locate your .htaccess file (usually in the root folder)

3. Add this redirect rule:

Redirect 301 / https://newdomain.com/

For redirecting a specific page:

Redirect 301 /oldpage https://newdomain.com/newpage

Save and upload the file. The redirect will activate instantly.

Option B: Redirect Using Nginx Rules

If your hosting uses Nginx, add this to your site configuration:

server {
    return 301 https://newdomain.com$request_uri;
}

Restart the server if needed.

4. Redirect Subdomains (Optional)

To redirect a subdomain (like blog.yourdomain.com):

1. Go to DNS Management

2. Add an A or CNAME record that points the subdomain to your hosting server

3. Create a redirect rule in .htaccess, Nginx, or your hosting control panel

Example .htaccess rule:

Redirect 301 / https://yourdomain.com/blog

This ensures visitors always land in the correct location.

5. Verify That Your Redirect Is Working

After setting up your 301 redirect:

• Visit your domain in a browser

• Check that it automatically forwards to the new location

• Test both www and non-www versions

• Use online redirect checkers to confirm the 301 status code

Make sure there are no redirect loops or accidental chains.

6. SEO and Best Practices for 301 Redirects

To ensure a smooth transition:

• Always use 301 (permanent), not 302 (temporary)

• Redirect every old page to the closest matching new page

• Update internal links to point to the final destination

• Avoid redirect chains (A → B → C)

• Keep old URLs live until redirect propagation is complete

Well-implemented redirects help search engines transfer SEO value to your new URLs.

The Bottom Line

QuickServers gives you the tools and control to manage domain redirects easily and reliably, no matter how simple or complex your setup is.