URL for offline use.

[Paul78]

Hi there,

We currently have a url www.example.com/health/back-pain/

We are wanting to promote this page on our product packaging however making the URL simpler www.example.com/back-pain/ is it just a case of using a 301? are there any issues here?

Thanks for any feedback

[DeanAndrews]

Hi

In your question you said that it was to make the url simpler for offline vanity. If that is your only requirement then a 302 would suffice, leaving the page to continue it's life in the 'health' directory

If you are wanting to moving the page anyway then a 301 would be the way to go.

If you are just producing a vanity URL (that does not exists online) for Offline & tracking use then a 302 would be better (I my opinion)

[Paul78]

Thanks for your reply.

Why would you use a 302 instead of a 301? I know a 301 is permanent and a 302 is temporary, I'm just trying to figure out your thinking on this?

Thanks

[DeanAndrews]

Hi

Could I make a suggestion.

You may want to track your short URL via Google Analytics as follows:

Redirect 302 /backpain http://www.example.com/health/back-pain/?utm_source=Brochure&utm_medium=ShortCode&utm_content=backpain&utm_campaign=Offline

Also I use a 302 rather than a 301 (moved permanently).

To help build your URL visit http://support.google.com/analytics/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1033867&topic=1032998&ctx=topic

Hope that helps

[donford]

Yes, that is exactly how I would handle it.