What are status codes?
If a client accesses a server, the server provides a response. Such a response is referred to as a status code. The server informs the browser whether the request was successful or whether there is an error. Status codes are subject to different classifications. Status codes 200, 404 and 300 are among the most important responses.
What do status codes mean for SEO?
Various status codes are relevant and interesting in the field of search engine optimization. It is important for SEOs to check the status codes regularly. If the status code 200 is displayed in the tool, everything is in the green. In this case, the website is working correctly.
If SEOs want to avoid duplicate content, they use the 301 redirect. This is very important if duplicate content is present. If Google detects duplicate content, you may be penalized. However, if the htaccess file is used, you can permanently redirect to a different URL. The old page is no longer accessible. In addition, the linkjuice is passed on, which is positive for the website.
Temporary redirection is possible with 302 redirection. In contrast to the 301 redirect, however, the old page remains parallel to the new page.
If the status codes 404 and 500 appear, action is required. With the error 404, a page is no longer available on the server. However, webmasters should ensure that no "Not Found" message appears. It makes sense to offer an alternative, as 404 error pages have a negative impact on usability and cause users to bounce. A high bounce rate has a negative effect on the ranking.
The status code 500, on the other hand, indicates an internal server error. In this case, web hosts must make adjustments so that a page is visible again.
