Redirects to preserve SEO in HTML doc

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by linkdealer, Jun 2, 2009.

0
  1. #1
    Hello,

    I am working on site for a client that already has an established a good presence on Google and is top 2 or 3 results on several key phrases and words. His old site was built in static HTML and now his site will be built on wordpress which gives SEO friendly urls.

    My question is how do I go about creating redirects so he does not loose his rank?

    I have seen HTML redirects like this:

    <! DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <title>Your Page Title</title> <meta http-equiv="REFRESH" content="0;url=http://www.the-domain-you-want-to-redirect-to.com"></HEAD> <BODY> Optional page text here. </BODY> </HTML>

    But the problem with this is that it is a white screen before it redirects you to the new page. What are some other options I can put in his old HTML files so that they re-direct without viewing the white page of the HTML re-direct?

    This is for pages within the site not just a complete re-direct of the site.
     
    linkdealer, Jun 2, 2009 IP
  2. Lever

    Lever Deep Thought

    Messages:
    1,823
    Likes Received:
    94
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    145
    #2
    I use htaccess files on my *nix servers to do 301 redirects. Have a search to find the best tutorial on this...
    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...t=result&cd=1&q=htaccess+301+redirect&spell=1

    Basically, for each line on the htaccess file you're specifying the old url and the new url to be pointed to. Although there are options to automate this.

    Have you thought of modifying your paths in wordpress to exactly replicate the ones in the old flat html site? Is that possible for you to do? If so, that might be better than any redirects :) Oh wait, scratch that - I re-read that's why you're going to Wordpress :) If you're on a ~nix box then I recommend a readup on 301 redirects.
     
    Lever, Jun 2, 2009 IP
  3. Canonical

    Canonical Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,223
    Likes Received:
    141
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    110
    #3
    DO NOT use <meta http-equiv="REFRESH">. This will not preserve your PR and rankings.

    You need to implement 301 redirects using Mod Rewrite (available on Apache/~nix boxes) and .htaccess files. In order to save their rankings and PR you will need to redirect each URL individually. Don't just redirect everything to the new home page. Redirect each old URL to the new URL whose content most closely resembles the content at the old URL. This way the link text of any inbound links to the old URL will be applicable to the new URL and help it rank.
     
    Canonical, Jun 2, 2009 IP