SEO - Why are they doing these 301 redirects? [closed]

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I'm looking at a site that ranks #1 in google for some keywords. I looked over the code of the sites that link to them using ahrefs.com and I came upon something interesting that I don't understand:

For siteA1, they have 5 or more pages (shipping, terms & conditions, sitemap etc) that link back to the web design firm that did their site. EX: siteA1.webdesignfirmSiteB.com/sitemap and this 301 redirects to siteA1.com/sitemap.

For another site siteA2, they have a lot of links that do the same thing. EX: siteA2.webdesignfirmSiteB.com/blue-widgets/ 301 redirects to siteA2.com/blue-widgets/

Is this cheating the ranks?

manpreet 2 years ago

This is probably left over from when the site was being developed. It is quite common to have sitename.webdesign.com and then once the site goes live just 301 redirect all to the "proper" name.

I don't know if there are more reasons than that, but the above is common practice.