SEO question on changing URLs - GoFuckYourself.com

mkx · 05-01-2005, 03:59 PM

When you change your domain name or url for a homepage is it ok to leave the old one there as a mirror? Do search engines catch onto these things and do they penalize you for it? If so, whats the best way to redirect users to the new website which will go good with search engines (ex. click here for new page, immediate redirect, delayed redirect, etc.)

johnny1 · 05-01-2005, 04:40 PM

Interested in this as well..bump for you!

05-01-2005, 04:43 PM

I'd go for a http status code 301, moved permanently. the redirected page should regain the PR over time, but for me also hasn't in some cases.

khs · 05-01-2005, 04:45 PM

what about for removing pages? what do you do then, a 404 redirect to your homepage?

suesheboy · 05-01-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vladimir

I'd go for a http status code 301, moved permanently. the redirected page should regain the PR over time, but for me also hasn't in some cases.

Correct answer.

05-01-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suesheboy

Correct answer.

I know dis.

mkx · 05-01-2005, 11:22 PM

Thanks! This is htaccess right? What do I put again just to be sure?

WiredGuy · 05-01-2005, 11:45 PM

Ideally, changing urls is bad but sometimes unavoidable. 301 permanent redirects is what I'd use if i had to make such a change.
WG

mkx · 05-02-2005, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiredGuy

Ideally, changing urls is bad but sometimes unavoidable. 301 permanent redirects is what I'd use if i had to make such a change.
WG

So leaving it as a mirror (lets say for example www.sexforums.net and www.sexforums.com) would be bad for search engines? What exactly should I put in htaccess to do the redirects?

WiredGuy · 05-02-2005, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raulph

So leaving it as a mirror (lets say for example www.sexforums.net and www.sexforums.com) would be bad for search engines? What exactly should I put in htaccess to do the redirects?

Ideally, you wouldn't change links at all because everyone's backlinks are to your old domain. And as for the htaccess, I've never made a change like this so I'm not sure how to set it up to be honest.

WG

mkx · 05-02-2005, 12:42 AM

So a 301 is much better than a page saying "this page has moved, click here to be redirected to our new site"? Thanks for the help!

xxxice · 05-02-2005, 12:43 AM

I have always been told always to leave a page. Yet, I not know if I believe it or not.

mkx · 05-02-2005, 12:58 AM

ErrorDocument 301 newsiteurl
ErrorDocument 400 newsiteurl
ErrorDocument 401 newsiteurl
ErrorDocument 403 newsiteurl
ErrorDocument 404 newsiteurl
ErrorDocument 500 newsiteurl

Would this work for htaccess?

mkx · 05-02-2005, 01:04 AM

Ok that didnt work, I just used the redirect option cpanel offers. Hope that is good

gleem · 05-02-2005, 09:08 AM

had to change the page names on a PR5 and PR6 site, and after a month I only got upto a PR3 using 301 redirects. best advice is don't change!

mkx · 05-02-2005, 10:13 AM

Still confused on what a 301 redirect is

fireorange · 05-02-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raulph

Still confused on what a 301 redirect is

http://www.google.com/search?q=301%20redirect

05-01-2005, 03:59 PM	#1
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	SEO question on changing URLs When you change your domain name or url for a homepage is it ok to leave the old one there as a mirror? Do search engines catch onto these things and do they penalize you for it? If so, whats the best way to redirect users to the new website which will go good with search engines (ex. click here for new page, immediate redirect, delayed redirect, etc.)

05-01-2005, 04:40 PM	#2
johnny1 Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: MTL Posts: 872	Interested in this as well..bump for you! __________________ --------------- ICQ163686688

05-01-2005, 04:45 PM	#4
khs Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,730	what about for removing pages? what do you do then, a 404 redirect to your homepage? __________________ Make MORE $$$ now! PussyCash

05-01-2005, 11:45 PM	#8
WiredGuy Pounding Googlebot Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 34,482	Ideally, changing urls is bad but sometimes unavoidable. 301 permanent redirects is what I'd use if i had to make such a change. WG __________________ I play with Google.

05-02-2005, 09:08 AM	#15
gleem Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sunny Land Posts: 5,593	had to change the page names on a PR5 and PR6 site, and after a month I only got upto a PR3 using 301 redirects. best advice is don't change! __________________ Contact me: \\// E: webmaster /at/ unprofessional.com

05-01-2005, 04:43 PM	#3
X37375787 Guest Posts: n/a	I'd go for a http status code 301, moved permanently. the redirected page should regain the PR over time, but for me also hasn't in some cases.

05-01-2005, 11:22 PM	#7
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	Thanks! This is htaccess right? What do I put again just to be sure?

05-02-2005, 12:42 AM	#11
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	So a 301 is much better than a page saying "this page has moved, click here to be redirected to our new site"? Thanks for the help!

05-02-2005, 12:43 AM	#12
xxxice Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,042	I have always been told always to leave a page. Yet, I not know if I believe it or not.

05-02-2005, 12:58 AM	#13
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	ErrorDocument 301 newsiteurl ErrorDocument 400 newsiteurl ErrorDocument 401 newsiteurl ErrorDocument 403 newsiteurl ErrorDocument 404 newsiteurl ErrorDocument 500 newsiteurl Would this work for htaccess?

05-02-2005, 01:04 AM	#14
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	Ok that didnt work, I just used the redirect option cpanel offers. Hope that is good

05-02-2005, 10:13 AM	#16
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	Still confused on what a 301 redirect is