How do I optimize a website for SEO for a client that is using a subdirectory as a seperate website?

[IVSeoTeam12]

We launched a subdirectory site about two months ago for our client. What's happening is searches for the topic covered by the subdirectory are yielding search results for the old site and not the new site. We'd like to change this.

Are there best practices for the subdirectory site

Specifically we're looking for things we can do using sitemapping and Webmaster tools.

Are there other technical things we can do?

Thanks you.

[Christy-Correll]

Hi! Thanks for your question. I am curious, why did you launch the "new site" in a subdirectory of the "old site"?  Is the content in the subdirectory ("new site") different from the content on the rest of the domain ("old site")? Finally, if you are able to share the domain, that would be very helpful.

Christy

[IVSeoTeam12]

The "new site" is meant to be a trendy informational source that's laid out in a blog format. Where as the "old site" is more so their marketing site.

The content in the "new site" is different from the "old one".

What we're looking for is more so how should we handle the subdirectory with regards to webmaster tools and sitemaps?

And if there are other technical things we should do.

And if we were to move or redirect the content on the "old site" to the "new site" would we need to do anything special?

[KristinaKledzik]

Hi Dov,

You can definitely create separate sitemaps and GWT accounts for your two subdirectories if you prefer, but I don't think that it'll solve your problem. It sounds like the problem is, pages on the original subdirectory probably have a higher Page Authority and are outranking your new pages.

When there are two pages on the same site that are both relevant for a search term, Google tries to only display one. So, your best bet is to make sure that there aren't any pages on the old subdirectory that are relevant to the keywords that you want the new subdirectory to rank for. You have two options here:

1. Remove pages from the old subdirectory that are ranking for terms that you want the new subdirectory to rank for. 301 redirect their URLs to the new subdirectory.
2. For pages that you would like to stay on the site, change the wording so it doesn't compete with the new subdirectory.

I realize this is really general guidance, but it's tough to give more specific feedback unless I can see the site.

Hope this helps,

Kristina