How Great Is the Impact of URL Redirection on SEO?

URL redirection is nothing new to SEO professionals and webmasters. The commonly used 301 and less frequently used 302 redirections have become one of the essential tools for webmasters to address significant website issues.

So, what on earth is URL redirection? Is the birth of URL redirection, which differs from URL redirection by just one character, a catastrophic existence for webmasters and SEO professionals?

A few days ago, someone discussed on Souwai that Google SEM is testing a promotion tool called “URL redirection.” In simple terms, its intended effect is to allow direct purchase of relevant target links and display them above the normal, natural search results.

Compared to the past, SEM at least required writing creatives and purchasing keywords. However, this so-called “URL redirection” promotion method does not need bidding specialists to rack their brains to write various creatives. They just need to check which URL ranks first in natural search, copy it, paste it, and display it. That's it. Then, just wait for visitors to come.

SEM

This news is undoubtedly a thunderbolt for SEO professionals. If it is confirmed to be true, it would be an apocalypse or disaster for SEO!

In fact, earlier on Souwai, there was a so-called “Columbus Plan,” claiming that Google search results would appropriately intersperse bidding results within natural results, or even that the first page would no longer display SEO results. However, up to now, there has been no significant move from Google in this regard.

Google Columbus Plan

It is unknown whether it was influenced by the recent incident or whether the so-called “Columbus Plan” was just a rumor. Now, Souwai is again reporting that Google is testing “URL redirection” promotion, which has caused a sensation in the webmaster community. Some webmasters even claimed in QQ groups that the bidding promotion customer service of their company was also seeking opinions on whether to purchase such a promotion method.

I had never paid much attention to this so-called “URL redirection” before, nor did I delve into the definition of this so-called new promotion method. I just occasionally opened QQ groups to see webmasters' complaints about Google and then closed them to do my own things.

Online Marketing and Promotion

However, in the past two days, many webmasters and self-media friends have been discussing this issue on social media. It just so happened that I didn't know what to write tonight, so I decided to study this new promotion method. In my personal understanding, this promotion method is essentially a case of “I have money, I am the boss.” Because if you see a competitor's URL in the natural search results and it bothers you, you can simply take it over. This is equivalent to directly intercepting traffic, isn't it? It's like being obsessed with money!

Who came up with such an extreme promotion method? For SEO professionals, it is definitely a disaster. You have worked hard to optimize your website for three months and finally made it to the first page. In a minute, someone can bid for your domain name, and then you become the eternal second place!

For people in the online industry, perhaps they can distinguish between bidding promotion and natural ranking. However, for ordinary users, it is probably quite difficult to identify the difference. With the already not-so-obvious contrast, plus the fact that it ranks first, how would ordinary users know that the one on top is actually a fake? Li Kui is in tears under the pressure of bidding promotion, only because he doesn't have enough money to get through the barriers. He can only watch helplessly as customers are taken away by the fake. He can't even write a statement on his website because the URL is exactly the same!

Li Kui and Li Gui

From a personal perspective, I think Google would not, or at least not for the time being, expose such an extreme promotion method and indulge in such thoughts! The reasons are as follows:

How to Do Google SEO for a Website

In fact, I have always been skeptical, or even opposed, to Google's introduction of such an extreme promotion method. I don't believe that the Google I love would make such a failed decision. However, after hearing it from many people and reading articles that claim the news is true, my attitude has gradually changed.

How to Change Attitude

To be honest, I would rather believe that this is just a simple internal test by Google, and after the test, it will be forgotten, or that it is just a rumor. I really hope that this result will not become a reality. I also hope that media friends can keep a clear head and view the issue dialectically. It is best not to spread rumors and make hasty judgments. After all, the event has not yet occurred, and time will naturally prove whether it is true or not!