Changing permalinks, 301 nightmare

[VillasDiani]

I would like to change some of permalinks on our website. I have created  new posts with new permalinks and the old ones I have redirect by using yoast seo plugin.

Today I have opened a category and I have realized that there are of course the post with new permalinks, but also the old once!

What should I do with the old posts?

[LeahHutcheon]

Hi,

Would it be possible to delete the old pages if they're not serving any purpose?

[VillasDiani]

Hi Philip, Thank you very much, yest I would love to, but once I delete them and I go to check the redirects, they do not bring me to the new url but the page is not found:-(

[LeahHutcheon]

Hmm, that is a bother. Are you not able to edit the permalinks directly for each of the posts? Sorry, maybe I'm just not following, but why create whole new posts?

[VillasDiani]

Most of our permalinks are way to long and almost all contain Diani beach, which is a word we wanted rank for and believed we have to write it everywhere....so I need to change them as it is a problem.

Sure I can change the permalink directly for each of the post, but then all the old posts links will be still not found after I change the link...

I thought with yoast plugin it is going to be easy but it does not make sense for me why if I redirect the post it stays in category. What is it for...who wants to redirect a post and then keep it in a category...

I can't find any answer anywhere:-( I am actually getting to the point that I want to just delete them(it is around 30) and wait until google index the new once, but I am afraid of some punishment..

[Tunji]

I think the Yoast SEO Plugin assigns 301 redirects to existing pages, so it can't keep the redirect if you delete the old page. It sounds like you need to either add the 301 redirects directly to your .htaccess file (which isn't too tough if you only have a few), or use another plugin for redirects. The plugin called "Redirection" by John Godley does a good job.  Good luck!

[VillasDiani]

Thank you very much Jeff, I thought that the only option will be to do it in .htaccess file, any idea how to do it?

[Tunji]

The basic idea for 301 redirects in htacess is:

`Redirect 301 /oldpage.html http://www.yoursite.com/newpage.html` 

But if you aren't comfortable writing out a line for each page you've deleted and need redirecting, I would suggest the "Redirection" plugin. It's pretty easy to set up.

[VillasDiani]

Thank you Jeff very much,

But we are not using www, do you thing that I have to include it anyway or is this redirect without www correct? Redirect 301 /geography-kenya-map-kenya/ http://villasdiani.com/where-is-kenya/

[VillasDiani]

So and now i have pasted redirects of some posts and I am going to check and I can't axes the site! It says Internal server error. And now I am dead:-(

[Tunji]

Hmmm.Yes, I would try the www in case your server doesn't handle that redirect automatically.

If you can't get it to work, I would remove the 301 redirects you added to the .htaccess file. Again, I would suggest you use the Redirection Plugin:

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/redirection/

[evolvingSEO]

Hi July

This is really three separate things here, so I see why it's giving you trouble.

1. Changing permalinks
2. Changing what category a post belongs to
3. Redirects

When you do one of the above, it does not do the others automatically - for example, changing a permalink will not change the category or add a 301 redirect (by default - although some systems might add the 301 automatically).

So let me explain each one step by step. Realize they are three separate things normally.

1. Changing The Permalink

This is changing the URL. If you wanted to change for example

• domain.com/first-url-dont-like-it ... to
• domain.com/love-this-url

That's one step. Now. Some plugins may add a redirect for you. So. When you change your permalink

• try visiting the old permalink
• if it redirects - you're all set - you don't need to do a redirect yourself.
• if it does not redirect, you either need to use the redirection plugin or write the redirect in the .htaccess file.

2. Changing What Category The Post Belong To

Note, this is entirely different from just changing a permalink. You need to go to edit that post itself and select your preferred category for that post. This is assuming your not creating any new categories or deleting old categories. You're just moving posts around to different categories.

Then, when you move a post into a different category and remove it from the old one, it will show up under the new category archive.

3. Redirects

As mentioned - these may or may not happen automatically when you change a permalink. I usually prefer them to NOT happen automatically.

This is why it's best of course to decide the final permalink for a post before you hit publish as it's much easier to not have to go back and edit it.

Please let us know if you're still having trouble - thanks!

-Dan

[VillasDiani]

Thank you so much Dan for all the explanation! All clear now! I have now manged to do redirect in .htaccesses file. All links are running well now. Thank you so much!

Iam trying to give you the good answer and it is bringing me to Not Found page:-(

I believe I might be cursed by computers and our site will never rank:-(

[VillasDiani]

now it just worked...I am cursed:-(

[evolvingSEO]

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know it worked and thanks for trying that 'good answer' button a few times

If you ever have any more trouble with anything on Moz - email help@seomoz.org

[VillasDiani]

Sunny greetings from Diani beach Dan! Thank you very much! I wish you very nice day