Rebuilding a site, what can I expect?

[rfung]

I have a pr5 site that I'd like to rebuild - a few pages will hold the same name (i.e. index.htm, resources.htm, faq.htm, etc) but for the most part everything else will have new filenames.

I'm tempted to disregard PR issues and just do the whole thing as I'd like, and then let the PR take it's natural course over the new 'flow' of pages. Is this a wise thing to do? To be it would seem so since most, if not all inbounds I have are to the index page, and then the pr gets distributed from there. So as long as I keep the index, then next time the SE's come around and rank the pages, the - let's say 'agreggate' ranking should still be kept?

[robotsdobetter]

Is this a wise thing to do?

If the changes you make are better for your visitors than I would have to say it's a good move. The PR will stay the same for the homepage, so it will pass to your other web pages.

let's say 'agreggate' ranking should still be kept?

Far as the PR goes it should be fine, but your ranking could change because the change the site.

[cabowabo]

Always design for the visitor, second for the search engines. With the exception of AdSense, search engines don't pay you, visitors do.

Cheers,

CaboWabo

[cabowabo]

On anothe note ... most are paranoid about changing design due to a possible drop in ranking. However, the reverse is possible as well ... ranking could go up.