Changing domain - how do I retain google rank?

[bu06nne]

I need to move my website across to a new domain - what's the best way to do this without dropping positions in Google?

Cheers

 

[IrnMary]

I need to move my website across to a new domain - what's the best way to do this without dropping positions in Google?

Cheers

http://moz.com/learn/seo/redirection has a pretty solid guide

It's usually fairly easy though, 301 redirect the old domain to the new, it only gets complicated when the content on the new domain doesn't follow the same URL structure

 

[jacal1]

A 301 redirect will work if the only thing you are doing is literally moving the same content to a new domain name. If you are just trying to get the PR juice from a former domain name to brand new content, the effect will fade.

 

[alex]

You should make use of the Google change of address tool - https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/83106?hl=en and also be sure that all old pages redirect to the corresponding new pages.

I also read that Bing doesn't transfer authority 100% to encourage you to build authority on the new domain, although I can't find the reference. I'll post it if I find it.

 

[Edwin]

If you want to cover all the bases, then do ALL of the following:

A) 301 redirects, as granular as possible (e.g. Page1 on old site should be 301d to equivalent Page1 on new site, Page2 to Page2 etc.)
B) Google Webmaster tools change of address
C) rel="canonical" tags on the pages in their new location, referencing that new location

 

[Edwin]

Note that regardless of what you do, there may be a temporary loss of position. But the more you put in place to tell Google loud and clear that the old site address has been superceded by the new site address, the more likely your rankings are to bounce back without too much delay.

 

[Blossom]

A 301 redirect will work if the only thing you are doing is literally moving the same content to a new domain name. If you are just trying to get the PR juice from a former domain name to brand new content, the effect will fade.

Evidence please...

 

[alex]

I also read that Bing doesn't transfer authority 100% to encourage you to build authority on the new domain, although I can't find the reference. I'll post it if I find it.

Found it: "It’s important to know that the 301 redirect does not pass all of the value from an old URL to a new one" - http://www.bing.com/blogs/site_blog...aging-redirects-301s-302s-and-canonicals.aspx

A 301 redirect will work if the only thing you are doing is literally moving the same content to a new domain name. If you are just trying to get the PR juice from a former domain name to brand new content, the effect will fade.

I don't think this is the case for Google, at least I don't know of any official mention that this happens.

 

[dazc]

All of the above but a little bit at a time, if you can. Least important pages first.
It's always a risk whatever you do though.

 

[alex]

All of the above but a little bit at a time, if you can. Least important pages first.
It's always a risk whatever you do though.

I'd have thought there's less risk doing it in one go, following Google's 'change of address' steps and migrating the site in one go? If you do a bit at a time you completely break the site structure and can't inform Google of the change in GWT.

 

[Murray]

All of the above but a little bit at a time, if you can. Least important pages first.
It's always a risk whatever you do though.

What madness is this? lol.

Ignore that and just do as advised above.

The process will be quicker if you have a strong link profile because everything will be crawled sooner.