Duplicate content reported on WMT for 301 redirected content

[SEOAccount32]

We had to 301 redirect a large number of URL's. Not Google WMT is telling me that we are having tons of duplicate page titles. When I looked into the specific URL's I realized that Google is listing an old URL's and the 301 redirected new URL as the source of the duplicate content.

I confirmed the 301 redirect by using a server header tool to check the correct implementation of the 301 redirect from the old to the new URL.

Question: Why is Google Webmaster Tool reporting duplicated content for these pages?

[BrightHealth]

How long ago did you set up the 301 redirects?

It can take some time to show up in Google WMT's.

[mihaiaperghis]

Hey Christian,

The issue here might be that Google still has a cache of the old URL before the 301 redirect. In that case, you'll just need to wait until the Google data centers refresh the data.

Also, instead of using a server header tool, you could use the Webmaster Tools "Fetch as Google" option on the old URL, and click on the "Success" link to check how Googlebot retrieves the page (to make sure Googlebot sees the 301 header as well).

Cheers!

[SEOAccount32]

Mihai and SpyderTrap,
The 301 redirects were implemented in mid May. Grate idea about using Google fetch to check redirect. I checked and the redirects are ok (301).

I guess it's possible that Google finds the new URL's using our directory (with updated URL's) and also has the old URL in it's index - hence "apparent" duplicate content.

Thanks for the input,

Christian

[mihaiaperghis]

No problem! Basically Google will recrawl the old URLs and should find the 301 itself. Your issue should resolve all by itself, just give it a few weeks. When it finds the redirect, it should remove the old URL from the index.

[SEOAccount32]

Yeah, I think you are right. I am glad I checked 301 on WMT just to make sure there are no issues with the 301 redirect.

Cheers, C