Creating A 301 Redirection. [.htaccess]

Before renaming or moving an older file, a directory or even your entire website, you'll have to redirect to the new location using the .htaccess file. Users will not feel the changes made here, and all will be OK.

First of all you'll create a .htaccess file, copy and paste the relevant script below into it. Edit it appropriately to, and from your desire locations, making sure they are all on the same line.

Save and upload it as ASCII file to your server using FTP,

The .htaccess file should be placed in the same directory as the directory you wish to redirect.

Redirecting A Single File To A New Path.

The script below will redirect an old file to a new file path. Let me simplify it to an easy understanding as follows.

You have here three parts of a command on the same line which is separated with spaces.

1. Redirect is the main command followed by a space.
2. /olddirectory/oldfile.html is the directory and the file you'll like to redirect followed by a space.
3. And at last https://yoursite.com/newdirectory/newfile.html is the destination you'll like to rediredct to. Easy!

See illustration below.

Redirect /olddirectory/oldfile.html https://yoursite.com/newdirectory/
newfile.html

Redirecting An Entire Website.

Redirecting an entire website will be slightly different from redirecting a single file.

This will point your entire website to a different URL, such as youroldsite.com redirected to yournewsite.me

1. Redirect is the main command followed by a space.
2. 301 represents the entire site that should be redirected, followed by a space, forward slash, and a space again.
3. https://yournewsite.me is the new site that the old site should be redirected to, followed by a forward slash.

See illustration below.

Redirect 301 / https://yournewsite.me/

Using these methods you can just flex. And redirect a single file, a directory, or your entire website easily.

Mutt Cutts | Changing Your Domain Name.