📖 This article explains
What is a redirect?
A redirect is a way to send your website, or Flipbook, traffic to another URL from the one they originally requested. The most commonly used redirects are 301, and 302. In this guide, we’ll go into further detail in how you can use these to redirect your traffic.
We’ve got great news: you can set up both 301 and 302 redirects in iPaper! However, this comes with a few caveats to keep in mind:
Redirects can be created on a domain level only, it is not possible to define redirects on a Flipbook level, and
Only one redirect can be defined per Branded Domain.
Great, now that’s out of the way, let’s set up a redirect!
What is the difference between a 301, and 302 redirect?
301 (Moved permanently)
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect to the redirected page, and in most instances is the best method for redirecting from one page, or site, to another. When you use a 301 redirect, users requesting the original URL will always be redirected to the new URL, and the redirect destination will assume rank parity in Google and other search engines. This important for the SEO of your page.
If you later deactivate your 301 redirect, your visitors will need to clear, or refresh, their cache in order to access the original URL again.
302 (Found)
A 302 redirect works in similar fashion to it’s ‘permanent’ counterpart above, except that it is intended as a fallback, when the requested URL cannot be found, reach or is changed temporarily.
For example, you could implement a 302 redirect such as https://www.ipaper.io/catalogs, to serve as a fallback when a specific page—https://reader.ipaper.io/—cannot be accessed. Users requesting the former URL will be redirected to the latter in cases when the original URL is no longer active, and would avoid being met with a 404 page.
In short…
301 redirects are recommended when you permanently, and actively, wish to redirect all traffic from one URL to another. 302 redirects are recommended to be used as a failsafe to send traffic to a stable URL, in case the target URL becomes unreachable.
How to set up redirects in iPaper
First, you’ll want to access your iPaper account settings by clicking on the Account details icon in the top, right corner, and then Account settings.
Next, select Branded domains from the left-hand menu. You’ll be presented with an overview of your Branded domains.
Click on the three-dot menu ‘…’ corresponding to the Branded domain you wish to set up a redirect for. This will open a dropdown menu, where you will select Edit.
In the Edit Branded Domain settings pane, now present, click on the cogwheel icon to open the Advanced settings.
Here, you’ll be able to enter a fallback URL in the Fallback URL field, to create a 302 redirect, which will receive traffic in case the original destination becomes unavailable.
To make your fallback, 302 redirect into a permanent, 301 redirect, check the Use permanent redirect checkbox.
To finalize your changes, click the Edit button at the bottom of the pane. Tada! You've set up your redirect.
Considerations when setting up redirects in iPaper
Both 301 and 302 redirects happen with immediate effect once you have saved your changes. Please be especially careful with regard to 301 redirects, as visitors who request your URL while the redirect is active will have the redirect URL cached in their devices. If you later deactivate your 301 redirect, these users will need to clear, or refresh, their cache in order to access the original URL again.
Please also note that in order for your 301 redirect to work, you will need to maintain both the original domain, and the new domain to which traffic is redirected to.
If you plan on transitioning from one domain to another, we recommend that you set up a new Branded domain to replace the one you are transitioning from. You’ll also want to ensure that you update all links on your domain that point to your Flipbook!
Of course, if you're unsure of anything, or have any questions about what redirect would work best for you, or how to set these up, reach out to us using the chat bubble in the corner. ✌️