301 Redirect Is the Solution

The Summary of Discussion 2: 301 Redirect Is the Solution
Nick
Hi everyone. I am about to take a new website for a client live tonight. We are changing his domain to a shorter domain. He doesn’t want to lose much SEO from the old site. I already warned him it will prob dip a little bit after we launch the new one. I know I have to redirect all the pages but does anyone have any advice or tips for this to go smoothly. It’s actually my first time doing this. Thanks!
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George
redirect all links to new one . then add both to Search console and do a site move. To do that select the old domain, go to settings on the right-hand menu. Then click on the change of address and select the new domain . if 301 is done correctly, google will detect it and its done. And then wait and pray for your SERPS to be back 🙂
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Chris
If done properly there should be no dip.

Platt » Chris
he mentions moving to a different domain, I think there will definitely be a little dip as the 301 won't carry 100% of the link juice
Dan » Chris
Hey Chris, what's properly? I have done three in the last year and everyone took a dip. Instantly it takes straight over but everyone one took a hit? What did I miss?
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Chris » Dan
When changing domain it does.
Almost simultaneously you need to have a mod rewrite 301 redirect match so that every request for the old urls goes to the new urls. Have a sitemap on both the old domain and new domain.
Submit and verify the new domain after uploading the 301 redirect match, in the old domain url inspect the main category pages even i they fail google will pick up the new domain you just need to make it happen quickly to prevent the breakdown of page rank flow between the internal links.
Whilst a normal 301 doesn't transfer all the page rank a move to a new domain does.
Jason
+1 for all this.
Solid advise.
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Nick ✍️
Ok thank you. My plan was to use a redirect plugin and redirect all pages to the new website and domain. Then update google search console. Is that basically it? And this is prob a dumb question but does the client need to keep the old domain up and running for a certain amount of time?

Chris
Nick don't do it as all you are redirecting then are pages, a redirect match will move every single url request including media and other files that are in the google index.
Nick ✍️ » Chris
I think I am misunderstanding lol. Shouldn’t I redirect all the pages from the old site to the new one?
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Chris » Nick
You need to redirect every url request not just pages which is why I recommended a 301 redirect match. Edited to 301 sausage fingers 😛

Chris
You keep the old domain running until google bots stop visiting and ideally keep it up anyhow for safety sake because if the domain drops and gets reactivated the old links will regain page rank and the new site will likely slip
Smeet » Nick
Google Webmasters have an option for domain changing use that…make good number of backlinks to new domain that will help you to keep the old traffic coming to new one…also set the redirection. what content management system (CMS) and how many products or pages are there? if its Magento then this will be much easy to achieve.

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This may satisfy you: How Cost did You Buy an Aged Domain for 301 Redirection?
The Summary of Discussion 1: 301 Redirect Is the Solution
Brad
Recently purchased a blog with over 4k pages. The site is a total mess with 7k broken images, at least 1k pages of thin content. The site's traffic has been slowly going down over the last few years. The metrics for the site are insane, 2.5k ref domains from very high quality, organic sources. The site doesn't target any big keywords and the traffic is spread out over these 4k pages. Where would you start with this?
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Mario
Wondering what would be better? Delete all thin content? Would be a pain to update 1K pages of thin content
Ader
I'd check for broken links and fix when needed, then update best performing content for better CTR, and update lower performing yet relevant thin content. Also delete most of the thin content to only keep the best.
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Diver
Check which pages are getting traffic. Delete any that are not unless they have links.
That should reduce the size of your issues 🙂
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Pedro
Find if requests are 404ing too.
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Daniel
Combine thin content into larger related guides. 301 the old URLs etc etc.
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Nithin
Well what all precautions should one take while deleting pages

Ader
Avoid 404s.
Mario
Ader How would you do that? with a 301?
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Ader
Yep.
Mario » Ader
imagine he has to delete 1k pages of thin content – he would place a 301 auto-redirect to the homepage for ex?
Ader
It would make the most sense.
Travis
Don't auto redirect to the home page.
Mario » Travis
where to then? 1k deleted pages?
Travis
If your goal is to 301 them then divide them up into related keywords and 301 batches of them to a page that is related to the keywords in the URLs of the old pages
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Adeal » Brad
1) Ideally the first phase would be to update the broken links. It will be giving a very bad impression to Google bots leading to a disgusting experience.
2) Analysing and tweaking the meta keywords + meta titles identifying what audience has to be targeted. In simple words KW research according to target audience and implimentation.
3) Analyzing the top pages (with high traffic + on highest positions in search engine result pages (SERP)s and improving them further.
4) Thin content can be either improved OR deleted. Ideally if you can invest and improve them it will be great.
That is my 2 cents. I believe there are experts who will guide you much better. 🙂
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Travis
First step is to come up with a plan on how you want to monetize the website. Is it just a private blog network (PBN) or are you wanting to use the site. Then look for keywords that are in its niche and start creating pages targeting those keywords. Either 301 thin content to those pages or use thin content pages as tiers pointing to the pages you want to rank

Mario
1k pages of thin content?
Travis
If the pages have links and they are related to the keywords you want to target you can use them as a 301 or tier linking. I guess most call it silo not tier.

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