Switching from HTML Static to WordPress Platform - SEO

[jimmy0225]

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing well.  I am currentyl in the process of having a re-design to myu HTML Static Site, I am switching to WordPress.  My site is still running now until the new one is prepared.  My question is:

I do rank pretty well for some of our strong local keywords, we also have a FEW links pointing to inner pages with an extension of .HTML, should I set the the WordPress URL's to reflect .HTML or will the Search Enginesfigure out that http://www.domain/innerpage.html is the same as http://www.domain/innerpage/ or is it NOT the same.

Should I switch or not?

Thanks for your input

Jimmy

[BeardoCo]

Use the same link structure as your old site (-) the .html.  Then set up 301 redirects for each page in your .htaccess and you should carry over the majority of your link juice.

[Chris.Menke]

They're not the same.

Redirect the pages that have links going to them to their counterparts with the new URLs.  Look at your stats and see which pages are bringing in search traffic and redirect those,too. Google will sort the rest out.

[Tompt]

The wordpress "Redirection" plugin by John Godley has always been great for 301's if you are unfamiliar with setting them up.

[jimmy0225]

Hi,

Thanks for the help, I have two more questions though:

1.  If I set up the same (exact) URL structure with the .html in wordpress (new site) Would I have to use re-directs, if so, why?

2.  How do you go about setting up the URL extension in WP, I know their is a way, it read it on a site, but hey did not tell you how?

Any info, as always, is appreciated!

Jimmy