Best Way To Redirect?

[kjarrett]

Mods, please move this thread if it's not best here.

 

We've got a new website service for our school, http://northfield.groupfusion.net - ASP model, PHP backend, Ajax powered, quite yummy.

 

We currently have a meta refresh tag in with a brief explanation in our index.html @ http://www.ncs-nj.org and it's working fine. We still have lots of stuff on the TCH domain including PHP stuff like Wordpress blogs, PHP gallery, and of course file storage.

 

What's the best way to do a redirect?

 

I like the meta refresh approach because if the new service is having issues, people can read the explanatory text. If I used an .htaccess redirect, I'd lose that capability, right?

 

Just wonderin'

 

Thanks, kj

[surefire]

"Best"... from SEO standpoint, usability, ease of upkeep?

 

If it's a permanent redirect, use a 301 in the htaccess file.

 

I think your point about the message staying up if the target website is having an issue is incorrect. I think the visitor would be redirected to the problem page.

[kjarrett]

"Best"... from SEO standpoint, usability, ease of upkeep?

 

If it's a permanent redirect, use a 301 in the htaccess file.

 

I think your point about the message staying up if the target website is having an issue is incorrect. I think the visitor would be redirected to the problem page.

 

Best from simplicity/ease of use. SEO would be nice.

 

Hmmm. Reading about 301 redirects here gives me pause. We still want some folders under ncs-nj.org to resolve as they stand, we haven't really moved the entire site, just the bulk of the front end.

 

I hear you about the problem page thing. Makes sense. But, when northfield.groupfusion.net has been down before, or slow to load, our redirect page has remained on the screen, at least long enough for people to read the message and see what's up, rather than just getting 'page cannot be displayed.'

 

Hmmmm. Guess I'm staying with the meta refresh tag for now...

 

-kj-