Google Indexed Old Backups Help!

[alrockn]

I have the bad habit of renaming a html page sitting on my server, before uploading a new version.  I usually do this after a major change.  So after the upload, on my server would be "product.html" as well as "product050714".html.  I just stumbled on the fact G has been indexing these backups.  Can I just delete them and produce a 404?

[StreamlineMetrics]

I'd suggest doing a 301 redirect rather than simply deleting the pages. The 301 redirect will tell Google to stop indexing the old version and index the new version instead.

[alrockn]

Thanks StreamlineMetrics....I do have a lot of older files that somehow got indexed, that I have no relevant new location to send them to.  Do you think I should avoid deleting them as well?

[AhlerManagement]

You can either 301 them to the homepage... or as you mentioned just let them 404 and they will eventually be removed by Google. You can also submit them to Webmaster tools for removal. Best practice will be to 301.

[alrockn]

Sounds good, LinkFool...Thanks!

[StreamlineMetrics]

If there is no relevant new location to 301 to and you are dealing with way too many files to individually 301 them, then you can simply delete them so Google will encounter the 404 error page and remove those files from the index. That being said, if there are any old files that actually rank for search queries and generate organic traffic to your site, then I would recommend at least 301'ing those if possible so you don't lose the traffic as a result of the page being removed altogether.