Change of address tool (Google search console)

[snorkel]

This post is deleted!

[BritneyMuller]

Correct, you would want to tell Google that www.example.it & www.example.de has moved to www.example.com.

The most common way of referencing your different website languages (to Google & redirecting users) is through hreflang in the of your pages, for example; your www.example.com website should have the following within the of it's pages:

Just make sure that on your other language urls, you also have the rel="canonical" in place for that url. For example on your /it/ site you should have the following in the header::

Lastly, the two most common mistakes when using hreflang are not cross linking properly & using the wrong language-country codes:
1. If page A is linking to page B, page B must link to page A.
2. Double check your codes through Aleyda Solis's hreflang tag generator.

[snorkel]

Hi Britney

First of all, many thanks for helping me out on this.

I discussed the hreflang and canonical tags and our programmers will implement them Monday morning. I forwared this topic to them so they can use your information about how to do it.

Last thing i want to ask for 100% confirmation.

Should we also use the change of address tool in Google search console and tell Google
that both websites has been moved to www.example.com?

So tell Google www.example.it has become www.example.com/itand www.example.de has become www.example.com/de

The reason why i asked for double confirmation, is the fact that some people tell me this tool can`t be used in this particular situation.

Thanks in advance

Jennifer

[BritneyMuller]

Yea, so the changing of gTLDs does get a bit confusing. It's my understanding that because you are now using subdirectories with gTLDs, I would tell Google that your previous country-specific urls are now: www.example.com and then follow Google's guidelines for multi-regional and multi-lingual sites. Please take a look here at how to do that within Google's Search Console:

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/62399?hl=en

Also See: Targeting Site Content To A Specific Country

Let me know if this helps (and applies to your situation).

Thanks!

[JamesCrossland]

Hi Guys,

I have the same situation, whereby we are migrating 123.co.uk to 123.com/uk/

Were you able to use the tool in this situation, as can be seen in the attachment I am not able to do this as 123.co.uk does not directly 301 to 123.com (instead it redirects to 123.com/uk/)

Is there a way around this?

Thanks.

David

changeofaddresstool.png

[snorkel]

Hi David

The change of address tool doesn`t work in this situation. You can not us it for a subdirectory. Just do a proper 301 redirect.
In our situation it took a few weeks before we recoverd from a drop in traffic, but our situation was different.

Good luck

[JamesCrossland]

Thanks for the reply. I originally thought I wouldn't (and shouldn't) be able to use this in this scenario but then I stumbled across this post.

All 301s are in place and working and will closely monitor the situation in GWT.

Thanks Again