In a CMS, what is the primary purpose of implementing 301 redirects when a page URL changes?

In a CMS, what is the primary purpose of implementing 301 redirects when a page URL changes?

• A. Remove old URLs and create new ones without redirects.
• B. Create 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones to preserve SEO and user bookmarks; monitor and fix broken links.
• C. Automatically translate old URLs.
• D. Use 302 redirects instead of 301.

Answer: (B)

When a page URL changes, the main goal is to move visitors and search engines to the new location without losing value. A 301 redirect signals that the old URL has moved permanently to the new URL, so anyone visiting the old address is automatically taken to the updated page. This preserves SEO by passing most of the existing link equity and ranking signals to the new URL, keeps user bookmarks and external links working, and helps search engines update their index to the correct address. It also supports site health by reducing 404 errors and making sure crawl bots find the right content. The other options don’t fit because removing old URLs without redirects creates broken links, which hurts both users and SEO; automatically translating old URLs isn’t what a redirect does; and using a 302 would treat the move as temporary, which doesn’t reliably transfer SEO value or signal permanence.

When a page URL changes, the main goal is to move visitors and search engines to the new location without losing value. A 301 redirect signals that the old URL has moved permanently to the new URL, so anyone visiting the old address is automatically taken to the updated page. This preserves SEO by passing most of the existing link equity and ranking signals to the new URL, keeps user bookmarks and external links working, and helps search engines update their index to the correct address. It also supports site health by reducing 404 errors and making sure crawl bots find the right content.

The other options don’t fit because removing old URLs without redirects creates broken links, which hurts both users and SEO; automatically translating old URLs isn’t what a redirect does; and using a 302 would treat the move as temporary, which doesn’t reliably transfer SEO value or signal permanence.