Redirect errors can feel like a nightmare for any blogger. Imagine this: you’ve crafted the perfect content, shared it with your audience, and then—boom! Your readers encounter error messages or endless redirect loops instead of your blog. Frustrating, isn’t it? Not only can these issues drive visitors away, but they also hurt your SEO rankings, making it harder for search engines to find and rank your site. Read on to learn how to fix redirect errors on Blogger.
The good news? Redirect errors are fixable, and with the right approach, you can resolve them quickly and restore your blog’s seamless functionality. This guide will take you step by step through the process step-by-step, from identifying the causes to implementing lasting solutions. Whether you’re struggling with HTTPS conflicts, DNS misconfigurations, or broken redirects, this article has got you covered. Let’s dive in and fix those pesky redirect errors once and for all!
Introduction
Redirect errors in Blogger can disrupt the user experience, affect search engine rankings, and hinder traffic growth. These issues often stem from incorrect settings, misconfigured custom domains, or a failure to handle redirections properly. Follow the below step-by-step guide to identify and resolve redirect errors in Blogger.
- 1. Understanding Redirect Errors
- What Are Redirect Errors?
- Common Types of Redirect Errors in Blogger
- 2. Why Redirect Errors Occur
- 3. Preparing to Fix Redirect Errors
- Tools You'll Need
- Backing Up Your Blogger Site
- 4. Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Redirect Errors
- Step 1: The Basic Checks
- Step 2: Check Your Custom Domain Settings
- Step 3: Configure HTTPS Properly
- Step 4: Use Correct Redirect Settings
- Step 5: Test and Verify Your Redirections
- 5. Best Practices to Prevent Redirect Errors
- Maintain Accurate DNS Records
- Use 301 Redirects for URL Changes
- Regularly Monitor for Errors
- Avoid Redirect Chains
- Test HTTPS Settings After Activation
- Conclusion
How to Add a Table of Contents in Blogger
1. Understanding Redirect Errors
Redirect errors occur when a user or search engine attempts to visit a page but gets redirected incorrectly. This can lead to issues like endless redirect loops, broken links, or users landing on the wrong page.
What Are Redirect Errors?
There are two kinds of error: Redirect Error and Pages with Redirect Error. There is a difference between the two.
Redirect Errors
Redirect errors are anomalies in URL redirection where a page fails to point to the intended destination. A Redirect Error refers to a failure or issue that occurs during the redirection process when a user or search engine attempts to access a URL. Instead of successfully leading to the intended destination, the redirection fails due to issues such as:
- Redirect Loops: The browser gets stuck in an infinite loop, repeatedly trying to follow redirection rules.
- Too Many Redirects: Excessive redirects confuse the browser or server, causing an error.
- Broken Redirects: The redirect points to a non-existent page or an incorrect URL.
- Protocol Mismatch: Redirects between HTTP and HTTPS may not be properly configured.
A Redirect Error indicates a fundamental problem with the redirection logic or configuration.
Pages with Redirect
Pages with Redirect When search engines like Google crawl your website they see links to different pages. When a link to a page is redirected it another page, the search engines show it as a Redirect error.
Pages with Redirect Error specifically refers to the individual pages or URLs on a website that experience a Redirect Error. These are pages flagged by tools like Google Search Console or crawling software as problematic due to failed or improper redirections.
For example, A blog post with a URL like example.com/old-post might redirect to example.com/new-post. If this redirect is misconfigured or broken, the page example.com/old-post is categorized as a "Page with Redirect Error."
This term focuses on identifying where the problem occurs so it can be addressed on a page-by-page basis.
Common Types of Redirect Errors in Bloggers
Before we attempt to fix the errors, we must understand the types of errors that lead to redirect errors in the Google search console and Webmaster Tools.
Too Many Redirects
When the user a bot is redirected multiple times to different URLs. For URL 'A' to URL 'B' then URL C redirects further and so on. It causes a negative user experience and also impacts on crawl budget which is an important metric for SEO. Too many redirects are usually caused by a misconfigured domain or URL settings.
Redirect Loops
Similar to the 'Too many redirects' error. But this results in back-and-forth redirection or circular redirect between two or more URLs. For example, URL 'A' to URL 'B' which again redirects to URL 'A'. These are caused often due to incorrect CNAME records or SSL issues.
Broken Redirects
This happens when old URLs aren’t redirected correctly to new URLs. Google found this URL without an explicit request or a sitemap. URL was discovered through a link from another page and it may have been a page that existed previously and was later removed. Googlebot will likely continue to attempt to access this URL for some time but will redirected to the 404 page showing it as a redirect error before it is shown as Not Found (404).
m=1 Querystring issue
The browser redirects to the mobile version when Google Smartphone Bot tries to access the URL. Almost all search engines have a default crawler set to a mobile version or smartphone bot. This is the most common error encountered by websites on Blogger CMS.
2. Why Redirect Errors Occur
Before fixing redirect errors, it's crucial to understand their root causes.
Domain Configuration Issues
Blogger requires custom domain owners to configure DNS settings accurately. Improper configuration, such as missing CNAME records, can lead to redirect issues. These errors are the most complicated ones to deal with and require advanced knowledge of domain configuration.
Improper URL Changes
Redirect errors can also arise if you change your blog's URL structure without properly implementing 301 or 302 redirects.
HTTPS and Mixed Content Issues
Switching from HTTP to HTTPS can cause mixed content issues if some assets or links still use the HTTP protocol. Bloggers may fail to load pages correctly in such cases.
Blogger Theme Customization Issues
Faulty theme code can cause unnecessary canonical URL issues and redirections. Make sure you have available themes in the Blogger CMS or themes created by reputed sources.
In case you face an issue with the theme, you can contact the support team of the theme creator from where you bought it.
3. Preparing to Fix Redirect Errors
Proper preparation ensures a smooth troubleshooting process.
Tools You'll Need
- Access to Your Blogger Dashboard
- Domain Registrar Account (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap)
- Google Search Console for identifying errors
- Web Browser Developer Tools to inspect redirects
- Online Redirect Checker Tool such as Redirect Checker
Backing Up Your Blogger Site
Before making changes, back up your Blogger data to avoid accidental loss.
Steps to Back Up Your Blogger Blog
- Open the Blogger dashboard.
- Tap on Settings > Manage Blog > Back up content.
- Click Download and save the file to your computer.
- Additionally, also download the backup of your theme by navigating to Theme > Click on Customize> Backup.
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Redirect Errors
Step 1: The Basic Checks
Before you fiddle with advanced settings, it is important to run a few basic checks and understand the cause of the redirect error.
Run the Redirect Checker Tool
Redirect Checker Tool helps you analyze the redirect paths. Once you run the tool on the page you are getting a redirect error, you get exactly how the browser is getting redirected.
Correct the m=1 Querystring issue.
If the redirect checker shows that only redirection occurs from the desktop version to the mobile version when the page is accessed from mobile, then you should know that this is the usual behavior of Blogger CMS.
And since the default indexing crawler is a smartphone bot, you will usually face this issue more frequently.
How to fix the m=1 issue in blogger
To correct this problem, you should follow the below steps:
- Ensure the canonical URL does not include a query string.
Open the URL in the browser by prepending "view-source:" to the URL. Use find on page feature of the browser to locate canonical URLs. The canonical URL should be a plain URL without any query string.
If this is not the case, then the issue is caused because of a faulty theme template. Change the blogger theme and check again.
- Always use the mobile version of the URL for Indexing.
To request indexing on Google Search Console make sure that the URL has the Querystring - "?m=1" when you enter it in the inspection tool on Google Search Console.
The search engine will index the URL using its smartphone bot with no redirection and use the canonical URL to point to the correct URL automatically ignoring the m=1 Querystring.
Custom Redirects
- Go to Settings > Errors and Redirects in Blogger.
- Click Custom Redirects.
Review all the redirects to see if they work correctly and remove the unnecessary ones. Permanent redirects are often used to redirect from URLs that do not exist or when the pages have been migrated to new URLs. For all other temporary redirections do not use permanent redirection.
Step 2: Check Your Custom Domain Settings
Always make sure you follow the exact steps when dealing with domain configuration or take the help of a web developer. You can also ask for help from Blogger Support about the issue.
If you're using a custom domain, ensure the DNS settings are configured correctly.
- Log in to your Domain Registrar Account.
- Add the required CNAME Records:
- Host: 'www'
- Points to: 'ghs.google.com' - Add two A Records pointing to the following IPs:
- '216.239.32.21'
- '216.239.34.21'
- '216.239.36.21'
- '216.239.38.21' - Save the settings and wait for the DNS propagation, which can take up to 48 hours.
Step 3: Configure HTTPS Properly
Incorrect HTTPS settings can cause redirect loops or errors. Follow these steps:
- Open Blogger Dashboard.
- Tap on Settings > HTTPS.
- Enable the HTTPS Availability option.
- Enable the HTTPS Redirect option to ensure all HTTP traffic redirects to HTTPS.
Pro Tip: Test your site's SSL certificate using tools like RunSSL.
Step 4: Use Correct Redirect Settings
To prevent broken or incorrect redirects, configure the settings correctly in Blogger:
Redirect Non-WWW to WWW or Vice Versa:
- In Blogger, this is managed automatically if DNS settings are correct.
- Ensure your domain registrar supports domain forwarding for non-www to www.
Step 5: Test and Verify Your Redirections
Once you’ve updated settings, test your redirects to ensure they work as expected.
- Use Developer Tools in Your Browser:
- Open your site in Chrome.
- Press 'F12' to open Developer Tools.
- Navigate to the Network tab and check how requests are redirected. - Run an Online Redirect Check:
- Tools like Redirect Checker can help analyze redirection paths.
Common Checks:
- Ensure HTTP redirects to HTTPS.
- Ensure old URLs redirect to new URLs.
- Eliminate redirect loops or chains.
5. Best Practices to Prevent Redirect Errors
To minimize the chances of redirecting issues in the future, follow these best practices:
Maintain Accurate DNS Records
Regularly monitor your DNS records and update them as necessary when you make domain or hosting changes.
Use 301 Redirects for URL Changes
When updating URLs or migrating your blog, always use permanent 301 redirects to maintain SEO value and avoid broken links.
Regularly Monitor for Errors
Make use of tools like Google Search Console to identify and fix errors promptly. Regular monitoring ensures issues are caught early.
Avoid Redirect Chains
Multiple redirections slow down page loading and increase the risk of errors. Aim to redirect directly from the old URL to the final destination.
Test HTTPS Settings After Activation
After enabling HTTPS, thoroughly check your site to ensure all elements load securely without mixed content issues.
Conclusion
Redirect errors in Blogger, while frustrating, can be resolved by methodically diagnosing and fixing the root causes.
From ensuring proper DNS configuration to verifying HTTPS settings and testing redirects, these steps will help restore your site’s functionality and enhance user experience.
By following the guide and adhering to best practices, you can maintain a seamless blog experience and optimize your site’s performance.
If you’re still encountering problems, consider reaching out to Blogger support or consulting with a web developer for advanced troubleshooting.
I appreciate you sharing this article with your friends who are encountering Redirect Error in their online journey.
