Changing URL Structure

[NeilTompkins]

We are going to be relaunching our website with a new URL structure.  My question is, how is it best to deal with the migration process in terms of old URLS appearing whilst we launch the new ones.

How best should we launch the new structure, considering we've in the region of 10,000 pages currently indexed in Google.

[de4e]

You should create 301 redirects for all old pages. By the way you can use "Mod rewrite" module for Apache.

If it's hard to determine rules, you can redirect object pages to new category page, but of course it is less efficiency way.

[stevecounsell]

Hi,

Presumably you'll be getting "404 errors" as you migrate / remove the old pages. My view is that you'll need to carefully construct a 301 redirect in a .htaccess file.

This may be a real bind if there is no real pattern to your old structure that you could "translate" to the new URLs.

I'm not good on redirecting using GREP so maybe someone else here could advise. Could you post some URL examples (old => New)

Steve

[NeilTompkins]

Hi, the old URLs will still remain whilst the new ones are being uploaded.  There is no real pattern between the old and new URLs.  All new URLs are more SEO friendly and keyword targetted.

Our old pages use ASP so I can easily implement a way of updating the old pages with a redirect.

My concern is what process should we take when changing the URLs in the transition period.

[stevecounsell]

OK, for each new page you implement, 301 redirect the old one to the new (when the new is complete) that way you won't loose any traction from google.

a 301 Permanent Redirect tell the SEs that your content has MOVED PERMANETLY

Make the 301 redirect another action on your make live list for each page.

HTH

Steve

[NeilTompkins]

Hi Steve,

I fully understand the workings of 301 redirect etc.  However, my concern is we have over 10,000 pages.  Whats the best way to change from URL to another ?

Shall I release the new homepage, with links to the new already created pages, and then go through the old content and redirect it all ?

[NeilTompkins]

On another point, the new pages will all have new meta, content etc, so if we left the old pages online until we had the chance to go through them I don't think we'd have any problem re duplicate content.

[stevecounsell]

Hmm, I'd release the new pages gradually. 10,000 pages hitting the index in short order may get your site noticed and maybe treated as spam.

Maybe someone else on here can give you better guidance on the release schedule but I'd go with maybe 100 to 150 pages a day. That's a 3 month release plan.

Steve

[NeilTompkins]

Yes, that is the problem we are going to have.  Can anyone else help or offer some advice ?

[NeilTompkins]

Bump - can anyone else offer some input ?

[NeilTompkins]

Another thought might be to place a noindex on the new pages to start with and as we migrate and 301 redirect the old to the new remove the noindex on the new pages ?

Thoughts ??