Lesson 5 of 6 · Web addresses
Keep addresses stable and redirect when you change them
What it is
Once a page is live, avoid changing its address. If you must, set a permanent (301) redirect from the old address to the new one.
Why it matters
Old links, bookmarks and Google's index all point at the old address. Without a redirect they hit an error page and the page's ranking is lost.
✓ Good example
/ac-repair moved to /air-conditioning-repair with a 301 redirect.
✗ Common mistake
A redesign changed every address and the old ones now show 'Page not found'.
You pass when: Old addresses redirect in one step to the right new page.
Check it now with our free Redirect checker.