As an SEO expert, I often get asked whether there is a limit to a website’s number of redirects. While Google has not defined a hard and fast rule on this, I believe there is a good rule of thumb to follow. Having tens of thousands of redirects is not ideal. Still, on the other hand, if you are working with a significant e-commerce store and need to clean up many products and categories that are no longer available, you may end up with thousands of redirects. In that case, it would depend on whether there is link equity and traffic on those pages. If there is no traffic, I suggest requesting Google remove the content instead of using internal redirects.
Another factor to consider is crawl budget. While some may think that having a large number of pages indexed could impact crawl budget, I believe that as long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s objective, crawl budget is not an issue. Sites like Zillow and Redfin with tons of indexed pages are good examples of this. In this article, I will discuss the different aspects of redirects in SEO and provide strategies for handling massive redirects for e-commerce, as well as considerations for link equity and traffic.
Key Takeaways when doing 301 redirects
- While Google has not defined a hard and fast rule on the number of redirects a website can have, having tens of thousands of redirects is not ideal.
- When dealing with a big e-commerce store and thousands of redirects, it is important to consider link equity and traffic on those pages before using internal redirects.
- Crawl budget is not an issue as long as there is value for the end consumer.
Understanding Redirects in SEO
Google does not define a hard-and-fast rule regarding the number of redirects a website can have. However, having tens of thousands of redirects may not be a good practice.
In some cases, such as when working with a large e-commerce store, cleaning up and redirecting thousands of no longer available products and categories may be necessary. The decision to redirect or not would depend on the link equity and traffic of those pages.
Internally, I would not implement redirects in such cases. Instead, I would ask Google to remove the content. However, buying sites and implementing 301 redirects may be a viable strategy.
Regarding the crawl budget, I do not think it is an issue for large sites like Zillow or Redfin. As long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s objective, a crawl budget should not be a problem.
In summary, while there is no apparent limit to the number of redirects a website can have, it is important to consider the link equity and traffic of the redirected pages. Additionally, the crawl budget should not concern large sites with valuable content.
Is There a Limit to Redirects?
As far as I know, Google has not defined a hard-and-fast rule for the maximum number of redirects a website can have. However, having tens of thousands of redirects is not recommended.
In some cases, many redirects may be necessary, such as when dealing with a significant e-commerce store where certain products or categories are no longer available. Cleaning up and redirecting such pages could result in thousands of redirects. In such cases, it is essential to consider whether link equity or traffic runs through those pages. If not, it may be better to submit a request to Google to remove that content rather than adding internal redirects.
Regarding the crawl budget, I do not believe it is an issue for large sites like Zillow or Redfin, which have many indexed pages. As long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s objective, I do not think the crawl budget should be a concern.
In summary, while there is no defined limit to the number of redirects a website can have, it is important to consider the value and necessity of each redirect, especially for large websites.
Google’s Stance on Redirect Limits
I don’t believe that Google has a hard-and-fast rule on the number of redirects a website can have. It’s not in their guidelines either. However, having too many redirects is not a good practice. I wouldn’t want tens of thousands of redirects on my website.
Let’s say you’re working on a big e-commerce store, and some products and categories are no longer available. You will have to clean that up and do your redirects, which could run into thousands. In this case, it would depend on whether there is link equity and traffic on those pages. If there is no traffic, a 404 error will occur, and you can submit a request to Google to remove that content.
As for crawl budget issues, I don’t think it’s a problem for big sites like Zillow or Redfin, which have tonnes of indexed pages. A crawl budget shouldn’t be an issue as long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s objective.
Regarding 301 redirects, I have seen cases where buying sites and implementing redirects is a strategy. In such cases, there may be a lot of redirects, but it’s not a problem as long as they provide value to the end consumer.
Rule of Thumb for Redirects
As an SEO specialist, I often get asked if a website can have too many redirects. While Google does not define a hard-and-fast rule, I think it’s best to follow a good rule of thumb.
Personally, I wouldn’t want tens of thousands of redirects on a website, but sometimes it’s necessary. For example, if a big e-commerce store has a bunch of products and categories that are no longer available, cleaning it up and doing redirects might run into thousands. In such cases, it’s important to consider if there is any link equity or traffic running through those pages. If there isn’t, submitting a request to Google to remove that content might be a better option than putting internal redirects in place.
When it comes to buying sites and doing 301 redirects, I have seen quite a few examples where that’s the strategy, and they have a lot of redirects. As long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s only objective, I don’t think crawl budget is an issue. Even huge sites like Zillow or Redfin have tonnes of pages indexed, and I don’t believe they face crawl budget issues.
In summary, while there is no exact number of redirects that is too many, it’s best to follow a good rule of thumb and consider the value for end consumers when deciding whether or not to use redirects.
Handling Massive Redirects for E-Commerce
Regarding the number of redirects a website can have, Google has not defined a hard-and-fast rule. However, having tens of thousands of redirects is not advisable. For instance, if you are working with a big e-commerce store and many product categories are no longer available, cleaning up and doing redirects could run into thousands. In such a case, the right thing to do would be to go ahead with the redirects, especially if link equity and traffic are running through the pages.
However, if no traffic runs through the pages, submitting a request to Google to remove the content would be the best option. For instance, if we are talking about 301 redirects for buying sites, having a lot of redirects is a common strategy. Therefore, a crawl budget should not be an issue as long as there is value for the end consumer.
In summary, while Google has not set a limit on the number of redirects a website can have, having too many redirects is not advisable. It is important to assess the value of the pages and the traffic running through them before deciding whether to redirect.
Link Equity and Traffic Considerations
There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule regarding how many website redirects are too many. While Google hasn’t defined a specific limit, it’s essential to remember a good rule of thumb. Having tens of thousands of redirects can negatively impact your website’s performance and user experience.
However, in some instances, such as with large e-commerce stores, having thousands of redirects may be necessary. For example, cleaning up and redirecting those pages is the right practice if a bunch of product categories are no longer available. But before doing so, it’s essential to consider whether link equity or traffic is running through those pages. If there isn’t, submitting a request to Google to remove the content may be a better option.
Regarding crawl budget, it’s not necessarily an issue for large sites like Zillow or Redfin. As long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s only objective, a crawl budget shouldn’t be a problem. These sites have tonnes of pages indexed, and using quantum processing, the crawl budget shouldn’t be a concern.
In terms of using 301 redirects when buying sites, it’s a common strategy that often results in a lot of redirects. However, as long as there is value for the end user, it shouldn’t negatively impact your website’s performance or user experience.
Overall, it’s essential to consider link equity and traffic when deciding whether to implement redirects and how many to use. While there isn’t a set limit on how many redirects are too many, it’s important to consider the impact on website performance and user experience.
Strategies for Removing Content
When it comes to removing content, a few strategies can be employed. Firstly, it’s important to note that there isn’t a hard and fast rule regarding the number of redirects a website can have. However, it’s generally a good rule of thumb to avoid having tens of thousands of redirects.
If you’re working with a big e-commerce store and many products or categories are no longer available, cleaning up and redirecting those pages may be necessary. Even if it means dealing with thousands of redirects, removing that content is still the right practice.
However, before implementing internal redirects, it’s essential to consider whether link equity or traffic flows through those pages. If there isn’t, it may be better to submit a request to Google to remove the content instead.
It’s not uncommon for 301 redirects to be used as a strategy in cases where a site has a large number of redirects due to buying other sites. As long as there is value for the end consumer, which is Google’s primary objective, a crawl budget shouldn’t be an issue.
Ultimately, the decision to remove content via redirects or other means should be based on the specific circumstances of the website and the content in question.
301: Redirects and Site Acquisition
Google does not define a hard-and-fast rule regarding the number of redirects a website can have. However, having tens of thousands of redirects can be overwhelming and may not be the best practice.
You’re working with a big e-commerce store, and several products and categories are no longer available. In such a scenario, cleaning up and redirecting can cost thousands. Despite the many redirects, it’s the right practice, mainly if link equity and traffic run through those pages.
Internally, I wouldn’t implement redirects. Instead, I would submit a request to Google to remove that content. However, buying sites and performing 301 redirects is a common strategy, and many sites have a lot of redirects.
I don’t believe crawl budget issues are a problem, especially for sites like Zillow or Redfin, which have tonnes of indexed pages. As long as there’s value for the end consumer, which is Google’s only objective, I don’t think the crawl budget is an issue.
Crawl Budget and Its Relevance
As an SEO specialist, I am often asked about the relevance of the crawl budget and whether it is a concern for large websites. In my experience, the crawl budget is not a significant issue for websites with many pages as long as there is value for the end consumer.
Take the example of Zillow or Redfin, which have many pages indexed by Google. Because they offer value to their users, these websites do not experience crawl budget problems despite having many pages. Google’s objective is to provide its users with the best possible search results, so as long as a website provides value, the crawl budget is not a concern.
There is no hard-and-fast rule on how many redirects a website can have. However, a good rule of thumb is to avoid having tens of thousands of redirects. Suppose a website has many redirects due to products or categories that are no longer available. In that case, it is essential to evaluate whether any link equity or traffic is flowing through those pages. If there is no link equity or traffic, it may be best to submit a request for Google to remove that content rather than implementing redirects.
It is a common strategy to buy sites and implement redirects. However, it is essential to ensure that the redirects provide value for the end consumer and are implemented correctly. Internally, I would not implement those redirects but rather submit a request for Google to remove the content.
In conclusion, the crawl budget is not a significant concern for large websites as long as there is value for the end consumer. It is essential to evaluate the need for redirects and ensure that they are implemented correctly to avoid any negative impact on SEO.
Value for the End Consumer
As an SEO professional, my ultimate goal is to ensure that the end consumer finds value in the website. Google aims to provide the end consumer with relevant and valuable content. Therefore, a crawl budget should not be a concern as long as there is value for the end consumer.
Redirects can be a useful tool when cleaning up a website with outdated or unavailable products or categories. However, it is important to consider whether there is link equity or traffic running through those pages before implementing redirects. If not, it may be better to submit a request for Google to remove the content.
Regarding large e-commerce stores with thousands of redirects, it is important to prioritise the end consumer’s experience. It is worth implementing if the redirects provide value to the end consumer. However, if they do not, it may be better to explore other options.
Overall, the end consumer’s experience and value should always be the top priority in website optimisation. As long as the website provides value to the end consumer, the crawl budget and the number of redirects should not be a concern.
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