Why might Blogger send invisible redirects to Googlebot?

What does a 'no warning message' redirect mean for Googlebot?

On Blogger, you can set up custom redirects that redirect one URL to another. Normally, a human user occasionally sees an intermediate message ('You will be redirected...') or a transition page.

The issue is that Googlebot may receive a direct HTTP redirect (301, 302, etc.) without going through this intermediate step. The bot follows the redirect instantly without seeing what the user sees. The result: you think everything is functioning well for user experience, but the bot perceives a completely different redirect structure.

Why does this difference in treatment cause issues in SEO?

Because you can't detect redirect chains, loops, or temporary 302 redirects that should be 301. If Googlebot follows a redirect you haven't identified, you lose PageRank along the way, dilute the relevance signal, and risk having orphan pages remain indexed.

In short: you're driving blind. You think page A points to B, but in reality, the bot follows A → C → B, and you are unaware of it.

How does Fetch as Google help reveal this insight?

The Fetch as Google tool (or 'URL Inspection' in Search Console) simulates the bot's behavior. You enter a URL, initiate the fetch, and see exactly what HTTP code the bot receives, which final URL it reaches, and whether any intermediate redirects are involved.

This is the only reliable way to check that the server-side redirect aligns with your intentions. If you see an unexpected redirect, you can correct the Blogger configuration before the problem impacts your crawl budget or indexing.

• Blogger may send direct HTTP redirects to Googlebot without displaying an intermediate message visible to the user.
• Fetch as Google reveals the actual redirects followed by the bot, including hidden chains or loops.
• A temporary 302 redirect instead of a permanent 301 dilutes equity and delays signal consolidation.
• Orphan pages remain indexed if Googlebot does not follow the same redirect logic as the user.
• Correcting the Blogger configuration before indexing preserves crawl budget and PageRank transmission.

Does this statement align with real-world observations on Blogger?

Yes, and it’s actually a classic issue cited by Google support. Sites hosted on Blogger often have server-side redirects configured through the admin interface, but these redirects aren't always visible in logs accessible to webmasters. The result: you don’t see what Googlebot sees, and you discover the issue when a page no longer ranks or disappears from the index.

Mueller's advice makes sense to a practitioner, but it implies a broader problem: Blogger does not provide a transparent redirect dashboard. Therefore, you must manually test each critical URL with Fetch as Google or a third-party tool (Screaming Frog, OnCrawl) configured to simulate Googlebot. [To be checked]: Google does not specify whether these hidden redirects affect only desktop versions or also mobile-first indexing.

What nuances should be added to this recommendation?

First, Fetch as Google no longer exists under that name since the redesign of Search Console. The tool is now called 'URL Inspection', and it allows for live indexing requests. The functionality is the same, but the workflow has changed: you inspect the URL, click on 'Test URL Live', and check the HTTP response.

Additionally, this issue mainly affects older or migrated Blogger sites. If you've set up custom redirects five years ago and never revalidated them, you likely have outdated redirect chains. To be honest: Blogger is no longer the preferred platform for serious SEO projects, but millions of active blogs still carry this kind of technical debt.

In what cases does this rule not apply?

If you’re using a modern CMS with redirects managed via .htaccess or Nginx, this issue does not exist. You have full control over the type of redirect (301, 302, 307), the chain, and the conditions (user-agent, language, etc.). Server logs show you exactly what Googlebot received.

Similarly, if you've migrated a Blogger site to WordPress or another CMS, you likely cleaned up redirects in the process. Thus, the problem really only concerns sites that remain hosted on Blogger and use the platform's native redirects.

What should you do if you manage a Blogger site?

Start by configured in the Blogger interface (Settings → Errors and redirects). Export the list, then test each source URL with the 'URL Inspection' tool in Search Console. Note the returned HTTP code (301, 302, etc.) and the final destination URL.

If you detect temporary 302 redirects when you wanted permanent 301s, modify the configuration. If you identify chains (A → B → C), remove the intermediates and point A directly to C. If you find loops (A → B → A), remove one of the rules after verifying which URL should be canonical.

What mistakes should you avoid when correcting Blogger redirects?

Never remove a redirect without verifying that it is not receiving organic traffic or active backlinks. Check Google Analytics and Search Console (Performance → Pages) to identify URLs that still generate clicks. If a historical redirect transmits PageRank, keep it even if it seems outdated.

Also, avoid multiplying cascading redirects for editorial 'cleanliness' reasons. Googlebot follows a limited number of hops (usually 5), but each hop dilutes the signal. Always prefer a direct redirect from the source to the final destination.

How can you automate the monitoring of redirects on Blogger?

Set up a monthly crawl with Screaming Frog in 'Googlebot smartphone' mode (for mobile-first indexing). Enable the 'Follow Redirects' option and export the 'Redirect Chains' report. Compare it to the previous month to detect new chains.

You can also use Google Apps Script to query the Search Console API and automatically extract HTTP codes from inspected URLs. This is not trivial to set up but is scalable if you manage multiple Blogger sites for clients.

• Export all custom redirects from the Blogger interface
• Test each source URL with 'URL Inspection' in Search Console
• Identify 302 redirects and replace them with permanent 301s
• Remove redirect chains by pointing directly to the final destination
• Verify in Analytics that redirected URLs no longer receive direct traffic before deletion
• Set up a monthly crawl with Screaming Frog to monitor the emergence of new chains