People in the world of SEO have a bad habit of talking in code. Code-talk is bad enough on the net, but the specialised terms and codes mentioned frequently in relation to search engine optimisation can be confusing.
In most computer circumstances, the usual practice is to leave the coding to the experts and forget all about it. When it comes to SEO, this can get you into trouble. Different codes, particularly status codes, can have a big effect on how a search engine treats your site. The effect that different codes can have makes understanding of code necessary for even the average Joe.
Status codes are some of the more common codes that feature on a site. These codes provide both search engines and viewers with information about the status of your pages. Every website experiences down time, glitches and moves. Status codes are the way your site informs the world about what is going on.
Search engines interact with status codes constantly, whereas your viewers will see your status codes only on certain occasions. How you use each of these codes can make a big impact on how a search engine indexes your site and on how users interact with you. Some of the most often used codes are:
301 – Moved Permanently. A 301 code is used to create a permanent reroute from an old URL. Note the use of the word ‘permanent’ – search engines will use the code to decide which page to index. A 301 code is helpful when you are shifting sites, as it means you can continue to use the reputation you built at the old address to affect SEO Rankings.
302 – Found. This can be used as a temporary redirect code. Some companies make the mistake of leaving their old URLs redirected by a 302 code. This causes confusion for search engines. If your site has completed its move to a new address, it’s a good idea to implement 301 codes to create a permanent reroute so as not to confuse the search engines.
404 – Not Found. This code crops up whenever the server cannot find a page at the requested URL. This code is used to inform the viewer that they have either made an error in typing the address or the page has changed. A 404 page can be customised within your site to make these mistakes a little friendlier toward your users. Talk to us at SEO Consult about how to make even the mis-steps on your site work for your search engine optimisation.
The world of the internet is, essentially, a world of code. The average site owner doesn’t need to be an expert in code in order to operate a site well. Getting to grips with the above codes, however, is essential to ensure the smooth functioning of your site. Choosing the appropriate code for the situation is a part of every SEO expert’s job, and you can consult us at SEO Consult on the issue as part of your SEO campaign.
Related posts:
- Getting Your 302s Sorted for SEO
- Pitfalls in the world of code
- W3C Validation Helps SEO
- A guide to SEO acronyms
- SEO: How to Post Links on Facebook
Tags: Search Engine Optimisation, Search Engine Optimization, seo
Link to us
If you want to link to this blog, copy and paste the following HTML code to your website.
