My main keywords are slowly changing... what should I do?

[mertero]

Hi guys.

I have a web-site (which contains a blog and some information pages) that is focused on a niche. I'm doing quite well - the site is 5 years old and has good positions in google searches.

My problem is that my niche keywords are slowly being changed. If it was 'widgets' before, now it is 'superwidgets'. In the course of 2-3 years, I can see superwidgets take over widgets in search volume - always rising and widgets always going down.

How should I handle this? I'm thinking I need to change my page titles (from 'introduction to widgets' to 'introduction to superwidgest'), and URLS, too.

And maybe the domain name? Today it is "widgets-info.com". Should I change it to superwigets-info.com? How should I handle this best so I won't lose my serp in the old keywords?

I'll be happy for any insights...

Ron

[tedster]

Changing your domain name WILL lose your ranking positions. Changing existing titles also seems diecy to me. I think your best direction is new content - and maybe starting a new website in addition if you're up to maintaining both.

[mertero]

Do I still lose my ranking if I change the domain and move all new content via 301 redirects? at least I'll keep the incoming links, right?

I guess this will still be better in any case then the new domain which will have no incoming links...

Getting two sites is not really an option I think, because the change is only in the name... there's no difference in the actual "widgets", so I don't want to have duplicate content, etc...

Ron

[buckworks]

I'd agree with Tedster that the place to start would be some new content to feature the new term. Back that up with some strategic link development to support the new term.

Some cautious experimenting with title changes might be worth testing, but move slowly. Make small changes and see how Google responds.

I would discourage you from changing the URLs of existing content, and even more so from changing your domain. It would be a lot less disruptive to test careful tweaks to the existing content.

If you can get the "superwidgets" version of your existing site cheaply, register it to have in reserve (and to keep competitors from getting it) but I'd advise redirecting it to the existing site rather than changing everything to a new domain.

[mertero]

Bucworth,

Thanks for the advice. You say

"I'd advise redirecting it to the existing site rather than changing everything to a new domain. "

That's what I do already - I already have the new domain, and it just points to the old one. How does that help me? should I start getting links to the new site?

Ron.

[buckworks]

Redirecting the "superwidgets" domain to your existing "widgets" domain would help primarily for capturing type-in traffic, and also keeping that domain out of the hands of competitors.

I wouldn't consider it the best use of efforts to try to gain links to the superwidgets URL if it's only redirecting. For one thing a redirect would likely not transfer 100% of the available link juice, and other webmasters would often prefer to link to the real landing page rather than to a redirecting URL.

If I were in your shoes, I would keep link development focused on the existing site. Cultivate links to strategic internal pages when you can, as well as to the home page. If the site is strong and already known for content about widgets, it should be quite doable to get a page or two ranking in searches about superwidgets.

[santapaws]

are you in a highly commercial sector?

[Hoople]

Try to have "superwidgets" in close proximity (in a natural way) to "widgets" when: writing new content, updating existing links and placing new links.

Many are saying this is important as it establishes a relevant relationship. A few recent blog posts have suggested it (keyword proximity to anchor text) outranks keyword targeted in anchor text only.

So, for example you could: We now discuss the newest technology of "superwidgets" as the upcoming replacement to [anchor text] widgets keyword2 [/anchor text] in todays marketplace.

[mertero]

Hey guys,

I'm actually ranking quite good in "superwidgets" (around #6 in Google). IN widgets I'm ranking #3.

This is a commercial subject about a new technology that's not really popular (and I hope it will become one). There's plenty of interest, and some gadgets out there that use the technology already. But now the name is changing ;-)

So maybe I'm worrying for nothing - and it's better to keep the old site, and build more super-widget related content...


tough decision!

:-)

Ron