Definition
A 301 redirect is a permanent instruction that tells search engines and browsers a page has moved and passes its SEO authority to the new URL.
What is a 301 redirect and when should you use it?
A 301 redirect is a permanent instruction that tells search engines and browsers: "This page has moved. Update your records and go here instead." It passes the majority of a page's SEO authority (its "link equity") to the new URL.In a Webflow migration, 301 redirects are how you prevent traffic loss when URLs change.
If your old site had /services/web-design and your new Webflow site uses /what-we-do/design, every search engine and external link pointing to the old URL needs a 301 redirect to the new one. Missing redirects mean Google treats the new pages as brand new - with no history, no authority, and no rankings. Traffic drops follow.
Webflow has a built-in redirect manager in the project settings. For large sites, redirects are typically managed as a CSV import. Either way, the redirect map needs to be complete and tested before launch.
