Should I make a new URL just so it can include a target keyword, then 301 redirect the old URL?

[DA2013]

This is for an ecommerce site, and the company I'm working with has started selling a new line of products they want to promote.Should I make a new URL just so it can include a target keyword, then 301 redirect the old URL?

One of my concerns is losing a little bit of link value from redirecting.

Thank you for reading!

[Chris.Menke]

Daniel, A new URL created just to be able to use keywords it it isn't worth your time. Being new and not having any back links is part of the problem and the other part is that keywords in the URL are losing their value as a ranking factor.  I wouldn't bother.

[Kurt_Steinbrueck]

Chris, the 301 redirect from the old page would transfer most of the link authority the old page has, redirecting any links to the old page to the new page.  So, it's not like having a completely new page with no links.  That said, you are right that having the keyword in the URL is losing value.  So, it's probably not worth it, though I don't know that it would hurt to do it.

Kurt Steinbrueck
OurChurch.Com

[Chris.Menke]

Ahh, I read it as ..."then 301 redirect to the old URL."

It could possibly be a benefit with click through and if that were the case, it might even help with algorithmic results.

[Kurt_Steinbrueck]

[Quote]Ahh, I read it as ..."then 301 redirect to the old URL."[/Quote]

Hah!  I did the same thing first.  Then I had to rewrite my response.