9 replies to this topic

[JAMMAN]

One of the sites I manage is a bulletin board with a questionable URL. The board is almost a year and a half old and eventhough we have about 20 regulars that visit daily I feel the URL has contributed to it's lack of popularity.

I have decided to change the URL and change related graphics and text but my question is will google percieve this as "cheating" and somehow drop me? I would like to keep the original address for the current members but is it wise to have two addresses pointing at the same site?

[Randy]

No, it's not wise to have two URL addresses pointing to the same exact content, generally speaking. Likely, only one of those will get listed in the SERPs.

Why not simply establish a 301 Permanent Redirect from the old address to the new one? That would take care of both the search engines and your visits.

[JAMMAN]

Not familiar with a 301 redirect but I'll research it, thank you. Unless you wouldn't mind to elaborating.....

I'm leaning toward just changing it and putting up a one pager on the original (for 6 months or so) saying we have moved and here is the new place.

[Randy]

We've discussed them several times around here Jamman. This Link will lead you to a search of those postings and an article from Jill's newsletter regarding 301's.

Quickie Version

Setting up a 301 permanent redirect to move a whole site is pretty simple really. Assuming you're on a *nix server, simply create a file in a text editor (Notepad) and type in a single line like:

redirect 301 / http://www.newdomain.com/

Replacing "newdomain" with your domain name of course.

Upload that file to the root level of where your pages are stored as a file named .htaccess Yes the dot preceeding the file name is important.

With that done your server will automatically forward any request to the new domain, and give the spiders a header that let's them know your site has moved.

[Jill]

Welcome JAMMAN!

What exactly do you mean by a "bad URL"? Could you please explain further before you go changing URLs, because it may not be necessary at all.

Jill

[JAMMAN]

Thank you Randy, it is a "nix"ish server and I will have to overwrite the .htaccess file I constructed to keep people from linking to my images. I'll read the link when I get home also (posting from work)

Jill, ty for the welcome. The URL has the word "sin" in it (my fiance's old yahoo screen name) and I have had friends that wouldn't visit for that reason alone. Like if youre phone number started with 666, who would call you?

I need to add this is not a porn site nor a freak site. Just a friendly chat board.

Edited by JAMMAN, 02 April 2004 - 03:17 PM.

[Jill]

LOL...you know what's funny? My old Yahoo screen name DOES have 666 in it! Not kidding!

Jill

[JAMMAN]

That is funny!
She doesn't go by "Sin" any more just Di. We want normal people of all ages to join the board and enjoy it. Hard to get a mother to let her 14 year old daughter join a board with sin in the title.

Now more on the 301. Wait- I'm gonna search for it and whatever answer I can't find I'll ask here.

[Ledfish]

Personally, if 666 was the first three digits of my home phone number and it would stop people for the most part from calling it, I hold on to that like a flag pole in a hurricane.

The amount the phone rings at home has lead me to consider putting in a commercial phone system with auto attendant or hiring a receptionist.

[Jill]

Yep, I agree, LED!

So much for the Do Not Call list. It works about as well as the CAN spam bill.