301 to new domain

anyone with actual data on 301ing to a new domain

[nippi]

I've got a 301 a domain from old to new. I've 301ed before from old, to old, with good results, but never to an entirely new domain.

Am I going to lose my age/trust benfit? Is it something that will be quickly retrieved?

[Quadrille]

In my experience - and in my reading ...

You'd be well advised to let the new site age for a few weeks with a 'topic related holding page' for a few weeks, preferably months, before undertaking the move. This allows it to be 'fully assimilated' by Google, thus reducing (not eliminating) the risks of new site issues.

You will usually get MUCH of the benefits the 'old' site enjoyed, but to ensure these are lasting benefits, you will need a programme of content building and (where possible) getting key links transferred to the new site.

ALL THIS assumes the site is transferred complete, with NO updating or rebuilding, with a reliable host and correct 301s (Check them - and check them again!). [added:] even better if you have the luxury of moving section by section over a long period, updating links as you go, giving each unchanged section time to be assimilated before moving the next! - but this can be technically too much, and risks confusing your visitors.]

Also ensure you have 301 from domain.com to www.domain.com.

Be sure not to use domain.com/index.suffix internally or for incoming links; ALWAYS use domain.com/ or '/'

Continue to ADD content to the 'new' site, but RESIST the tempatation to do ANY significant re-org for several months.

Even with all this (and any other advice you get), there are no guarantees; I've never had a major problem with several moves of fairly small, plain vanilla html sites - though all have had some short term losses; those reporting problems are usually those with big, complex sites - even then, it's re-organization that kills.

The BEST advice you EVER get is "Don't Do It"; if you have an argument to trump that; fine; but be careful and plan it well.

Good Luck!

[g1smd]

New domain?

Best advice is that "Cool URIs never change".

[fishfinger]

I've done this twice (probably not the right way) and ended up 'mini-sandboxing' the sites both times. Rankings came back but it took months.

First time :

client (consultants) launch a software tool and want separate site. This is launched in a directory on their existing domain, spidered and ranks great. We then 301 directory to the new domain. Eeek.

Second time :

client re-brands site that has been online for 5 years. 301 whole domain. Eeek.

I've been advised on other forums that you stand a better chance of success if instead of 301-ing a whole directory or site, you set up individual redirects per page (or write rules to deal with dynamic pages). If I had to do this again, I'd try this plus follow the advice above and put some similar content up on the new domain and wait for it to get spidered.

It's something I think I'd only do again as a last resort.