Changing Menu Url and Menu Anchor Text

[Mark_Ch]

Hi All,

I have a well established site. I would like to make a couple of adjustments to my main menu.

1] Replace a menu url with an established page url.
2] Rename a menu anchor text to something more meaningful.

What impact would changing the menu have?

Thanks Mark

[AndrewAtMGXCopy]

Hey Mark_Ch,

For clarification:

• What do you mean when you say "main menu"? A horizontal navigation bar? Sidebar?
• What do you mean when you say "menu url" and "established page url"?

Let me know, so I can better understand and answer your question!

Thanks, Andrew

[Mark_Ch]

Hi Andrew,

"Main Menu" is the horizontal navigation bar.
"Menu URL" is the page that the user is sent to upon clicking an option in the "Main Menu" horizontal navigation bar.

Based on a silly example:
Let say one of the options in the "Main Menu" horizontal navigation bar is called 'Green Shoes'. When clicked the user is directed to the url mysite.co.uk/green-shoes. I would like to replace the url (mysite.co.uk/green-shoes) to a new page mysite.co.uk/designer-green-shoes.

Additionally, lets say one of the "Main Menu" horizontal navigation bar options says "Sports Shoes". I would like to rename the anchor text to "Casual Running Shoes". The url will point to the same page that has relevant content.

Hope this silly example provides clarity.

Thanks Mark

[AndrewAtMGXCopy]

Hey Mark_Ch,

One more question--what's your plan with the old URL's? e.g. /green-shoes adn /sports-shoes?

Andrew

[Mark_Ch]

Hi Andrew,

The old URL /green-shoes will provide content to the user from a different perspective to /designer-green-shoes. The Old URL will be a hyperlink on the /designer-green-shoes page.

Thanks Mark

[AndrewAtMGXCopy]

Hey Mark,

• Your old URL might drop in ranking b/c it lose an internal link; it depends on how many links (both internal/external) it currently has. If it has a lot, the loss of an internal link may not matter that much.
• The new URL should rise in ranking for green shoes. There's no guarantee it will rise to replace your old URL. It depends on its link profile, competition, and on-page SEO.

Here are some additional thoughts on strategy:

• If you can, maybe ADD the new link instead of REPLACING the old link. Then you won't lose the internal link.
• I'd test it out for a week by making the proposed changes. If you don't like the changes, revert the menu.

Hope that helps.

-- Andrew