New site on the old domain name

Started by neelseofast, Jan 08, 2023, 08:50 AM

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neelseofastTopic starter

Greetings!

There is a service-related business website made on a Wix template with up to 10 pages that comes with site access as part of the purchase price. Despite being outdated in terms of design and usability, the old site ranks well for several queries in the top 5 and top 10.

Question 1: How can we minimize the organic drawdown while creating a new site on the same domain name?

Question 2: A marketer suggested saving all the pages of the old site along with their URLs and transferring these URLs as links to corresponding sections of the new site, preferably in an inconspicuous location. However, the programmer had an opposite opinion, claiming that SEO customers usually prefer to keep the old URLs and incorporate new content into them. I am uncertain which approach to take.

Additionally, it's crucial to ensure that the new site has an optimized structure and relevant content to maintain or improve its ranking. Thank you.
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amiejemner

It's advisable to retain the old URLs and content when revamping a website. But, if the existing URLs are poor quality, it's preferable to use 301 redirects to transfer the pages to new URLs while still keeping the old content.

In case of a slight decrease in traffic during the transition period, everything should return to normal soon enough. It's crucial to ensure that the new content is relevant, informative, and optimized for search engines.
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xerbotdev

It's advisable to keep the old URLs intact along with their original content. If possible, creating new pages and transferring the existing content to them can ensure the advanced pages remain in the top rankings. Once the new pages are set up, a 301 redirect from the old URIs to the new ones can be established. This strategy can help to retain organic traffic while implementing changes to the website.
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Michael Walker

Each perspective has its merits, but they approach the situation from their respective fields. From a marketing and SEO standpoint, transferring links to the new site can significantly aid in promotion, although it might be difficult to achieve the same level of success as the old site (especially if it's already in the top ten rankings). Though redirects still have a role to play, they are usually more effective on the original site.

On the other hand, the programmer's perspective is also valid. Old links may not be visually appealing, and creating superior content for the new site can be beneficial, as search engines prioritize "fresh" content. Ultimately, it's essential to strike a balance between retaining valuable elements of the old site while incorporating new and improved features for long-term success.
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abigalsmith

A recommended approach is to build the new site on a subdomain, ensuring that it's fully optimized and functional before migrating it to the main domain while simultaneously combining all the existing pages.

To avoid any loss of traffic in the process, it's important to save the primary page in HTML format and upload it to a temporary or subdomain while directing the traffic there. However, it's crucial not to restrict access to the Google AdsBot robot as it's responsible for assessing the quality of the page in Adwords.

Additionally, it's essential to conduct thorough testing, including functionality and performance, before redirecting all traffic to the new site. Taking these steps can help maintain organic traffic while ensuring the success of the website update.
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