Changing a product page from "example.com" to "example.com/keyword" affect SEO and Ranking?

[Mohamednatheem]

We're in a situation to move the page from "example.com" to "example.com/keyword". And adding new content to the "example.com" page.   Does this change affect our ranking? If so how can we overcome this problem? Can anyone help?

[Nozzle]

Can you please clarify? When you say you are moving a page from example.com to example.com/keyword it sounds like you are moving your homepage content to a sub-page. Is that what you are doing or are you moving example.com/something to example.com/keyword? And do you want the first URL or the new URL to rank for the phrases that the first URL currently ranks for?

Answering my above questions will help me to give you a more specific answer but the following will start to answer your question.

Either way, if you move the content from one URL to a new URL and don't do a 301 redirect because you will be keeping the first URL and just adding new content to it, yes, you will drop in rankings.

The first URL will not rank as well anymore if the new content changes too much and therefore isn't optimized for the phrases it was ranking for.  If it still is going to be optimized for the same phrases but just with updated content, then it might be fine depending on how much your optimization changes.

The new URL will not rank as well for the original content because it will not have any of the links pointing to it that the first URL had because you will not be doing a 301 redirect. At the very least though, you could change all your internal links to point to the new URL instead of the first URL though.

[Alexrobi]

Please clarify. Example.com is your homepage and it cannot be changes. If you change urls it will be taken as a new result by google unless you redirect. I have changed certain urls of this website. Take a look. It may help to clarify you.Check this