How do I redirect a page that no longer exists?

[dealblogger]

I changed the name of a blog article I wrote and the original name is giving a 404 error. I am not sure why it isn't being directed like the other articles I renamed to improve SEO.

Since the webpage no longer exists, I don't know how to redirect it.

I use Wordpress and Thesis.

Thanks!

[BeardoCo]

Just create a redirect in your htaccess file with the old URL to the new URL.  There are multiple plugins that support this feature on WordPress such as "simple redirect" etc.

[SEOAndy]

what CMS are you using, usually there are plugins to help you do this. Another alternative is to change the URL back to the old URL but the name stays as the new one - this is a common thing that can happen. But it all depends on your CMS - search its name and 301 redirect, you will get there

[DarinPirkey]

Firstly, 404s are a natural part of the web and don't think it will kill your site.  It won't.  When you get a 404 error iit can mean that something is pointing to that page or that Google has seen the page before but now it's not there.  Google wants to make sure that that page is completely gone and not an accident to the 404.  Technically if you have nothing pointing to the old post (no external links coming in and no internal links either, including sitemaps) then it will go away after a few crawls.  If you do however have off-page links coming into that page a 301 would definitely be a good idea (best idea would be to get those sources to change the link to the new page url but that's not always possible.  Remember, when you 301 you do loose some link juice)

If you are on Wordpress there are some great plugins to do this like the 301 redirect option on Wordpress SEO by Yoast

If you need to do this manually then let us know and we'll give you the actual code to do it in your .htaccess

[dealblogger]

Thanks for the info. I used the plugin Simple URLs. I hope I did it right. I am very green.

I googled CMS but I still can't tell you what CMS I am using. Sorry.

Regarding using 301s, yes I am probably using several. Not hundreds or anything but probably tens. This is because I am updating permalinks on the advice of my SEOmoz reports. Then the old permalink automatically redirects to the new one.

How can I get rid of the 301 redirects so I don't lose link juice?

[DarinPirkey]

If you used Simple URLs then your CMS is Wordpress (Content Management System).

I didn't mean to scare you though.  301s on your own site are fine.  Don't worry about them as long as they are coming FROM pages that you don't want to pages that you DO want.  The way you have them working on your site are perfect.  That's what they are for.  I have thousands of them on one particular site that I work on.  Have you had a chance to read through SEOmoz's SEO 101 (beginners guide to seo) yet?  It is a great starting point.

But, let me just clarify the 301 thing.  If an off site link is coming into a non existent page and you 301 that page, you'll lose some of the link juice coming in from that off site.  So it will be better to change the link from the offsite at the source.  301s on your own site are fine though.  For instance, if you 301 the non www to the www version of your site, that is a 301.  That's obviously good for users and good for search engines.

Sorry for the confusion.

[dealblogger]

I see. Yes the 301s are just within my own site. Whew that makes me feel better.

Ok since I said I was using Wordpress in the OP, I figured CMS meant something else. Good to know.

I will check out that link, thanks!