Javascript redirects harmful for SEO?

[WeAreDigital_BE]

Hi Mozzers,

A website deals with some javascript redirects. After some research, It came clear a normal 301 is the best option, but javascript redirects can be useful if you don't have access to a website' server.

Does anyone have experience with javascript redirects? Can they be harmful in any point of SEO?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

[Roman-Delcarmen]

Let me understand, you want an opinion of "javascript redirects" vs "apache". So you have access to root file bust you don't have access to the Cpanel or Apache or another web server.

[WeAreDigital_BE]

Hi Roman,

That's basically it. When people don't have access to the Cpanel, Apache or another web server, they can use javascript redirects. But do they pass for example equal link juice as a 301? Or are they any disadvantages on using javascript redirects? So as you said, I would like to hear an opinion on javascript redirects vs apache.

Thanks, 
Jens

[ThompsonPaul]

Doing redirects in JavaScript is definitely a "better than nothing" solution, rather than anything that should be recommended. It means placing your trust in something in that is supposed to work work, as opposed to something that definitely will.

I'd make sure there really was no way to do the redirects properly first, before falling back to the last-ditch solution.

Here's a test from a year ago that showed ranking authority was passing through JS redirects, but note all the caveats they include (especially that Bing didn't handle this at all at the time).
https://www.branded3.com/blog/seo-javascript-redirects-evidence-pass-pagerank/

Hope that helps?

Paul

[ThompsonPaul]

Just to be clear here - you don't need access to the Apache webserver to manage proper redirects. As long as you have folder access to the website (FTP, command line etc) you can generate an htaccess file that will take care of it. (And not having this access means you basically have no real control of the website.)

P.

[WeAreDigital_BE]

Hi Paul,

This definitely helps!

Thanks for your answers and the link to the blogpost!

Kind regards,
Jens