SEO: Changed a filename, Am I getting slammed?

12 replies
  • SEO
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Hi all,
I recently changed that the file name of the most critical money making page on my website and I don't think it's been indexed by google yet. In fact I've dropped down to the 5th page for my top term and it links to the old page.

Anyway, what's going on? Will google soon index the new page and my position return to normal or have I got slammed for duplicate content? And finally am I wasting my time with article SEO while this new page is still in 'limbo land'?

Thank you
#changed #filename #pages #recently #seo #time #wasting
  • Profile picture of the author Trent Brownrigg
    If all you did was change a filename then I assume Google will index it soon enough and all will be back to normal.
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  • Profile picture of the author getsmartt
    Did you do a 301 redirect from the old page to the new page, I am assuming you actually renamed the file from xxx.html to yyy.html ?

    A 301 will tell google that the old page has been removed and prompt them to spider the new page.

    some good info here
    Basic 301 Permanent Redirect
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    • Profile picture of the author angela99
      If you don't do a redirect, heaven knows how long it will take the new version of your page to get indexed and ranked.

      Never, ever, ever change a filename. To search engines, you've created a new page which could take six months to rank. I did this once en masse when I changed a category name in a WordPress blog... never again. :-)

      I hope you haven't nuked the old page. If you have, get links to your new page.
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  • Damn, shall I just change the file name back?
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Chris
      Generally, if you are getting good results with a page... you shouldn't change the name.

      Of course, I am one of those crazy ones that will change names if I think that will increase my ranking. You just have to be willing to take the risk that it will cost you the ranking you already have.

      You really need to do the 301 redirect to tell Google where the file has been relocated. If you don't, then it is considered a brand new page and it will rank or not on it's own in the future.

      -Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author getsmartt
    You have already made the change, I would just put the 301 redirect in your .htaccess file and hope for the best. That will also redirect anyone that happened to have the original page bookmarked or linked to the new page.
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  • Ok, well thanks a lot everyone for your help. I hope it goes well
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  • Sorry guys one last question.. I'm having problems creating the 301 redirect.
    The old page is WoW Leveling Guide Info, 1-70 Alliance and Horde Guide Reviews.
    and the new page I want to redirect to is WoW Leveling Guide Info, 1-70 Alliance and Horde Guide Reviews.

    Sorry to ask for something so specific but I suck at coding and the htaredirects I've made aren't working

    Thanks
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  • Originally Posted by GregoryHill View Post

    This is shocking!
    Well, I'm sorry but the codes suggested in the guides just aren't working for me. Help with the code would still be very appreciated.

    nevermind done it finally lol after around 20 tries I realised you only needed to put in the file name rather than the directory
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  • Profile picture of the author brp002
    Changing a file name should not do much. I have heard peoples rankings drop drastically latley. I think google really tweaked their algo in quality links.
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