Simple Redirect for inexperienced webmaster?

**CluelessInSeatl** · 09-09-2012 08:51 AM

Twelve years ago I set up a web page on GeoCities using their GUI that actually produced the HTML code.

Now, I want to retire that page and redirect visitors to a YahooGroups page.

I've found a number of places on the web that suggest using a "refresh" command.

But when I try it, it doesn't work.

You can see what happens by pointing your browser to this URL:

http://seattlecfs.webs.com/

If you try it, you'll see that a line of the HTML code appears on the screen, along with a link to YahooGroups, but the page never redirects.

I've pasted in the code I'm using below. I'd be grateful to anyone who could explain to me how to get the redirection working. (Also, since our group name "SeattleCFS" comes up first in a Google search, it would be nice to set up the redirection so that we keep our Google ranking. Is that possible?)

<html>
<head>
<title>Redirect to SeattleCFS YahooGroup</title>
< content="0;url=http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SeattleCFS/">
</head>
<body>
<p>
Redirecting to SeattleCFS YahooGroup. If you're not redirected within a couple of seconds,
click here:<br />
<a href="http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SeattleCFS/">SeattleCFS YahooGroup</a>
</p>
</body>
</html>

**tracknut** · 09-09-2012 09:54 AM

You're missing part of that line. It should look like:

Code:

<meta http-equiv="REFRESH" content="0;url=http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SeattleCFS/">

Dave

**daihuws** · 09-09-2012 10:15 AM

Use of that method of redirection is considered deprecated by the W3C, though. Not sure what Google think of it, which is probably a more important consideration. ;-)

Have you considered using PHP to redirect the header - it's very straightforward, uses all of two lines of code:
http://www.webconfs.com/how-to-redirect-a-webpage.php

**daihuws** · 09-09-2012 10:16 AM

Addendum: It seems that that is Google's preferred method, too: http://support.google.com/webmasters...n&answer=93633

**rtrethewey** · 09-09-2012 10:31 AM

Google and the other search engines generally treat a <meta> refresh as a 301 redirect. When you use this tag, it's also a good idea to include a link to the destination URL on the page for those users whose browser doesn't support the <meta> tag.

Google prefers server-based 301 redirects, but they've supported the <meta> refresh in this way for about 10 years now. Prior to that time, it was seen as potentially abusive and subject to penalties, so you'll still see a few websites warning you against this. You can safely ignore that advice.

**LaurenceB** · 09-11-2012 06:40 AM

Daihuws is right if you want only two lines of code.

You can use this code and even determine the time you want the client to take before the redirect. You might want to have then read a small advert.

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Web Page Redirect</TITLE>
</HEAD>

<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">

<H3>Please wait a moment. You will be forwarded to Media Web</H3>
<a href='http://www.mediauganda.com/'>Click here to go to Web Site</a>

<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content= "1;URL=http://www.mediauganda.com/">

</BODY>

</HTML>

The content in the meta refresh value 1 stand s for one second. It can be more.

**tifenni** · 09-12-2012 01:30 AM

To see a http://www.mmolive.com/ and http://www.mmohome.com/ world in a granda of stand.And a heaven in a wild flower.Hold infinity in the palm your hand and eternity in an hour.

**Gudlife** · 09-12-2012 02:11 AM

I would say the best way to redirect would be to include it in your .htaccess

Redirect to www using htaccess redirect

Create a .htaccess file with the below code, it will ensure that all requests coming in to domain.com will get redirected to www.domain.com
The .htaccess file needs to be placed in the root directory of your old website (i.e the same directory where your index file is placed)

Options +FollowSymlinks
RewriteEngine on
rewritecond %{http_host} ^domain.com [nc]
rewriterule ^(.*)$ http://www.domain.com/$1 [r=301,nc]

Please REPLACE domain.com and www.newdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Note* This .htaccess method of redirection works ONLY on Linux servers having the Apache Mod-Rewrite moduled enabled.

**CluelessInSeatl** · 09-12-2012 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by tracknut

You're missing part of that line. It should look like:

Code:

<meta http-equiv="REFRESH" content="0;url=http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SeattleCFS/">

Dave

Thanks, Dave,

I've found the problem: Apparently webs.com has a filter that automatically removes

Code:

meta http-equiv="REFRESH"

from the code.

So I'm going to have to try one of the other methods suggested in this thread.

Thanks for tipping me off to this problem,

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

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