Set up redirects

Set up redirects for the site restructuring: create a redirect map from the old URLs list to the new slug structure, implement 301 redirects server-side for each mapping, and run a crawl to confirm no old URL returns 404. Complete this by Wednesday morning so the SEO lead, Tomas, can update Google Search Console before the cutover.

Before I push the redirect rules live, make them easy for Tomas to approve: put the most-trafficked legacy URLs at the top, mark any redirects that change the query string or content type, and flag redirects that currently point to soft-404s. Also highlight rules that could cause redirect chains so we can avoid SEO loss.

I implemented the new 301 mappings from the old structure to the new one and now a few key pages are showing chains of redirects and slower loads. I’m responsible for SEO and Tomas is already anxious. I don’t know which rules are causing the loops or whether the server-level or site-level rules are to blame. What is the quickest diagnosis and the step to eliminate chains before the public cutover?

Every time we reorganize a site we end up with redirect chains or missed legacy URLs, wasting SEO value and causing frantic mornings for the SEO lead. I manage these launches. Where does our process fail — inventory, rule testing, or deployment method — and what single practice will stop redirect debt from building?