4 replies to this topic

[teljohn]

Ok...here is my issue. My company (company A) has acquired a company (company that is ranked very well SEO wise.
Company A does not rank well at all regarding SEO.

We will be creating a new website under the company A URL. How do we retain the company B SEO capital and not lose the traffic and sales leads?

I read the 302 temp. redirect vs. the 301 redirect article posted on RightClickwebs.com/seo/redirect/php.
Is that the way to go? I want to make this as seamless as possible.

I need help. I am not an SEO expert...just a marketing guy who wants to retain our collective rankings.

Thanks,
John

[BBCoach]

teljohn

I would 301 redirect company B's pages to company A's site. Company B's pages will take a hit in the SEs, but hopefully it won't be that bad. The biggest reason for the downturn in rankings is due to the external links from other web sites are still pointing to company B's site. You should find those links and request those sites change to the new links on company A's site (if possible). The hardest part will be NOT changing the title of company B's pages. Which of course y'all prolly will want to do in most cases. Changing the titles combined with a 301 redirect prolly will tank company B's rankings for 6+ months. At least that's my experience. A 301 redirect typically is not that painful in SE rankings provided everything else (content) stays the same. Good luck!

[don h]

The way it is supposed to work is that the 301 redirect will transfer rankings/popularity to the new site. Make sure the new site has similar content or it probably won't transfer over too well.

I'm not sure the 301 redirect will help the new domain bypass the aging delay, so if it doesn't bypass the new domain may not rank well for quite awhile.

[incrediblehelp]

There is no way to say for sure that you won’t lose rankings and traffic. No one can guarantee that. You should follow the advice above and make sure your new pages close match the content on the previous pages so that Google will agree with the 301 redirects.

[Jill]

I read the 302 temp. redirect vs. the 301 redirect article posted on RightClickwebs.com/seo/redirect/php.
Is that the way to go? I want to make this as seamless as possible.

You may not need to use this method anymore. I've heard from others that the 301 works fine these days. I'd try that and see.