# 30x SEO Redirects

> Redirect chain audit and analysis. Detects redirect loops, long chains, mixed protocols, and orphaned redirects. Use when user says "redirect audit", "301 redirect", "redirect chain", "redirect loop", or "migration redirects".

- Skill: `square-lupus579/30x-seo-redirects` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add square-lupus579/30x-seo-redirects`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/square-lupus579/30x-seo-redirects/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Marketing & Growth
- Author: square-lupus579 (https://skillmd.com/u/square-lupus579)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/square-lupus579/30x-seo-redirects

---


# Redirect Audit

## What This Skill Does

Analyzes website redirects to find problems that hurt SEO and user experience.

## Why Redirects Matter

- **Every redirect = delay**: 301 redirects add 100-500ms latency
- **Chains lose link equity**: Google follows max ~5 hops, then stops
- **Wrong type = lost ranking**: 302 (temporary) doesn't pass full link juice
- **Loops = crawl waste**: Googlebot hits loop, gives up, page not indexed

## Check Categories

### 1. Redirect Chains
A redirect pointing to another redirect, pointing to another...

```
BAD:  /old → /old-2 → /old-3 → /final  (3 hops, slow, loses equity)
GOOD: /old → /final                     (1 hop, fast, full equity)
```

**Rule**: Maximum 1 redirect hop. More than 1 = fix immediately.

### 2. Redirect Loops
Page A redirects to B, B redirects back to A. Infinite loop.

```
BAD:  /page-a → /page-b → /page-a  (loop!)
```

**Detection**: Follow redirects up to 10 hops. If same URL appears twice = loop.

### 3. Redirect Type Audit

| Type | When to Use | SEO Impact |
|------|-------------|------------|
| 301 | Permanent move | Passes ~95% link equity |
| 302 | Temporary (A/B test, maintenance) | Passes less equity, can cause issues if permanent |
| 307 | Temporary (preserves HTTP method) | Same as 302 |
| 308 | Permanent (preserves HTTP method) | Same as 301 |
| Meta refresh | NEVER for SEO | Bad UX, slow, not recommended |
| JavaScript redirect | Avoid if possible | Googlebot may not follow |

**Rule**: Permanent moves must use 301 or 308. Using 302 for permanent = error.

### 4. Protocol Issues

```
BAD:  https://site.com → http://site.com  (downgrade, security warning)
BAD:  http → https → http                 (mixed, confusing)
GOOD: http://site.com → https://site.com  (upgrade, correct)
```

### 5. Domain Consistency

```
BAD:  www.site.com → site.com → www.site.com  (inconsistent)
GOOD: Pick ONE (www or non-www) and redirect all others to it
```

### 6. Trailing Slash Consistency

```
BAD:  /page → /page/ → /page  (loop risk)
GOOD: Pick ONE pattern (/page or /page/) and redirect all others
```

### 7. Post-Migration Orphans
After site migration/redesign:
- Old URLs that redirect to 404 or homepage (should go to equivalent new page)
- Important pages with no redirect (losing all link equity)

### 8. Soft 404s via Redirect
Redirecting deleted pages to homepage = soft 404 penalty risk.

```
BAD:  /deleted-product → /  (Google sees this as soft 404)
GOOD: /deleted-product → 410 Gone (or related category page)
```

## How to Run Audit

### Method 1: Crawl-based (recommended)
Use squirrel audit or similar crawler to:
1. Crawl entire site
2. Follow all internal links
3. Record redirect chains

### Method 2: Log-based (for large sites)
Analyze server access logs for:
- All 301/302 responses
- Most-hit redirect URLs
- External referrers hitting redirects

### Method 3: URL list
If you have a list of old URLs (from migration):
1. Check each URL
2. Record final destination
3. Flag chains, loops, 404s

## Output Format

### Redirect Health Score: XX/100

### Critical Issues (Fix Immediately)
| Issue Type | Count | Example |
|------------|-------|---------|
| Redirect loops | X | /a → /b → /a |
| 5+ hop chains | X | /old → ... → /new |
| HTTPS downgrade | X | https → http |

### High Priority (Fix This Week)
| Issue Type | Count | Example |
|------------|-------|---------|
| 3-4 hop chains | X | /old → /mid → /new |
| 302 used for permanent | X | /old-page 302→ /new-page |
| Soft 404 redirects | X | /deleted → / |

### Medium Priority (Fix This Month)
| Issue Type | Count | Example |
|------------|-------|---------|
| 2 hop chains | X | /old → /mid → /new |
| Inconsistent trailing slash | X | /page and /page/ both exist |

### Redirect Map
Top 20 most-accessed redirects and their chains:
| Source URL | Hops | Final Destination | Type | Monthly Hits |
|------------|------|-------------------|------|--------------|

### Recommendations
1. [Specific fix instructions based on findings]

[PROTOCOL]: Update this header on changes, then check CLAUDE.md