g1smd - 8:56 pm on Aug 27, 2006 (gmt 0)

>> >> However, supplemental results for URLs that return "200 OK" for current content searches are a warning sign that something needs to be fixed. << <<

>> What is there to fix if the content is current? <<

What you will find is that you either have (duplicate content) multiple URLs for the same content so you need to install noindex tags or redirects on the alternatives; or you have (pseudo-duplicate content) too similar titles or meta descriptions which need rewriting. That is what needs fixing. The site should return each piece of content under a single "200 OK" URL.

>> I'm pretty much in the same boat as schalk with the https/http versions which caused dupes. along with the whole www/non www garbage. <<

Yes, that is another type of duplicate which you fix with either a redirect or noindex tag on the https.

>> What you're saying g1smd is that those URLS are basically going to stay supplemental for a year. <<

Once you fix a problem on the site, the URL will continue to show as a supplemental result for a year. It might not rank, but the other URL, the canonical URL, will usually quickly regain position.

>> The real question is if the canonical problems have been fixed and we need our traffic back from those pages... <<

The canonical URL for a page of content should rank quite quickly after fixing the alternative URLs by making them issue redirects or noindex tags.

>> should we...

>> 1. move the pages and 404 the supplimental ones. <<

No. The URL will continue to show as supplemental for a year.

>> 2. move the pages and 301 redirect them <<

You should have a 301 rdirect on the alternative URLs. They will continue to show in the index for a year, and the redirect will take the visitor to the correct page.

>> 3. abandon the entire directory if it all or most went supplimental and move pages. <<

Whatever you do, those URLs will continue to show as supplemental for a year. Make sure that only one URL returns a "200 OK" for each piece of content that exists on the site, and all others cannot be indexed.

Refer to the example URLs for this thread, in the post above, for guidance.