Ok, so I bought a domain. Let's say it's: www.url.com. It comes up really well for a search term let's say "waterfalls" as www.url.com/waterfalls But when you follow the search engine link, it immediately redirects you to www.url.com/nowaterfalls. The past owner has a page at nowaterfalls that says he has closed down his waterfall website. I bought the domain. I have a copy of his old site up at the www.url.com, but I don't have a /waterfalls directory, just the /nowaterfalls/ directory with the index page explaining that he took it down. My concern is this: If I create a directory called /waterfalls, which is where google is pointing to, is that going to work? He couldn't have a 301 redirect to /nowaterfalls, otherwise Google should know (it's been years) that there is no such thing anymore as /waterfalls. So did he do a 302 redirect? There's no kind of redirect in the .html, nor javascript or cgi or anything like that (as far as I can tell). Any adverse effects by going ahead and making a /waterfalls directory and putting the content in there? Thanks, Austin
if u bought the domain then u have access to the hosting account redirects normally are in the .htaccess file remove the old redirect and start building up your own new web site with directories and files as you please if no redirect in any html files and .htaccess as well then the redirect might be in the apache main config file that would be a possibility if the previous owner was running the site on HIS own dedicated (managed OR root ) server. sitges on shared hosting have redirects typically in .htaccess file
If you have a cPanel or any web based control panel, it would be much easier to remove redirects. If its permanent, just look out in .htaccess file
Could he be using cloaking? because google wouldnt have that url indexed anymore if its not cloaking.