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Can you redirect an old post to a new one? Link juice?

by smolodoy
11 replies
So I do have one post that ranks, but no matter how much I try and build links to it, it doesn't move past page 2, but my other posts rank well, so I'm not sure why there is such struggle with this one, you might say competitors etc, its not the case. Anyways, I've just written a new, longer and much improved post on the very same subject, I was wondering if I can redirect the old post to this new one, will it pass all its link juice to it as well? What are your suggestion based on experience?
#juice #link #post #redirect
  • Profile picture of the author M3C
    Yes, for sure, just use a 301. I'm still not convinced it's 100% of the juice, but it's close .

    I've carried this out on numerous sites and all our links have stayed in position .
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  • Profile picture of the author smolodoy
    But how do you do the 301 redirect? I've done it with "Redirection" plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/redirection/

    but the old post is still there on the website, what do I do with it? I'm sure I'm not doing this right? Can someone suggest how to get this done the correct way?
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by smolodoy View Post

      But how do you do the 301 redirect? I've done it with "Redirection" plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/redirection/

      but the old post is still there on the website, what do I do with it? I'm sure I'm not doing this right? Can someone suggest how to get this done the correct way?
      I think you'd have to do it like this:


      1. Create your new post.
      2. Save the url for the old post.
      3. Delete the old post.
      4. Set up a redirect to have the same exact url as the old post.
      5. Point the redirect to the new post.
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  • Profile picture of the author smolodoy
    Thanks Roaster, but I dont think this last 2 steps make sense:

    4. Set up a redirect to have the same exact url as the old post.
    5. Point the redirect to the new post.

    I really hope that someone could shine some light unto this!
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by smolodoy View Post

      Thanks Roaster, but I dont think this last 2 steps make sense:

      4. Set up a redirect to have the same exact url as the old post.
      5. Point the redirect to the new post.

      I really hope that someone could shine some light unto this!
      You need to set the redirect url to the same as the original url so that when google goes there it gets redirected to the new post.

      In other words, in your plugin, create a redirect with the extension so it matches the old url, then set the destination url to the new post.

      I'm assuming you want to carry the PR to the new page. Isn't that what you were asking?
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    Why redirect at all????
    1. Copy the new post.
    2. Edit the old post by pasting the new post from your clipboard
    3. Delete the new post.

    This totally replaces the old post (that is already ranking) with the content of the new post.
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by Sid Hale View Post

      Why redirect at all????
      1. Copy the new post.
      2. Edit the old post by pasting the new post from your clipboard
      3. Delete the new post.

      This totally replaces the old post (that is already ranking) with the content of the new post.
      Actually, this DOES make the most sense. I was so focused on how to do a redirect that I didn't even think of this! LOL.
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  • Profile picture of the author smolodoy
    I get what you're saying guys, but I do need a new link structure of the new post, because the old post doens't rank well, tryed different things etc, but it just doesn't move past page 2, but I really think that with a new post and new link structure it would do much better, but I also want that link juice of an old post to be passed to this new one. I can do the redirect, but the old post remains on the website, what do I do with it, how does it work?
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by smolodoy View Post

      I get what you're saying guys, but I do need a new link structure of the new post, because the old post doens't rank well, tryed different things etc, but it just doesn't move past page 2, but I really think that with a new post and new link structure it would do much better, but I also want that link juice of an old post to be passed to this new one. I can do the redirect, but the old post remains on the website, what do I do with it, how does it work?
      If you WANT the old post to remain on the website, then you don't want to do a redirect at all, you just want to add a link somewhere--probably at the bottom of the old post--that says something like:

      For more about this topic, check out: [link to new post]

      Since it's an internal link, I'm not sure how much of the link juice will be passed; also, you need to make sure your internal links are "dofollow."

      If you don't want the old post to appear on your website but want the link juice to be passed to the new one, you'll have to set up a redirect as I explained before.

      You can't do both.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Originally Posted by smolodoy View Post

      I get what you're saying guys, but I do need a new link structure of the new post, because the old post doens't rank well, tryed different things etc, but it just doesn't move past page 2,
      Redirecting to the old post will also do nothing to change the rankings of that page. From what you've told us, you expect the new content to accomplish that for you.

      As for the "link structure" of the new post, without disclosing the existing structure, it's impossible for anyone to analyze what is wrong with it as it stands, nor how to change it in a beneficial way.

      Originally Posted by smolodoy View Post

      but I really think that with a new post and new link structure it would do much better, but I also want that link juice of an old post to be passed to this new one. I can do the redirect, but the old post remains on the website, what do I do with it, how does it work?
      If you think link structure is another part of the problem, why not just implement those link structure changes on the old post?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Burritt
    Banned
    You have two options. Yes, I don't know of anyway in wordpress to do both. You just have to pick one as suggested by Sid Hale or DeadRooster.

    Besides, I wouldn't overthink it. Spend more time on keyword research and creating great content for new posts. I know it sucks to say that, but I know it's true. Find a trending search term and rank for that. I find it's easier than trying to keep an older post alive. I could be wrong, but this method works for me. I find most of my traffic (looking at google analytics) comes from the newer posts that are long-tail targeted.
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