I got a question for all you SEO guys out there on design - GoFuckYourself.com

Horny Dude · 10-06-2011, 03:44 PM

I have a client who wants me to create new WordPress site. Their old site is all HTML and the code is way outdated. They do have some pages that rank pretty high for their keywords. I don't want to ruin their good rankings. My question is, if I create a new site with Wordpress should I leave those high ranking pages up or delete them? I could never have the exact URL string as the HTML page. Would Google or the other SE's nick you for having duplicate content, one WordPress page and on HTML page? Any thoughts on this would be helpful.

Thanks,

Trev_UK · 10-06-2011, 03:51 PM

Why can't you have the exact URL as the html page?

VladS · 10-06-2011, 03:52 PM

You can leave those pages as plain html and make them like landing pages or you can 301 redirect to the site's homepage or to the most relevant page.

L.E. Though if you leave them as standalone pages not linked within the site's structure, it will definitely affect the rankings, so perhaps the 301 redirect would do the trick.

Dubya · 10-06-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horny Dude

I could never have the exact URL string as the HTML page.

Uh, yes you could. Obviously if you don't know much about permalinks then you probably shouldn't have "clients", no offense of course.

harvey · 10-06-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horny Dude

I have a client who wants me to create new WordPress site. Their old site is all HTML and the code is way outdated. They do have some pages that rank pretty high for their keywords. I don't want to ruin their good rankings. My question is, if I create a new site with Wordpress should I leave those high ranking pages up or delete them? I could never have the exact URL string as the HTML page. Would Google or the other SE's nick you for having duplicate content, one WordPress page and on HTML page? Any thoughts on this would be helpful.

Thanks,

the bold part sounds really strange, unless you have some deep folders (and even then you can do it). However, if you really have issues with that, the 301 redirect other posters mentioned is your answer

$5 submissions · 10-06-2011, 04:22 PM

Make sure you do the 301 redirects correctly

Sid70 · 10-06-2011, 04:43 PM

a lot of knew knowledge in this thread, you techie bastards!

VladS · 10-06-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid70

a lot of knew knowledge in this thread, you techie bastards!

We do what we have to do.

AzteK · 10-06-2011, 05:15 PM

Migrate everything over and setup proper 301's during the process.

VladS · 10-06-2011, 05:15 PM

I think he meant that there's no point in the new site's structure to use the same linking system, as in he doesn't want to build the structure judging by the current linking scheme, but by what the client wants in there, so it's not a question of not being technically possible, as far as i read it.

Of course you can have the same linking structure, any linking structure you'd want.

TheSquealer · 10-06-2011, 05:41 PM

Everyone keeps talking about linking/redirects etc. You have to keep the same page content, same page title etc to preserve the rankings as well. If you are redirecting to a new page, you need that new page to be the same as the old page in terms of content/page title

Horny Dude · 10-06-2011, 06:06 PM

I heard some other people taking about a 301 redirect so that might be the way I would go. The way they have the old link structure is pretty bad ie: back%20pain%20results.html so there is no reason why I would want to make it similar with the permalinks structure.

10-06-2011, 03:44 PM	#1
Horny Dude Earn enough to buy coffee Industry Role: Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Diego, Ca. Posts: 4,913	I got a question for all you SEO guys out there on design I have a client who wants me to create new WordPress site. Their old site is all HTML and the code is way outdated. They do have some pages that rank pretty high for their keywords. I don't want to ruin their good rankings. My question is, if I create a new site with Wordpress should I leave those high ranking pages up or delete them? I could never have the exact URL string as the HTML page. Would Google or the other SE's nick you for having duplicate content, one WordPress page and on HTML page? Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Thanks, __________________

10-06-2011, 03:52 PM	#3
VladS Available for Coding Work Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,438	You can leave those pages as plain html and make them like landing pages or you can 301 redirect to the site's homepage or to the most relevant page. L.E. Though if you leave them as standalone pages not linked within the site's structure, it will definitely affect the rankings, so perhaps the 301 redirect would do the trick. __________________ <developer> MechBunny / KVS / PHP / MySQL / HTML5 / CSS3 / jQuery Email: vlad [at] dangerouscoding.com Telegram: @dangerouscoding Last edited by VladS; 10-06-2011 at 03:54 PM..

10-06-2011, 04:22 PM	#6
$5 submissions I help you SUCCEED Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Pearl of the Orient Seas Posts: 32,195	Make sure you do the 301 redirects correctly __________________ Need a NON-ADULT income stream? We build your YOUTUBE CHANNEL for only $20 per video! For Hire: $3/hour or $400 per month Marketing Specialist Virtual Assistants

10-06-2011, 04:43 PM	#7
Sid70 Downshifter Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Road trip Posts: 16,413	a lot of knew knowledge in this thread, you techie bastards! __________________ Русня, идите нахуй!

10-06-2011, 05:15 PM	#10
VladS Available for Coding Work Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,438	I think he meant that there's no point in the new site's structure to use the same linking system, as in he doesn't want to build the structure judging by the current linking scheme, but by what the client wants in there, so it's not a question of not being technically possible, as far as i read it. Of course you can have the same linking structure, any linking structure you'd want. __________________ <developer> MechBunny / KVS / PHP / MySQL / HTML5 / CSS3 / jQuery Email: vlad [at] dangerouscoding.com Telegram: @dangerouscoding

10-06-2011, 03:51 PM	#2
Trev_UK Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 83	Why can't you have the exact URL as the html page?

10-06-2011, 05:15 PM	#9
AzteK Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Cali, USA Posts: 3,447	Migrate everything over and setup proper 301's during the process.

10-06-2011, 05:41 PM	#11
TheSquealer Mayor of Thneedville Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 25,427	Everyone keeps talking about linking/redirects etc. You have to keep the same page content, same page title etc to preserve the rankings as well. If you are redirecting to a new page, you need that new page to be the same as the old page in terms of content/page title __________________ . Yes, fewer illegal immigrants working equates to more job opportunities for American citizens. Rochard

10-06-2011, 06:06 PM	#12
Horny Dude Earn enough to buy coffee Industry Role: Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Diego, Ca. Posts: 4,913	I heard some other people taking about a 301 redirect so that might be the way I would go. The way they have the old link structure is pretty bad ie: back%20pain%20results.html so there is no reason why I would want to make it similar with the permalinks structure. __________________