How to Implement URL Redirects in WP Engine for Improved User Experience

WP Engine is a popular managed WordPress hosting provider that offers a range of features for website owners and developers to enhance their user experience. One of the most essential elements of a website is its URL structure, which helps to improve the user experience by ensuring that users can easily access the pages they are looking for. However, there are times when you need to redirect your website URLs to another page for a variety of reasons, such as when you change your website structure or when a page is moved or deleted. In this article, we will explore how to implement URL redirects in WP Engine to improve your website's user experience.

What is a URL Redirect?

A URL redirect is a way of forwarding one URL to another. This is done for a variety of reasons, such as when you want to change the location of a page or when you want to redirect users to a new website. Redirects can be implemented at the server level, which is usually done by the website hosting provider, or at the code level, which is usually done by the website developer.

Why are URL Redirects Important?

URL redirects are important for several reasons, including:

• Improving User Experience: By redirecting users to the correct page, you can ensure that they can find the information they are looking for, which will improve their overall experience of your website.
• Protecting Website Rankings: When you redirect URLs, you can protect your website's search engine rankings, as the redirected URLs will pass on any existing link equity to the new URL.
• Preventing 404 Errors: When a page is moved or deleted, it can result in a 404 error, which can hurt your website's user experience and search engine rankings. By implementing a redirect, you can prevent these errors from occurring.

How do I Redirect a URL in WP Engine?

There are many ways to implement URL redirects in WP Engine, including using plugins, using the .htaccess file, and using WP Engine's redirect feature. In this section, we will explore each of these methods in more detail.

Using Plugins

One of the easiest ways to implement URL redirects in WP Engine is by using a plugin, such as Redirection. To use this plugin, simply install and activate it on your WordPress website, and then configure it to redirect your URLs. The plugin will generate the necessary code for you, so you don't need to have any technical knowledge to use it.

Using the .htaccess File

Another way to implement URL redirects in WP Engine is by using the .htaccess file. This method requires a little more technical knowledge, as you will need to access the .htaccess file on your server and edit it to add the redirect code. 

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your WP Engine account.
2. Go to the WP Engine dashboard and click on the “Environment” tab.
3. Click on the “Files” tab and select the “Access SFTP” option.
4. Navigate to the root folder of your website and locate the .htaccess file.
5. Right-click on the .htaccess file and select the “Edit” option.
6. Add the following code to the .htaccess file to redirect your URL:  Redirect   301 /old-url/ https://www.yourdomain.com/new-url/  
7. Save the changes and close the file.

Using WP Engine's Redirect Feature

WP Engine also provides a built-in feature for implementing URL redirects, which is the simplest and most user-friendly option. To use this feature, follow these steps:

• Log in to your WP Engine account.
• Go to the WP Engine dashboard and click on the “Redirects” tab.
• Enter the source URL that you want to redirect in the “Source URL” field.
• Enter the target URL that you want to redirect to in the “Target URL” field.
• Select the type of redirect you want to implement from the “Type” drop-down menu. The options are:

1. Permanent (301) Redirect: This is the most commonly used type of redirect, as it informs search engines that the page has permanently moved to a new location.
2. Temporary (302) Redirect: This type of redirect informs search engines that the page has temporarily moved to a new location, but will eventually return to its original location. 

• Click the “Add Redirect” button to implement the redirect.

How to Do Redirects in WordPress?

In addition to the methods described above, you can also implement URL redirects in WordPress by using the following methods:

1. Using a plugin, such as Redirection or Simple URLs.
2. By adding redirect code to the functions.php file of your WordPress theme.
3. By adding a redirect code to the .htaccess file, as described above.

Conclusion:

URL redirects are an essential part of maintaining a high-quality user experience on your website. By redirecting URLs, you can ensure that users can access the pages they are looking for, protect your website's search engine rankings, and prevent 404 errors. WP Engine provides a range of options for implementing URL redirects, including plugins, the .htaccess file, and a built-in redirect feature, making it easy for you to implement redirects on your website. Whether you are a website owner or a developer, by following the steps outlined in this article, you will be able to implement URL redirects in WP Engine to improve your website's user experience.