Minimize PR loss w/ redesign

Discussion in 'Link Development' started by cmeinck, Sep 6, 2005.

  1. #1
    Hi-
    I'm in the process of redesigning my site. Due to the structure of the new site (which is based on a content management system), some of the old pages *might* have new URL's. Is it possible to let Google know that "Page A" is still "Page A" but is located elsewhere. More importantly, if I set up a redirect, will Google transfer the page's PR.

    Thanks for your help.
    Chris
     
    cmeinck, Sep 6, 2005 IP
  2. yfs1

    yfs1 User Title Not Found

    Messages:
    13,798
    Likes Received:
    922
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    If you use a 301 permanent redirect, then yes, the PR will follow
     
    yfs1, Sep 6, 2005 IP
  3. SaN-DeeP

    SaN-DeeP Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    590
    Likes Received:
    12
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #3
    how many pages do you estimate will have a new location ?
    If there few pages, use .hta access (simple method) and do a 301 re-direct to them.

    Regards,
     
    SaN-DeeP, Sep 6, 2005 IP
  4. retSaMbew

    retSaMbew Banned

    Messages:
    739
    Likes Received:
    22
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    301 doesn't work "ALL THE TIME" instantly man
    I bet my bippie on that - I had a few times when perfectly legitimate 301 redir in htaccess as per big heads' guidelines at WMW didn't work heck and I had to go thru long a tiring process of waiting for PR to appear at the next PR update.

    One of the sites that went thru that was pretty big and already ranked for serious searches like
    "software development canada".

    I devised a pretty tricky command n the htaccess that returns the contents of the new file still keeping old file name and url in the address bar so google never knows the file name has changed. With simple 301 redirs you forward bot to filename.php when filename.html is requested but this way you get filename.php written in the address bar and theres still a risk of getting empty PR bar which happened many times with me regardless of what clever heads say - so the trick is to keep .html in the address and request php instead.

    Heres the example that I used with one of my sites to avoid possible pr problems.

    RewriteRule ^(.*)\.html$ $1.php
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}.php -f
    RewriteRule ^(.*)\.html$ $1.php [S=1]
    RewriteCond %{ENV:WasSHTML} ^yes$
    RewriteRule ^(.*).php$ $1.html

    Hope that will help.

    RS
     
    retSaMbew, Sep 6, 2005 IP
  5. retSaMbew

    retSaMbew Banned

    Messages:
    739
    Likes Received:
    22
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    SaN-DeeP - you can always generalize rewrite rules in the htacces by using regexps if I am getting it right
     
    retSaMbew, Sep 6, 2005 IP
  6. Liminal

    Liminal Peon

    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    63
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    Of course you are getting right ;)

    And, it does matter how many pages are moved, you'd be setting up redirects in either .htaccess or httpd.conf
     
    Liminal, Sep 8, 2005 IP
  7. cmeinck

    cmeinck Active Member

    Messages:
    468
    Likes Received:
    15
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #7
    At a minimum, there will be about 40 pages or so that will need a redirect. Ideally, it will be another 60 or so pages. I'm creating more logical categories for my end users. Imagine that, I'm doing something for the end user rather than SEO reasons.:rolleyes:

    I have cPanel on my server - which gives me the option to do permanent redirects. Any downside to using this "very easy" GUI to set up my redirects?

    I have no choice but to do the 40 or so redirects at site launch. I do have flexibility on the other changes. Is there an optimal time to make these changes? After the next PR update? Now?

    Thanks in advance for your help.
    -Chris
     
    cmeinck, Sep 10, 2005 IP
  8. pcdoc

    pcdoc Active Member

    Messages:
    690
    Likes Received:
    36
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    70
    #8
    If at all possible, maintain the old linking structure, add new pages.
     
    pcdoc, Sep 11, 2005 IP
  9. Liminal

    Liminal Peon

    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    63
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    Don't see any downsides related to doing your redirects via cPanel except for you can't have wildcards, I believe. I would make the change right after the PR update to be on a safe side
     
    Liminal, Sep 11, 2005 IP
  10. cmeinck

    cmeinck Active Member

    Messages:
    468
    Likes Received:
    15
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #10
    Unfortunately, this is not possible. I have done this in the past and to be honest it just causes confusion for my readers. I have two categories which have similar content (Case reviews).

    Sorry, but is a "wildcard"?

    I've been working on the new site on a development server. It's looking more and more like I will have to move the whole dev site over in place of the existing site. This will cause pretty much side wide link changes. I'm concerned about losing my PR (who wouldn't be). Right now, I'm making a big laundry list of "Old URL" and "New URL". My plan is to have a "cPanel Redirect Party" -- copying and pasting the redirects.

    I wonder if it makes sense to test one out on Google -- see if the PR transfers? Has anyone done this succesfully and in what timeframe did the PR transfer?

    Thanks.
    Chris

    p.s. - retSaMbew...thanks for your input - way over my head though. :(
     
    cmeinck, Sep 21, 2005 IP