Moving and removing pages

How does moving the location of a page on the server effect SEO?

What about removing a page all together?

If a page with indexed at one location and then moved or removed what happens to it in the eyes of the SE?

 

If you move a page then you should use a 301 redirect to direct users and search engines to the new page.

if you remove a page you are probably best doing a 301 redirect to your homepage.

 

How do you setup 301 redirects?

After a while do the old pages simply become un indexed and the redirects are no longer needed?

 

It depends whether you use php, asp or html

Yes, but keep them there anyway in case any other sites link to the old pages.

 

All my pages are .html or .php.

Is setting up redirects just basic knowledge if so can you suggest a reference I can read or do they depend on the server and host?

Thanks

 

Stick this code at the top of your old php page.

<?
Header( "HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently" ); 
Header( "Location: http://www.new-url.com" ); 
?>

PHP:

 

Thanks. I'll try it out.