ECommerce SEO for product categories and sub-categories

[yacpro13]

Hello everyone,

We run a Magento store, and I have a general question about SEO-eCommerce.

We recently launched a new site where we've modified the menu navigation for product categories. So let's say in the past we had a main category called 'Jackets' in the top navigation bar, and once you were on the jackets page you had a few subcategories to choose from.

On the new site, we reworked the navigation bar in order to get our customers there in fewer clicks. So right away in the top bar, the customer can click 'Casual Jackets', 'Leather Jackets' and 'Winter Jackets'. We no longer have an internal link to the parent category 'Jackets'.

Now here's the question:
-Do I 301 redirect 'jackets' to one of the sub-categories of my choosing?
or
-Do I keep the main category 'jackets' even though we don't actually link to it internally?

I see pros and cons for both, and I'd like to proceed in the way that will be most beneficial from a rnakings point of view for all jackets categories.

Thanks!

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[Everett]

Hello yacpro,

I would recommend providing a link directly to the top-level "Jackets" category for users. Maybe I don't know what type of jacket I want to buy? As for search engines, that's probably too competitive of a short-tail phrase to compete on, but at least the page will provide direct access for spiders (and users) to get to all jacket categories.