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Old Links that show up from a previous web site in search results - can these be fixed

by toivo
6 replies
  • SEO
    • |
To help understand, here is my new site. I re-launched it about 5 weeks ago and still working out some bugs. In a recent key word check using MajesticSeo, I discovered this URL still floating around on the web: http://www.danscartoons.com/medical_cartoons.htm (a site built about 14 yrs. ago using Frontpage). My newest page I have that would trump that old page is this one. Here is what I am wondering:
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#1. Can I got into my Yoast plugin (.htaccess) and still make a 301 Redirect to that old URL that still floats out there? I.e.:

Redirect 301 medical_cartoons.htm https://danscartoons.com/cartoon-category/medical/
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#2. In other words, should old URLs be in the 301 Redirects if pertinent to newest pages?
#fixed #links #previous #results #search #show #site #web
  • Profile picture of the author options
    You could just use a custom 404 error page.


    Something like this,


    This page is no longer available, but this page (link) might be of interest to you.
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  • Profile picture of the author AlonzoTJones
    upload the wp plugin "404 to start" or the "redirect 404 to parent" plugin. That should take care of any old URLs that are still indexed and send them to your home page. You could also use the "simple 301 redirects" plugin for specific URLs that you know of.
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    • Profile picture of the author toivo
      Originally Posted by AlonzoTJones View Post

      upload the wp plugin "404 to start" or the "redirect 404 to parent" plugin. That should take care of any old URLs that are still indexed and send them to your home page. You could also use the "simple 301 redirects" plugin for specific URLs that you know of.
      thanks for that Alonzo. I currently have 4 plugins activated and feel that is too many LOL....I want to avoid reliance on plugins and am wondering if anything can be accomplished in Yoast's .htaccess settings? I appreciate it though
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      • Profile picture of the author AlonzoTJones
        Originally Posted by toivo View Post

        thanks for that Alonzo. I currently have 4 plugins activated and feel that is too many LOL....I want to avoid reliance on plugins and am wondering if anything can be accomplished in Yoast's .htaccess settings? I appreciate it though
        @toivo, there may be a work around in the htaccess file. I am not of aware of any specifics tho.

        Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author toivo
    Alonzo: Much appreciated....what I had done was experimented in the Yoasst .htaccess file setting and tried:

    Redirect 301 /medical_cartoons.htm/ https://danscartoons.com/cartoon-category/medical/


    did not work. Keep in mind the bold part is old URL
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by toivo View Post

    To help understand, here is my new site. I re-launched it about 5 weeks ago and still working out some bugs. In a recent key word check using MajesticSeo, I discovered this URL still floating around on the web: http://www.danscartoons.com/medical_cartoons.htm (a site built about 14 yrs. ago using Frontpage). My newest page I have that would trump that old page is this one. Here is what I am wondering:
    ------------------------------------------
    #1. Can I got into my Yoast plugin (.htaccess) and still make a 301 Redirect to that old URL that still floats out there? I.e.:

    Redirect 301 medical_cartoons.htm https://danscartoons.com/cartoon-category/medical/
    ------------------------------------------

    #2. In other words, should old URLs be in the 301 Redirects if pertinent to newest pages?


    Redirect the old URL to the new URL.

    Avoid 404 pages like the plague, they serve no purpose for traffic or SEO and should have never been invented.

    Run Screaming Frog on your site (free for 500 URLs) and fix all 404s with 301 redirects to relevant existing pages.

    The reason you want to salvage old links for SEO is because they sometimes have backlinks pointing at those old pages which can still be used via a 301 redirect.
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