TL;DR
- A link points to one exact address. Change a page’s address or rename a file, and old links can stop working.
- Redirects fix it. A redirect sends visitors from the old address to the new one.
- We set up redirects when page addresses change. Report any we miss, and we’ll fix it.
- Too many redirects cause their own problems, so rename pages only for a good reason.
Why Does Renaming a Page Break Links?
Every page has a web address, called its permalink. WordPress lets you edit the last part of it, called the slug. Change the slug, and old links to that page can lead to a “page not found” error, also called a 404. Changing a page’s title alone doesn’t change its address.
Those old links live in places you can’t easily change: Google’s results, other websites, social media posts, and emails you’ve already sent.
What Is a Redirect?
Google defines it this way: “Redirecting URLs is the practice of resolving an existing URL to a different one, effectively telling your visitors and Google Search that a page has a new location.” See Google’s guide to redirects.
When page addresses change on a site we manage, we set up the redirects. A big batch of redirects takes extra time, and we’ll tell you up front. As Beth told one client after a round of changes, “If I miss any, just let me know. I’ll jump in and fix it.”
Does Moving a Page in the Menu Change Its Link?
No. The menu and the address are separate. As Beth explained to one client, “I only changed the menu location. The permalink is changed in the page’s own settings.” See How Do I Add a Page to My Website Menu?
Why Is There a %20 in My Link?
Web addresses can’t contain spaces, so browsers swap each space for the code %20. On one site, a link looked broken because a folder name had a space in it. As Beth told the client, “The %20 came from the space in your folder name. It’s not a link problem.”
Can Too Many Redirects Cause Problems?
Yes. A redirect loop happens when page A sends visitors to page B, and page B sends them back to A. Nobody ever arrives.
Stacking redirect changes makes loops more likely. In Beth’s words, “Too many changes with redirects can cause loops, which lead to browser errors and Google indexing errors.”
What Webmaster For Hire Recommends
- Rename pages only with a clear reason. Every rename means another redirect.
- Tell us before you rename anything, so the redirect goes in at the same time.
- Share links, not copies, so there’s one address to keep track of. See How Do I Find the Link to a Page on My Website?
:: Common Questions ::
How Do I Find Broken Links on My Site?
Google’s free Search Console tool lists addresses on your site that Google found returning “page not found.” On our Webmaster Retainer, send us that list, and we’ll redirect each old address to the closest matching page.
Will Redirects Hurt My Google Rankings?
Redirects protect what you’ve built. A permanent redirect tells Google the page has moved, and Google will “Show the new redirect target in search results.” When search matters, Beth’s advice to one client was to keep the new addresses: “Just update the sitemap and redirects.” A sitemap is a file that lists your pages for search engines.
Planning to Rename Pages?
See our Webmaster Retainer, or request a consultation.
