301 Redirect to external site

[RameshNair]

Hi guys,

We have a client who is getting their website redesigned through us. They are discontinuing couple of their services which will not get featured in the new site. They are fairly well ranked for these services and my client wishes to 301 redirect these pages to an external site owned by his friend so that they benefit out of the ranking.

The question is: Will my client's website's general ranking get affected due to 301 redirecting to an external site? The external site is not spammy or red-flagged by Google (at the moment, at least).

Thanks in advance!
Ramesh Nair

[DougRoberts]

It might be a better user experience to create a specific landing page for these services at either the old URL or using a 301 redirect from the old service page to the landing page. The page doesn't have these visible in the menu and explain to visitors that the service is no longer being offered by present the partner site as an alternative.

That way the redirect doesn't come as a surprise, it provides some value to your visitors (who'll be able to find someone offering the service) and give you partner site a link.

Would your client be happy to referrer real life leads to the partner/friends site?

[EricaMcGillivray]

When Moz stopped doing consulting, we put together a list of recommended companies in order to drive that traffic there and then to great consulting companies. This allowed for context for the visitor -- compared to direct redirection where a visitor might think they stumbled into some weird click scam -- and for us to give a link and specific information.

[RameshNair]

Thanks for the time, Doug! Looks like a plan!

[RameshNair]

Thanks Erica, I have seen the Moz recommended list. As you suggested, maintaining the old URL and creating a recommendation link will be a better idea than 301 redirect.