Multiple web addresses for 1 site - SEO question - Freelance UK Forums

dcman007 · 02-04-2010, 09:53 AM

I have a client that has 2 different web addresses; 1 for an old out of date site and 1 for his new site (both with different hosting companies). His old site looks terrible, but gets listed highly in Google so I suggested pointing his old site address at his new site.

My question is this - is simply pointing his old website address at his new site enough to ensure his new site takes the place of his old site in the Google rankings or should I do a full domain transfer to his new web host and set it up as an alias?

Any help and advice would be very much appreciated.

SurreyWeb · 02-04-2010, 11:11 PM

Hi

The only good option is to put in place page by page 301 redirects from each old URL to the nearest new equivalent. If the site is on an apache server, fairly straightforward via .htaccess. Even more so if the URL structure has been preserved but even page by page doesn't take as long as might appear to be the case. If the site is on an IIS server without ISAPI rewrite and you don't have full access, slightly more of a pain but can be done.

After a while (unpredictable but allow weeks/months) Google will recognise the new URLs as representing the old and in principle, carry forward any value e.g. from inbound links to the old site. Just bear in mind that for this to remain the case, 301 permanent redirect needs to mean exactly that. The links are not transferred as such, so the redirect has to remain in place or value from them will be lost.

SurreyWeb · 02-04-2010, 11:17 PM

Should have mentioned that you can also use the Change of Address tool in Google Webmaster Tools for the old site. This does speed things up but is not essential.

Depending on the situation this can bring other issues e.g. any changed URLs will need 301s at both ends and you may need to amend internal navigation to subfolders to counter the tool's habit of creating 404s. Using this is not vital anyway, the 301s will do the job in the end.

rohnsmith · 02-16-2010, 07:56 AM

Hi
I think this is called as mirror site .If both sites serve same purpose in same country then redirect it to one of it or immediately change the content

dcman007 · 02-16-2010, 12:01 PM

Thanks for the info guys. However, I may not have explained myself correctly. I don't want to keep the old site at all. I just want to point both the old and new domain name at the one new site.

The old site files are irrelevant as they will be deleted once the old domain name is pointing at the new site.

What I need to know is, is it better to fully transfer the old domain name to the new site host or will simply changing the IPS tag and name servers with the registrar of the old domain name work just as well?

Thanks, in advance

02-04-2010, 09:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
dcman007 New Poster Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2	Multiple web addresses for 1 site - SEO question I have a client that has 2 different web addresses; 1 for an old out of date site and 1 for his new site (both with different hosting companies). His old site looks terrible, but gets listed highly in Google so I suggested pointing his old site address at his new site. My question is this - is simply pointing his old website address at his new site enough to ensure his new site takes the place of his old site in the Google rankings or should I do a full domain transfer to his new web host and set it up as an alias? Any help and advice would be very much appreciated.

02-16-2010, 07:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
rohnsmith New Poster Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2	Hi I think this is called as mirror site .If both sites serve same purpose in same country then redirect it to one of it or immediately change the content __________________ Visitor management System Time Attendance Software

02-16-2010, 12:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
dcman007 New Poster Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2	I don't think I explained things correctly Thanks for the info guys. However, I may not have explained myself correctly. I don't want to keep the old site at all. I just want to point both the old and new domain name at the one new site. The old site files are irrelevant as they will be deleted once the old domain name is pointing at the new site. What I need to know is, is it better to fully transfer the old domain name to the new site host or will simply changing the IPS tag and name servers with the registrar of the old domain name work just as well? Thanks, in advance

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02-04-2010, 11:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
SurreyWeb Regular Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 54	Hi The only good option is to put in place page by page 301 redirects from each old URL to the nearest new equivalent. If the site is on an apache server, fairly straightforward via .htaccess. Even more so if the URL structure has been preserved but even page by page doesn't take as long as might appear to be the case. If the site is on an IIS server without ISAPI rewrite and you don't have full access, slightly more of a pain but can be done. After a while (unpredictable but allow weeks/months) Google will recognise the new URLs as representing the old and in principle, carry forward any value e.g. from inbound links to the old site. Just bear in mind that for this to remain the case, 301 permanent redirect needs to mean exactly that. The links are not transferred as such, so the redirect has to remain in place or value from them will be lost.

02-04-2010, 11:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
SurreyWeb Regular Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 54	Should have mentioned that you can also use the Change of Address tool in Google Webmaster Tools for the old site. This does speed things up but is not essential. Depending on the situation this can bring other issues e.g. any changed URLs will need 301s at both ends and you may need to amend internal navigation to subfolders to counter the tool's habit of creating 404s. Using this is not vital anyway, the 301s will do the job in the end.