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Are you seeing a “Redirect Error” in your Blogger or “Submitted URL is a Soft 404 / Server Error (5xx)” in Google Search Console?
This guide reveals the hidden truths, step-by-step fixes the redirect error in Google Search Console, and expert strategies to resolve redirect errors permanently, so your site stays indexed and ranks well in Google.
🚨 What Is a Blogger Redirect Error in Google Search Console?
A redirect error occurs when Google tries to crawl a page that redirects to another URL — but something goes wrong along the way.
You might see messages like:
- “Submitted URL is a soft 404”
- “Redirect error”
- “Server returned unusual HTTP response code”
- “Crawl anomaly: Redirect loop detected”
These warnings mean Google couldn’t successfully reach the intended destination — which can hurt indexing, rankings, and user experience.
🧠 Hidden Truth #1: Not All Redirects Are Treated Equally
Many assume any redirect works fine. But here's what most guides won't tell you:
Google treats 301, 302, 307, and 308 differently — and using the wrong one at the wrong time can break your SEO.
Redirect Types Explained
| Redirect Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 301 – Moved Permanently | Tells Google the page has moved permanently | Permanent URL changes |
| 302 – Found | Temporary redirect | A/B testing, short-term moves |
| 307 – Temporary Redirect | Preserves request method | Secure temporary redirects |
| 308 – Permanent Redirect | Like 301 but preserves method | Used in API calls or POST requests |
🛠️ Hidden Truth #2: Redirect Chains Are Silent Killers of SEO
Even if all your links are correct, a chain of multiple redirects could be slowing down your site and confusing Google.
Example:
https://www.seozain.com/old-page → https://www.seozain.com/newer-page → https://www.seozain.com/newest-page
Google has to follow each step — and sometimes gives up after 5+ hops.
🔁 Hidden Truth #3: Redirect Loops Are More Common Than You Think
A redirect loop happens when a URL redirects to itself or endlessly bounces between URLs.
Example:
Page A → Page B → Page C → Page A → ...
Googlebot sees this and logs a “Redirect loop” error in Search Console.
🔍 Hidden Truth #4: Soft 404 Errors Are Often Misdiagnosed
A soft 404 is when a server returns a 200 OK status for a page that doesn't exist — often showing a generic 'Not found' message without actually returning a real 404.
Google thinks the page exists, users get confused, and your crawl budget gets wasted on dead ends.
⚙️ Hidden Truth #5: Server Configuration Mistakes Are the Real Culprit
Most redirect errors come from misconfigured servers — not bad content.
Common mistakes include:
- Improper .htaccess rules
- Faulty CDN settings
- Conflicting caching or security plugins
- Incorrect canonical tags or meta refreshes
🧪 Hidden Truth #6: Test Every Redirect Like Google Does
Google uses Googlebot to crawl and render pages. If Googlebot sees something different than a real user, you’ll get inconsistent crawl results.
What You Should Do:
- Use Google Search Console’s "URL Inspection"
- Test with Chrome DevTools Network tab
- Try online header checker tools
📦 Hidden Truth #7: Broken Internal Links Can Cause Redirect Errors Too
Even if your server is perfect, internal links pointing to outdated URLs can trigger redirect chains or loops.
Pro Tip: Use an internal link checker tool like Screaming Frog to audit internal links across your site.
🛡️ Hidden Truth #8: Monitor and Maintain Redirects Like Infrastructure
Treat your redirects like plumbing — they work until they don’t.
Best Practices:
- Keep a spreadsheet of all active redirects
- Set up monitoring via UptimeRobot or Dead Link Checker
- Review redirect logs monthly
- Remove unused redirects to reduce complexity
✅ Step-by-Step: How to Fix Redirect Errors in Google Search Console
- Identify the Affected URLs: Go to GSC > Coverage Report > Filter by Redirect Error or Soft 404
- Crawl Internally: Use Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to test how your server handles the redirect.
- Correct Redirect Logic: Update the redirect to point directly to the live page. Avoid chaining or looping.
- Fix Soft 404s: Ensure non-existent pages return a real 404 or 410 header
- Submit for Reindexing: In Google Search Console, click “Request Indexing” after fixing the issue.
🧩 Bonus: Original Framework – The Redirect Health Scorecard
Here's a simple scoring system to assess the health of your redirects:
| Criteria | Score (0–5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Directness (no chains) | 5 = direct, 0 = 5+ hops | |
| Status Code Accuracy | 5 = correct code used | |
| Final Destination Validity | 5 = working page, 0 = broken | |
| Crawl Time < 5s | 5 = fast, 0 = slow | |
| No Redirect Loops | 5 = no loops, 0 = loop detected |
Total Score = 25 max
Use this scorecard to prioritize fixing the worst offenders first.
📌 Final Checklist: Prevent Future Redirect Errors
- ✔️ Use only necessary redirects
- ✔️ Always redirect to relevant content
- ✔️ Minimize redirect chains
- ✔️ Monitor server headers regularly
- ✔️ Clean up old redirects quarterly
- ✔️ Update internal links after URL changes
- ✔️ Use real 404 responses for deleted content
