A key consideration lies in how Google treats each type of redirection. With a 301 redirect, Google typically indexes the new page fairly quickly and transfers most ranking signals from the old page to the new one. However, with a 302 redirect, there's often an "aging delay" where Google continues to display and rank the old URL even after it has been redirected.
This aging delay can be particularly problematic if time-sensitive changes are made on web pages or if outdated content needs immediate replacement by newer versions. Websites may experience prolonged periods during which both old and updated content coexist in search results due to this aging delay caused by improper use of redirects.
Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate potential issues arising from Google's aging delay in redirection, webmasters should prioritize using 301 redirects whenever permanent moves are made within their websites. By doing so, they ensure that ranking signals are accurately passed on to relevant pages without delays caused by outdated indexing.
Regularly monitoring website performance post-redirection can help identify any lingering issues related to aged URLs appearing in search results despite proper implementation of redirects. If such issues arise, submitting updated sitemaps through Search Console can prompt re-crawling and re-indexing by search engines.
Another effective strategy involves proactively managing internal links within websites following major structural changes or content updates alongside implementing proper redirects.