SEO Guide to HTTP Status Codes
All web pages contain a status code that provides the browser the information and instructions it needs. These codes are utilized by search engines and can strongly impact SEO by some of the following factors.
Factors
The Visitor
The Search Bot
The Link
Page A and Page B
List of HTTP Status Codes
200 (OK/Success) – Everyone successfully arrives at Page A with no complications.
301 (Permanent) – This page causes a redirection to take place for everyone to the new location, Page B.
302 (Temporary) – This page leaves a link left behind while visitors and bots are redirected to another page.
404 (Not Found) – The original page is gone, causing visitors to see a 404 page.
500 (Service Error) – This page does not show up at all, leaving everyone lost and confused.
503 (Unavailable) – This page tells everyone to come back later and is a 404 alternative.
The Canonical Tag
REL Canonical – This is an alternative to 301 redirects that lets visitors still see Page A.
Whether you have moved to a new website location or are currently establishing your first one, the importance of status codes will always be prevalent. Now that you know the basics of the main ones, you can decide which ones will apply best to your specific situation.
