Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
I apologize for the lack of detail, but here's the situation. I work at a start-up which will eventually (in about 8 mos) relaunch a section of an old, established site. The new site will have a new domain name. It's seasonal content, so in August when we want to relaunch, is when we will also want to capture as much traffic as possible, especially from the SERPs.
Right now the old site does pretty well with the keywords they are targeting, given that it is a well established and 'aged' site.
Our plan has two steps:
First-- redirect the current site, on the existing hardware and application, to the new domain in order to introduce and establish the new domain to the SERPs. Page structure, content, and all else would stay the same.
Second-- when we relaunch in August, move the domain and site to our hardware and application. At this point the page structure will change and the content, design and functionality will be updated.
Essentially we would be doing redirects once on just the domain, and later on the rest of the page structure.
Our partner is nervous about the traffic hit they will take in the redirect. Their agency is recommending a 302 for now until the new domain has traction on its own. (This recommendation is not one we support, and it's causing a lot of confusion and concern to our partner.)
Any advice, insight and recommendations are welcome.
.john
If everyone planned as sensibly as you, the world would indeed be a better place :)
It really is simple; set up the new domain now (instantly, the clock is ticking). Move the content from the old site to the new, leaving just the folder behind. 301 to the new domain.
eg olddomain.com/widgets/ >> 301 >> widgets.com
Test it, by trying to reach any old page which should end up at an identical page on the new site.
Set up a reader-friendly and useful 404 page on the new domain to catch the stragglers.
DO NOT do any major restructuring at the same time; give the site time to bed down and be recognised by Google.
This will take time, depending on your frequency of spidering, But it's almost certain to be at full steam by August. use a Google site map to help with in depth spidering of the new site. Do add and grow the site while you wait; regular attention will ensure regular spidering
Start writing to key linkers asking them to update. Don't worry about all.
Google listings will be off for a while, but if the 301 works, most people won't even notice, and they'll be right long before August.
Toolbar page rank will not appear for months, but that does not matter.
Provided you start now-ish, and have the new site indexed in a few directories and linked a little, you'll be fine.
Sadly, no guarantees, but I've done similar several times in less time. Smooth action, NO restructuring, and it MUST be a 301 - a 302 is entirely inappropriate and will be a disaster. The site is a permanent new site, and to gain its own ranking, it must be treated as a new site. You do have time.
[edited by: Quadrille at 9:41 pm (utc) on Jan. 12, 2007]
