How can I change url without losing SERP

by 14 replies
18
Please can anyone tell me how I can change url without losing SERP

I have a web site which is currently showing many different pages early in searches. It is an on line retail site in Australia.

It cost a fortune in time and money to get it on to page 1 for the key search phrase because the url did bot contain the search phrase.

I now own a url which is the same name but has the search phrase added to it so Long term I would be better to change but as I have 4000 + backlinks to this site I am scared to change it.

Is there a 100% secure way of directing the old to the new without any loss of value of the backlinks and subsequent loss of SERP ?
#search engine optimization #change #losing #serp #url
  • I think the best way to do it is with a 301 .htaccess redirect.

    301 redirects - Webmaster Tools Help
    • [1] reply
  • From my experience, you do lose your current rankings, even if you set up 301 redirect 100% correctly. Eventually you will get the rankings back, but there most possible be a drop in rankings (and consequently in traffic). I also lost PageRank until the next PR update in all cases.

    Thus I would say you update your primary URL only in the case of very strong business necessity. The lost value may be compared to setting up another website on that new domain, incl unique copy, links, etc. If you really want to use that new domain - a new microsite could be a better option here.
    • [2] replies
    • You can't judge someone with only 10 posts!

      That last reply was spot on, exactly what I would say.

      That's 2 votes for that.

      Why monkey with success?

      Your backlink total and other things are why your current site
      ranks so high. The domain is secondary.

      Paul
    • Yes It is a Business Neccesity so I have to do it
      • [1] reply
  • Well I think there will be a temporary decline in your ranking during your redirect.

    But when that past, your rank shall be back. If you keep on working.
  • There is no such thing as changing a domain for a business necessity
    unless you were closed down.



    Its called Pre Closed Down The problem is that we may loose the original url due to a dispute.
    Without disclosing all our private information the other party probally wont use the url He justs wants to punish me by preventing me from having it.
    We are still in control of the url and can if it becomes neccessary do a 301 divert which may be able to be in place for several months while the dispute plays out This I am hoping will transfer some thing to the new url while we build up the new url with additional SEO work.
  • For anyone thats interested here is sequence of events and reports for our actions in doing a 301 re direct

    1/ Created new site and launched it Added some links and got site Indexed.
    2/Over a 3 week period we added more links Site showed as no 139 in main search (relevant url )
    3/ Activated 301 re direct for each page of old site and informed google via web master tools
    4/ SERP position remained the same for 24 hours ( mostly no 1 and a few no 2 & 3 SERP )
    5/ Noticed that whilst the url had not changed the Title tag was showing new site
    6/ Old site disapeared from SERP New site still no 139
    7 36 hours later New site back in No 1 spot on Google search
    • [1] reply
    • My only concern with the 301 concept is that, while it sounds like you have done things very well to now and had a successful redirection, if you lose the domain name to this other party, they will remove the redirects and the 4000 links to your old domain name will be links to them rather than you.

      You may want to work quickly to contact as many of the webmasters of those 4000 linking pages, and get them to kindly point them to your new domain.
      • [1] reply
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  • sure some rank drop will be there in 301 redirect.
  • 301 redirection is a good choice, not 302 redirection. Different from 302 redirection and Meta refresh technique, 301 redirection is regarded as "permanent move" and "safe move", no potential downgrading or punishing risks from search engines.
    When a search engine sees a 301 redirection, it assumes that all credits for links to the redirecting URL actually belong to the new URL. This helps search engines index the new URLs very quickly.
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