Redirecting M Dot Mobile Website to Responsive Design Website Questions

[accpar]

Hi amazing Moz community Couldn't find this question anywhere, and knew this was the place to ask!

We are helping a client redirect an M Dot website to a Responsive Design website. We want to retain our mobile rankings for keywords. Three questions -

1. We should use 301 redirects from the M Dot website to the new website correct? (not 302s?)

2. How long does it take for Google to understand that we have launched a responsive website? Can we remove the 301 redirects after a few days (if the M Dot website interferes/breaks the new Responsive website)?

3. We have verified an account on Google Search Console for the M Dot website, along with a mobile sitemap that has been submitted and verified. What should we do with this M Dot GSC account? Just delete it? Or keep it and upload the NEW XML Sitemap with the new WWW links (because the website is responsive).

THANK YOU!

[BasKierkels]

Hi Robert,

1. Correct: use the permanent header code

2. Good question. I don't know that specific answer. I think that period depends on all kinds of factors. I would leave the old sitemap in place for quite some time. As long as you use the permanent header code you're ok.

3. Do not throw that away! just keep that login. You can also verify crawling errors, etc with this account.

Good luck with the migration!

Bas

[accpar]

Thank you very much, Bas. Appreciate it!

When you say "keep the old sitemap in place for quite sometime" are you referring to the mobile sitemap on the m-dot domain, even though the domain is going to be removed? Are you suggesting we keep the 301 in place for as long as possible?

Thanks!

[BasKierkels]

Hi Robert,

Pleasure to help!

Yes, that is what i would do. At least for a couple of days until you can see that Google has seen the permanent redirects.

Otherwise you might create duplicate content. Might. Not entirely sure.

Bas

[accpar]

Hi Bas, one more question from the client:

At what point do we remove the redirects that are in place now for on our regular site that send users to m-dot when they are on a mobile device?

• My answer would be "when the new website is live" Is that correct?

[BasKierkels]

Hi Robert,

They don't hurt so leave them in place for some time. It might be quite some time before the index is completely as you want it to be. So just let the redirects to their thing just in case Google, Bing, etc keep indexing the old URL's.

Hope that helps.

Bas