Site was moved, but still exists on the old server and is being outranked for it's own name

[RCDesign74]

Recently, a client went through a split with a business partner, they both had websites on the same domain, but within their own sub directories.

There is a main landing page, which links to both sites, the landing page sits on the root.

Ie. example.com is a landing page with links to example.com/partner1, and example.com/partner2

Parter 2 will be my client for this example.

After the split, partner 2 downloaded his website, and put it up on his own server, but no longer has any kind of access to the old servers ftp, and partner 1 is refusing to cooperate in any way to have the site removed from the old server.

They did add a 301 redirect for the home page on the old server for partner 2, so,

example.com/partner2/index.html is 301'ing to the new site on the new server, HOWEVER, every other page is still live on that old server, and is outranking the new site in every instance.

The home page is also being outranked, even with the 301 redirect in place.

What are some steps I can take to rectify this?

The clients main concern is that this old website, containing the old partners name, is outranking him for his own name, and the name of his practice.

So far, here's what i've been thinking:

Since the site has poor on-page optimization, i'll start be cleaning all of that up.

I'll then optimize the home page to better depict the clients name and practice through proper usage of heading tags, titles, alt, etc, as well as the meta title and description.

The only other thing I can think of would be to start building some backlinks?

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[WilliamKammer]

First things first: before you start working on optimizing the new site, I would work on resolving the issue with the old partner, since this is an issue that can continue to haunt you for a long time if you don't.

The old partner needs to 301 redirect all pages in your client's subdirectory to the new site. Offer to send him the steps needed to do this. If he refuses, let him know that he does not own the data from your client's side of the old website, and you will therefor be forced to send DMCA takedown requests to the server company and to him for straight-up copyright infringement. Once he cooperates and puts in the proper 301s, you will have much less to worry about.

Unless, for some reason, the old partner does own the data, in which case, you shouldn't be using it on the new site.

[RCDesign74]

Thanks for the response William,

Ironically enough.. they're both Lawyers.

Unfortunately, the old parter is refusing to cooperate at all as far as getting those pages 301'd or removing the site from the server completely.

[WilliamKammer]

Then send a DMCA to the server company. The server company doesn't care that he's a lawyer, and I bet your client and send a very well written one.

Besides that, you're strategy moving forward seems pretty sound.