Question:

I just realized that my htaccess produces double 301 redirect in some cases. For example, if you try to access <a href="http://example.com/old_url" rel="nofollow">http://example.com/old_url</a> it will:

<ul><li>First 301 to <a href="http://www.example.com/old_url" rel="nofollow">http://www.example.com/old_url</a> (added www)</li> <li>Then 301 to <a href="http://www.example.com/new_url" rel="nofollow">http://www.example.com/new_url</a> (changed to new url)</li> </ul>

Here's how my htaccess is set up:

RewriteEngine On # Add www RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example.com [nocase] RewriteRule ^(.*) http://www.example.com/$1 [last,redirect=301] # Do some url rewriting RewriteRule ^new_url_1$ new_url_1.php [NC,L] RewriteRule ^new_url_2$ new_url_2.php [NC,L] # Do the 301 redirections Redirect 301 /old_url_1 http://www.example.com/new_url_1 Redirect 301 /old_url_2 http://www.example.com/new_url_2

How can I fix that to have only one 301 for better SEO?

Don't mix Redirect directives with mod_rewrite rules and keep specific redirect rules before www rule:

RewriteEngine On ## Unless directory, remove trailing slash RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule ^(.+)/$ /$1 [NE,R=302,L] # Do specific 301 redirections RewriteRule ^old_url_1$ http://www.example.com/new_url_1 [L,NC,R=301] RewriteRule ^old_url_2$ http://www.example.com/new_url_2 [L,NC,R=301] # Add www RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC] RewriteRule ^ http://www.%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,NE,R=301] # Do some url rewriting RewriteRule ^new_url_1$ new_url_1.php [NC,L] RewriteRule ^new_url_2$ new_url_2.php [NC,L]

Make sure to clear your browser cache before testing.