Is URL redirect is beneficial for old domain to new one ?

Started by krishnanayak, 02-04-2017, 01:06:58

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krishnanayakTopic starter

Hello All !! Is URL redirect is beneficial for old domain to new one ? if we redirect old URL to New one then there are possibility to gain ranking which already have old URL.


wellliving

Yes, URL redirection can be beneficial when you're moving from an old domain to a new one. The best practice is to implement what's called a 301 redirect, which is a permanent redirect.

This type of redirect not only sends users to the new URL, but it also carries over most, if not all, of the search engine ranking score of the original page to the new URL, helping ensure that the SEO value you've established through the old URL isn't lost.

However, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Map out your redirects: Before you implement any redirects, map out which pages on your old domain correlate to pages on your new domain. This can help avoid confusion and ensure a more seamless user experience.

2. Redirect each page individually: Rather than just redirecting the entire domain to the new homepage, try to redirect each page on your old domain to its equivalent page on your new one. This is beneficial for both user experience and SEO value.

3. Monitor metrics: Keep an eye on traffic before and after the migration to ensure the redirects are working as intended. Regularly monitoring your website's key metrics can help you closely track any changes and adjust your strategy as needed.

4. Be prepared for a temporary drop: Expect a temporary drop in traffic and search rankings after redirecting, even with a perfect setup. However, with correct 301 redirect implementation and matched page content, the impact should be super minimal and rebound quickly.

Remember, while redirects can help maintain your SEO value, they're still no replacement for good SEO practices on your new website, including maintaining high-quality and relevant content, using appropriate meta tags, creating a good link structure, and more.

You should also consider submitting a change of address within Google's Search Console, which should help Google's crawl bot understand you have moved the domain to a new one.

Here are some additional considerations when redirecting from an old domain to a new one:

Update your backlinks: If possible, contact the owners of the websites that link to your old domain and ask them to update the urls to point to your new domain. While 301 redirects should pass the majority of the link equity, having direct links is always best.

Avoid redirect chains: Redirect chains (where one redirected URL redirects yet again to another URL) can dilute SEO value, slow down your site, and create poor user experience. Always aim for one-to-one redirects.

Standardize on www or non-www URLs: For the sake of SEO, it's better to choose either "www" or "non-www" URLs and stick to them consistently. Be sure your redirects stick to your chosen standard.

Implement a catch-all redirect: While you should map out your redirects individually, you should also implement a catch-all redirect for any pages you might miss. This will generally redirect users (and search engines) to your new home page if the page they're trying to access doesn't have a unique redirect set up.

Utilize a suitable Content Management System (CMS): A suitable CMS helps check on every 301 redirect to ensure they're all working as expected.

Check and Resubmit your XML Sitemap: After you have moved to your new domain and ensured all redirects are working properly, create a new sitemap and submit it to search engines. This will allow them to find and index your new URLs more quickly.

After the migration, make sure to monitor your analytics, rankings, and server logs closely for a period of time to ensure everything is migrating over correctly and so you can address any errors or issues that might erupt. Missing these issues can cause significant negative impacts to your SEO.

Notify your Users: Ahead of the change, notify your users about the upcoming move to a new domain. This can be done using various communication channels like your website, email, or social media. Providing information about the change ahead of time can help minimize any potential confusion or surprise.

Check for Broken Links: Once the 301 redirects are in place and the new pages are live, use a tool to crawl your website for any broken links. Finding and fixing these quickly can help maintain your website's user experience and SEO value.

Monitor Bounce Rates and Time on Site: Keep a close eye on key user behavior metrics like bounce rate and time on site before and after the transition. Significant changes in these metrics could indicate problems with the user experience on the new site or with the redirects you've put in place.

Request URL Removal if Necessary: If you're migrating to a new domain and want to completely remove the old one, you should implement the 301 redirects and then consider using Google's URL removal tool to remove the old website from its index. Note that this should only be done if you don't plan on using the old domain again.

Don't Rush: Lastly, don't rush to take the old website down after the switch. In fact, preferably, leave the old site running with the 301 redirects in place for quite some time (at least a few months) to make sure that search engines and users have time to become accustomed to the new domain.

Server Configuration: Depending on your server's configuration, you may need to make changes to .htaccess (Apache) or the config file (Nginx) for correct handling of the 301 redirects. Consult your hosting provider or server admin to properly execute this process.

Thorough Testing: Once you've implemented the redirects, you should rigorously test them to ensure that they're behaving as expected. This includes testing individual URLs, as well as domain-wide redirects for protocols, "www" and "non-www" versions, and more.

Security Certificate (SSL) Update: If your old site was using HTTPS (as it should have been for best practice), don't forget to obtain and install a new SSL certificate for your new domain.

State of Indexation: Use Google's Site: search operator to track how well the new domain is being indexed. Ideally, over time, the old domain's indexed pages should decrease in number as the new domain's indexed pages increase.

Keep an Eye on Traffic and Rankings: Even with everything in place, there can be temporary fluctuation in rankings and organic traffic after the migration. Monitor both closely to respond to unexpected issues potentially affecting your SEO.


gurujeet

Yes, you can redirect old domain to new domain by utilizing 301 redirects in term maintain your website traffic & its ranking. Yet its effects on ranking for the new domain.

RH-Calvin

URL redirect is really beneficial to redirect traffic from your old domain to your new domain. 301 redirect is the most efficient and Search Engine Friendly method for webpage redirection. It's not that hard to implement and it should preserve your search engine rankings for that particular page. If you have to change file names or move pages around, it's the safest option. The code "301" is interpreted as "moved permanently".

James Fisher

Yes, URL redirect is good, If you want to change the Url. Redirection helps to avoid the loss of traffic particular webpage. Search engines read the redirection and give ranks to the new webpage. But you can use 301 redirections to rank new webpage in search results.
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