I'm changing an AOL website (http://members.aol.com/jodipowell71/prospect-high.htm) over to a real domain site (http://www.prospectalumni.com) and would like to make a redirect page. Right now I just have a page at the old location with a link to the new domain name, but would like a redirect page that automatically takes the viewer to the new site. How is this done?
I've found that it's better to not redirect automatically when permenantly changing a URL. With automatic redirects, the user often doesn't notice (or forgets, or whatever) to update thier bookmarks. When the original URL disappears or stops being supported, the users can't find the site anymore. Making them manually click on the link forces them to take notice that the URL has changed and gives them the chance to update their bookmarks...of course, we all always forget to do that anyway...:-)
Ideally, you would have the server send an HTTP error code of 301 (Permenant redirect). If browsers actually followed the recommended standard, they would then automatically update the users's bookmark for them. Of course, no browser actually does this, but I still like to send 301's, just for the sake of "doing the right thing."
You can still have a redirect, but just delay is for 10 seconds or so...
The redirect page can say something like, "This page has moved to *new url*, please update your bookmarks. You will be redirected in 10 seconds or 'click here' to go to the new site now."
Something like that.
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