Question on changing my site's url

I missed an opportunity when I set up my rifle selling page directory within my overall longrangehunting.com site. The current url is: http://www.longrangehunting.com/lrr/index.php

"I should have used the word "rifle" instead of "lrr". If I do that I think I will come up higher in Google results for: "long range rifle"

If I change it now what are the problems I have to deal with. Will VBSEO redirect automatically?

vbseo will not redirect automatically. a manual catch-all will need to be put in place in the current folder.

Assume your indexing will start over from scratch, and expect to drop results and traffic during this time.

Brian, thanks.

Since my whole site is crawled often by Google I assume the wait will be only days or a couple weeks at most?

Len,

Probably the easiest way to do it is to do a 301 redirect. Adding a line like this to the .htaccess file in your domain root should do it:

Code:

redirect 301 /lrr/ http://www.longrangehunting.com/rifles/

Actually, it DOES do it (sorry Len, I took the liberty). You now only have to edit the navigation module to change all your /lrr/ links to /rifles/. I wouldn't worry too much about links made in posts - they will redirect anyway.

Any currently cached pages in Google will automatically redirect. Googlebot will honor the directive and, when they get around to re-indexing your pages, they will use the proper URL. It could take 6-8 weeks, but you shouldn't lose any traffic.

If I'm wrong, it's no trouble to switch it back the way it was. I saved everything. In fact, your original /lrr/ is still there with all its original files. I merely copied it and gave it a new name. Although Google says there's no duplicate content penalty, I'd still like to remove the /lrr/ directory as soon as possible.

I don't believe this affects vBSEO at all.

Jim
PS: yea me, 300 posts.

Jim, you're just a post whore!

Thanks much.

I did the nav edits you mentioned.

Originally Posted by len backus

Jim, you're just a post whore!

I know. Sad isn't it? But so true.

When there is a pre-existing inbound link to my rifle site, does Google pass on the link juice to the redirected page after the changes?

It will likely NOTICE the changes quickly, but it will still take an average of 4-8 weeks for the index to update itself with the new urls.

If it were me, i wouldn't change it.

Originally Posted by len backus

When there is a pre-existing inbound link to my rifle site, does Google pass on the link juice to the redirected page after the changes?

You should always keep your inbound link hosts updated if you make changes. That's why it's usually recommended that all inbound link hosts should use a link that goes to your domain root, LongRangeHunting.com. That way you never have to figure out what important link hosts use for a link. Of course, there are those link hosts who you want to link directly to the rifles index. Notify them and ask them to update their link.

Originally Posted by Brian Cummiskey

It will likely NOTICE the changes quickly, but it will still take an average of 4-8 weeks for the index to update itself with the new urls.

If it were me, i wouldn't change it.

What's the down-side? The 301 shouldn't reduce traffic. Once a search engine re-indexes the page, it retains the same value. Anyone who connects to any of the pages in the old folder, whether it comes from a search engine, an inbound link on another website or the Favorites/Bookmarks of a browser, will automatically be redirected to the new folder.

If my assumptions are wrong, I'd sure like to know. Others may be concerned about this too.

Thanks,

Jim

The theory is correct, but the real-world search engine doesn't obey to rules to a T. Yes, the links/etc will be redirected to the new location, but web search results will be marked as 301s, not 200s, and google will follow it, but it won't do much with it for a while until it assumes it's staying there.
Of course, results vary from site to site and day to day. It might be completely re-indexed tomorrow.... It might still be struggling come christmas time.

And remember, that's just INDEXed, and position or result # may vary drastically as well. resources that haven't moved tend to out-rank those that have, especially recently.

Originally Posted by eJM

You should always keep your inbound link hosts updated if you make changes. That's why it's usually recommended that all inbound link hosts should use a link that goes to your domain root, LongRangeHunting.com.
Jim

Jim, I mean links to only my rifle pages by users on other forum sites. I have no way to change them.

The redirect will pick those up

Thanks for the explanation, Brian. I appreciate it.

Jim

What do you mean when you say that the "web search results will be marked as 301s, not 200s," ? I have not noticed that.

If you move/change urls, the url indexed becomes a not final url anymore, it's a redirect.