Content From API - Remove or to Redirect ?

[PaddyM556]

Hi Guys,
I am working on a site at the moment, 
Previous developer used a API to pull in HealthCare content (HSE) .
So the API basically generates landing pages within the site, and generates the content.
To date it has over 2k in pages being generated.
Some actually rank organically and some don't.

New site being launch: So a new site is being launched & the "health advice" where this content used to live be not included in the new site. So this content will not have a place to be displayed.

My Query: Would you allow the old content die off in the migration process & just become 404's
Or 
Would you 301 redirect the all or only ranking pages to the homepage ?

Other considerations, site will be moved to https:// so site will be submitted to search console & re-indexed by Google.

Would love to hear if anyone had similar situation or suggestions.
Best Regards
Pat

[WebQuest]

Hi Pat,

I would avoid both options and advise redirecting the ranking pages to other pages of similar content in order to preserve their "value". Redirecting to the homepage is considered "bad practice" - more here: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-redirect-urls-home-26270.html

I would also advise serving a 410 HTTP Status for the pages that don't rank at all. This way you'll help search engines understand that those pages are permanently gone from your website.

Happy to answer further questions.

[PaddyM556]

Hi Mazen,

thanks for your reply