Best method to update navigation structure

[CodyWheeler]

Hey guys,

We're doing a total revamp of our site and will be completely changing our navigation structure. Similar pages will exist on the new site, but the URLs will be totally changed. Most incoming links just point to our root domain, so I'm not worried about those, but the rest of the site does concern me.

I am setting up 1:1 301 redirects for the new navigation structure to handle getting incoming links where they need to go, but what I'm wondering is what is the best way to make sure the SERPs are updated quickly without trashing my domain quality, and ensuring my page and domain authority are maintained.

The old links won't be anywhere on the new site. We're swapping the DNS record to the new site so the only way for the old URLs to be hit will be incoming links from other sites.

I was thinking about creating a sitemap with the old URLs listed and leaving that active for a few weeks, then swapping it out for an updated one. Currently we don't have one (kind of starting from the bottom with SEO)

Also, we could use the old URLs for a few weeks on the new site to ensure they all get updated as well. It'd be a bit of work, but may be worth it.

I read this article and most of that seems to be covered, but just wanted to get the opinions of those who may have done this before. It's a pretty big deal for us.

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/uncrawled-301s-a-quick-fix-for-when-relaunches-go-too-well

Am I getting into trouble if I do any of the above, or is this the way to go?

PS: I should also add that we are not changing our domain. The site will remain on the same domain. Just with a completely new navigation structure.

[Nobody1560986989723]

We changed our domain a few months back so here's a few observations

• Where possible ensure effective 301's are in place
• If a page URL does not have to change don't change it. It is possible to create a better website structure/navigation without altering URLs.
• Ensure a full sitemap is submitted when you roll out the new design
• Be patient, you may see a drop for a short while, as the 301's take time to attribute value from old->new URLs.
• Get any sites linking to old URLs (the non-home ones) updated to the new URLs when you know them.
• In a few months, if you have any old URLs in Google (do a site:www.website.com) search then use the URL removal tool in GWT to get rid of old URLs.
• You may want to consider redirecting any pages that don't exist at all any more, to your home page or the next nearest match in terms of content.

Hope this helps to get you started!

[CodyWheeler]

Thanks for the RE.

About redirecting pages that don't exist anymore, I thought of doing that, however isn't that what the 404 page is for? I was going to redirect all other pages to the root, but that would likely mean we'd never get a 404 response.

Maybe I'm not understanding the programming logic involved in something like that.

[Nobody1560986989723]

It all depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you want people to see a 404 page then serve them a useful 404 page.

If you're trying to redirect link value then you should 301 to the most relevant page to what that URL used to have on it.

For me a 404 error is a great opportunity to catch the visitor and give them something of use.

If you redirect 404s you'll also reduce your site's general server errors, which can only be a positive thing, right?