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How to keep backlinks to an old URL

by Wild
4 replies
Can't seem to find the definitive answer on this: I have a website with 1,000 backlinks and have to replace it with a new site. The content is different and I have to let the old website die (although slowly). If I do a redirect to the new site, does it get the linkjuice from the old site? Is there anyway to keep the value of these backlinks? I can keep the old site live for one year. I just can't send anymore traffic directly to it.
Thank you in advance.
#backlinks #redirect #url
  • Profile picture of the author Honest SEO
    Use wild redirect . I m not sure how it will benefit your ranking but wild card redirect will gave all that link juice back to you .
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  • Profile picture of the author Kul
    A 301 redirect on the entire domain (old) could help transfer the link juice over to the new domain.

    A 301 redirect tells the search engines that the page/site has moved permanently.
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    Originally Posted by Wild View Post

    Can't seem to find the definitive answer on this: I have a website with 1,000 backlinks and have to replace it with a new site. The content is different and I have to let the old website die (although slowly). If I do a redirect to the new site, does it get the linkjuice from the old site? Is there anyway to keep the value of these backlinks? I can keep the old site live for one year. I just can't send anymore traffic directly to it.
    Thank you in advance.
    That's because there is no definitive answer.

    Common sense would dictate that most SEs would realize over time that the relevance of the links has disappeared due to the changed content and adjust their weight accordingly.

    That said, the only avenue of action you have available is to do 301 redirects for each linked URL. But those redirects will only stay alive as long as you have control over the original domain so you CAN do redirects.
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  • Profile picture of the author sitemarketer
    Hi.

    For what you want to work, you need:

    a) Access to the old domain (as Steve said)

    b) The same content, in the same place, on your new domain

    c) A 301 redirect as Kul said. Make this the .htaccess file of the old site:
    Options +FollowSymLinks
    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteRule (.*) http://www.newdomain.com/$1 [R=301,L]

    d) Do a "change of address" in Google
    https://www.google.com/support/webma...y?answer=83106

    e) Go into Google Webmaster Tools and tell them about the new site:
    Adding a site - Webmaster Tools Help

    Once the year is up and you lose access to the old domain, the links will stop redirecting, but at least the search engines will have found you and given you some rank. During the year, build up a bunch of new links going to the site, and all should be well.

    For the definitive answer from Google:
    https://www.google.com/support/webma...er=83105&hl=en

    John
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