Will adding parameters to existing url affect current rankings?

[pankajj]

Hi,

We recently changed our web page urls.
Earlier url:

lorenipsum.com/loren-ipsum/ipsum-loren/lorenipsum.asp?symbol=Loren

lorenipsum.com/loren-ipsum/ipsum-loren/lorenipsum.asp?symbol=Loren&name=loren-ipsum-loren-ipsum-loren-ipsum

All the internal links were modified accordingly and old url is directing to the new one.
I was of the openion that just by adding new parameters in the url does not mean it is a new url and would not affect rankings. Having said that, I see a drop in traffic after this change was implemented, about a month ago.

Look forward to expert views on the same.

[uggur]

Are you using canonical metatag? If yes, did you any change your canonical structure? So if your old url and canonical is :

lorenipsum.com/loren-ipsum/ipsum-loren/lorenipsum.asp?symbol=Loren

and you changed web page urls with some parameters and your canonical not same like before, it may affect your ranking and traffic.

[FranticFish]

Adding new parameters to the url means it is seen as a new url.

[pankajj]

We do not have canonical tags. Am still not sure, adding parameters into the url is considered to be a new one or not, however, there is a drop in SEO traffic which could be either because of the changed url or low search volume altogether.

[tedster]

Am still not sure, adding parameters into the url is considered to be a new one or not

You can be certain of it - an added parameter is considered a different URL

[pankajj]

Hey, thanks for your valuable feedback.