Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
For logisitical and organizational reasons, we are changing our site to www.sitename.com
Are there any good resources on how best to make this transition without negatively affecting Google rankings?
Once the site is set up on the new server is it advisable to set up individual page redirects on the old server to the corresponding pages under the new domain name? Do I submit a new google sitemap from the new domain? I want to avoid being penalized by Google, but I'm not sure where to start.
Thanks in advance.
I recently changed to a CMS and had to move every one of our pages, and with 301 redirects there's only been a small drop in ranking which may be nothing to do with the changes anyway.
However, changing the domain name is almost always more of a problem, even while keeping the same page names. In my experience, ranking drops are almost inevitable - I would suggest financial planning for that possibility. Yes, a key part of the plan does need to include 301 redirects.
The advice in the above linked thread is solid - don't just assume that the 301 and 404 headers are done properly. Verify them with a header cheker utility, and verify everything else about the new domain as soon as any technical change is made. Trying to recover from a domain move AND a technical error at the same time couod be very bad news.
The best option is always - always - not to change domains, even if the name seems slightly 'off'.
But if you really must, then take care! :)
As tedster mentioned, the fact that you are moving to a completely new domain increases the likelihood that you will have some (possibly serious) ranking drops at least for a while (exactly what a "while" could be is unknown. I've seen it last for only a couple of months and I've seen it last for a year and more).
Unless it is absolutely necessary to make the switch immediately, I would be more inclined to recommend keeping the current site for now and also building a new one at the new domain.
The new one would need unique content and would need to be promoted, but given you already have one site in the top, you most likely know what needs to be done in your market to get a new site to the top. It won't necessarily be quick, but you won't have lost all your rankings from the old site while getting the rankings up on the new site.
Once you get the new one ranking, you can then begin 301'ing the old site to the new one if you wish and further increase the rankings of the new site.
Whatever your decision, I wish you luck.
[edited by: Philosopher at 5:35 pm (utc) on May 3, 2007]
Assume the second site is
- on a different IP address
- has different whois
- has different content
- has a different UI/design
But the second site is
- owned by the same entity
- provides the similar products and/or services
It's always better to take up more serps on the first page, and two sites reduce the business risk of one site getting hit in an update.
Can you do this above board or are you better going underground and getting a PO box across town and trying really hard to make it look different?
What happens if you buy the business of one of your competitors who is also on the first page for the same terms?
Remember that this 'two sites' situation is a temporary one.
For the long term, having two sites is rarely productive; increased risk of duplicate issues, plus visitor confusion, duplicated marketing and promotional needs, dividing incoming links and ranking between two sites, etc., etc.
For the short term, even some pages 'going supplementary' is not the end of the world, as the future removal of the duplcate will ensure serps correction.
