Should I redirect my xml sitemap?

[CommT]

Hi Mozzers,

We have recently rebranded with a new company name, and of course this necessitated us to relaunch our entire website onto a new domain.

I watched the Moz video on how they changed domain, copying what they did pretty much to the letter. (Thank you, Moz for sharing this with the community!)

It has gone incredibly smoothly. I told all my bosses that we may see a 40% reduction in traffic / conversions in the short term. In the event (and its still very early days) we have in fact seen a 15% increase in traffic and our new website is converting better than before so an all-round success!

I was just wondering if you thought I should redirect my XML sitemap as well? So far I haven't, but despite us doing the change of address thing in webmaster tools, I can see Google processed the old sitemap xml after we did the change of address etc.

What do you think? I know we've been very lucky with the outcome of this rebrand but I don't want to rest on my laurels or get tripped up later down the line.

Thanks everyone!

Amelia

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Hi Amelia,

I just want to understand if your old XML sitemap points to any pages that have either moved, changed URL or removed?

If so, then ideally yes. You don't really want a sitemap pointing to lots of 301's, although it is unlikely to do any major harm just yet - it is just better to start with a clean sheet that is correct.

-Andy

[CommT]

Hi Andy,

Everything in the old XML sitemap redirects to the new site.

So, I should redirect the XML as well?

Thank you,

Amelia xx

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Hi Amelia,

Rather than redirecting this, do you have the ability to create a new sitemap based on the site as it now stands? However, if there is a new sitemap already in place, then just use Webmaster tools to upload this one.

-Andy

[CommT]

Andy,

There is a new xml sitemap on the new domain: www.commercialtrust.co.uk/sitemap.xml, this is a directory xml sitemap.

The old xml sitemap can be accessed here: www.turnkeylandlords.co.uk/sitemap.xml.

I was wondering if I should redirect the TurnKey Landlords xml to the Commercial Trust xml?

Thanks,

Amelia

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Hi Amelia,

No, no need to do this. As long as you have a new sitemap in place, then just have Google index this one. If they are still indexing the old one, highlight and delete it and then point them to the new one.

-Andy

[CommT]

Thank you, much appreciated! Have a fab day

[Andy.Drinkwater]

I will thanks Amelia, and you're welcome

-Andy

[CommT]

Hi Andy,

I just wanted to say, I followed your advice and now every single page I've submitted via webmaster tools in the xml sitemap (for Commercial Trust) has been indexed! Thank you for helping with this, you are a super-star!

Amelia

[Andy.Drinkwater]

That's great new Amelia - so glad I was able to help

-Andy