Making changes to site structure

What do I do with unnecessary pages/files?

[spikedo55]

After developing a web site earlier this year, I've learned some more about SEO. So now I want to make some changes to the site. I found that I have some pages/files aren't necessary or helpful. But Google has indexed them. What should I do with these pages/files?

A. Just delete them and let the 404 error page get visitors back on track
B. Redirect them (how?) to similar pages.
C. Keep them in the directory but don't link to them on the site.

[pleeker]

It seems to me that if the pages aren't necessary or helpful, you wouldn't want people finding them. And thus, you wouldn't want them in Google's index. So, I would think 'C' is a bad idea -- why keep them if you don't want people finding them.

'A' would be fine assuming you have a nicely done 404 page. 'B' would also work if you do a 301 redirect on each page to a similar "real" page.

[JamesR]

I would let them stay on the site but put prominent links to more useful/applicable areas on the site.