How to redesign and transfer a site

bgmv · 10-19-2010, 02:53 PM

In the next few weeks I will be building a new site for my domain business. I will also be transferring the content to a new domain. The current site is a PR4 - how do i preserve the PR, is it even possible? Should I just keep the existing site as is, and start from scratch on a new domain or should I use a redirect?

When redoing a site, what is the proper recourse to making changes without losing SERP rankings, use an under construction page? If the site goes blank G will know and that will affect my rankings, how can I avoid this from an SEO perspective.

Thanks,
Ben

**enlytend** · 10-19-2010, 03:45 PM

1) Make sure your current site is in webmaster tools and verified.
2) Set up the new site/domain. DO NOT PULL THE PLUG ON THE OLD SITE YET. If you're still testing, block search bots until you're ready to go live so you don't get dinged for dupe content or get any "under construction" stuff indexed.
3) When you're ready to go:
a) Unblock the search bots on the new site(if you had locked them out)
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/search-engines/682994-how-to-redesign-and-transfer-site.html
b) Verify it in webmaster tools
c) Set up a 301 (permanent) redirect from your old site to the new. Ideally, every page on your old site should be permanently redirected to the corresponding page on the new site or some other logical location.
d) Do a "change of address" in webmaster tools
e) Notify link partners of the change so they can change the URL in their links.
4) NOW you can get rid of the old site. Keep the domain with the redirect for at least 6 mos or so. Longer, if there are links to the old URL that will never be changed.

Expect some temporary ranking disruptions while everything gets sorted out - they should bounce back (unless you made some other change that could cause them to drop.)

bgmv · 10-20-2010, 03:29 PM

enlytend - thanks once again...much appreciated!

Smiler · 10-20-2010, 04:10 PM

Wow, Thats a long process. But thanks for sharing the information it might be handy one day.

espis147 · 10-20-2010, 11:27 PM

enlytend defined every thing well..This is really very appreciative. Thanks a lot!

10-19-2010, 02:53 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
bgmv Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: bgmv.com Posts: 2,376 Follow @bvardag	How to redesign and transfer a site In the next few weeks I will be building a new site for my domain business. I will also be transferring the content to a new domain. The current site is a PR4 - how do i preserve the PR, is it even possible? Should I just keep the existing site as is, and start from scratch on a new domain or should I use a redirect? When redoing a site, what is the proper recourse to making changes without losing SERP rankings, use an under construction page? If the site goes blank G will know and that will affect my rankings, how can I avoid this from an SEO perspective. Thanks, Ben __________________ HVAC Training Michael Myers Mask Joan Miro Great Keppel Island Calculadora Gratis Enclosed Car Transport Paperless Office Blood Diamonds SEO Boca Raton Serenity Prayer

10-19-2010, 03:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
enlytend Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,152 Follow @enlytend	1) Make sure your current site is in webmaster tools and verified. 2) Set up the new site/domain. DO NOT PULL THE PLUG ON THE OLD SITE YET. If you're still testing, block search bots until you're ready to go live so you don't get dinged for dupe content or get any "under construction" stuff indexed. 3) When you're ready to go: a) Unblock the search bots on the new site(if you had locked them out) ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/search-engines/682994-how-to-redesign-and-transfer-site.html b) Verify it in webmaster tools c) Set up a 301 (permanent) redirect from your old site to the new. Ideally, every page on your old site should be permanently redirected to the corresponding page on the new site or some other logical location. d) Do a "change of address" in webmaster tools e) Notify link partners of the change so they can change the URL in their links. 4) NOW you can get rid of the old site. Keep the domain with the redirect for at least 6 mos or so. Longer, if there are links to the old URL that will never be changed. Expect some temporary ranking disruptions while everything gets sorted out - they should bounce back (unless you made some other change that could cause them to drop.) __________________ Enlytend Solutions - Internet marketing and web development Was my advice helpful? Please consider a small donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation - a tax deductible 501(c)(3)that directly funds cancer research

10-20-2010, 03:29 PM	THREAD STARTER #3 (permalink)
bgmv Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: bgmv.com Posts: 2,376 Follow @bvardag	enlytend - thanks once again...much appreciated! __________________ HVAC Training Michael Myers Mask Joan Miro Great Keppel Island Calculadora Gratis Enclosed Car Transport Paperless Office Blood Diamonds SEO Boca Raton Serenity Prayer

10-20-2010, 04:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Smiler Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,382	Wow, Thats a long process. But thanks for sharing the information it might be handy one day. __________________ iPod Touch Tutorials \| Custom Made Wordpress Website \| 24 .edu Backlinks DoFollow Blog Comment Service Last edited by Smiler; 10-20-2010 at 04:11 PM. Reason: mispelled

10-20-2010, 11:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
espis147 New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 19	enlytend defined every thing well..This is really very appreciative. Thanks a lot! __________________ Bay Area Web Designers \| Bay Area Web Design

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