Need SEO tips from SEO guru regarding migration to Vb4+VBseo from smf

I think this is a good example of why we should try huge changes like this in a test environment first before jumping into a production site.

Originally Posted by Jaffery

you mean adding rewrite rule for each page?

Hello Jaffery, apologies for the delay.

I mean add another RewriteRule's with a different regex that would cover pagination URLs. As I told you on the above post, your OLD friendly URLs were recognizing pagination URLs by adding the number of posts/threads displayed per page (as defined in the OLD forum configuration) after the board/thread ID. Following the above example, you can try adding these ones besides the ones you already have:

Code:

# PAGINATION FOR TOPICS
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.15\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.30\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.45\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]

# PAGINATION FOR BOARDS
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.20+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.40+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.60+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.80+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]

And so on. The main issue with the above workaround is that if you have a forum or a thread with tens of pages, in the same way you would need to add tens of RewriteRule's, to ensure that all of the valuable old incoming traffic are being redirected to the new vBSEO'ed URLs. The above URLs should be pasted over the original ones I've supplied.

If only there was modulus available

$page % 20 = $newpage

Just to confirm, so you mean it should go like this in my htaccess

Code:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} index\.php
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^$
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ http://etalkindia.com/ [L,R=301]
# Topics
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.0\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1 [L]
#Boards
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.0/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1 [L]
# PAGINATION FOR TOPICS
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.15\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.30\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.45\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.60\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.75\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.90\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]




# PAGINATION FOR BOARDS
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.20+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.40+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.60+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.80+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.100+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.120+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]

RewriteRule ^profile\.html;u=([0-9]+) vbseo301.php?action=user&oldid=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t[0-9]+\.0\.html;msg([0-9]+)(.*)$ vbseo301.php?action=post&oldid=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap_).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(admincp/|modcp/|cron|vbseo_sitemap)
RewriteRule ^((archive/)?(.*\.php(/.*)?))$ vbseo.php [L,QSA]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !/(admincp|modcp|clientscript|cpstyles|images)/
RewriteRule ^(.+)$ vbseo.php [L,QSA]

Yes, but there's an extra plus symbol in boards pagination RewriteRule's, before /$:

Code:

RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.20+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.40+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.60+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.80+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.100+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.120+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]

Should be:

Code:

RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.20/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.40/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.60/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.80/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.100/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.120/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]

Apologies for that mistake.

I have slight problem recently I have noticed, I saw that google indexing pages like following from somewhere, I guess those are pages of normal SMF board urls.

Code:

www.etalkindia.com/index.php?board=101.0

Code:

www.etalkindia.com/index.php?board=90.0

I have following .htaccess to deal with etalkindia.com/index.php to etalkindia.com

Code:

RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} index\.php
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^$
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ http://etalkindia.com/ [L,R=301]

I had taken this code from this thread : --> Google is indexing my home page as index.php but I don't want it ..

Now because it is indexing old board URLS, should I also add redirect rules for default smf installation :

Code:

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} board=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=%1 [L]

Will it then interfere with other .htaccess rules regarding board redirect.
Just for quick review , I am attaching my .htaccess ..

Code:

RewriteEngine On

#Rewrite rules for old Board URLS (non-seod SMF urls)
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} board=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=%1 [L]



RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} index\.php
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^$
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ http://etalkindia.com/ [L,R=301]

# Redirect all pages of same topic to first page
#RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.[0-9]+\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1 [L]

# Redirect all pages of same Boards to first page
#RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.[0-9]+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1 [L]


# Topics
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.0\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1 [L]

# PAGINATION FOR TOPICS
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.15\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.30\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.45\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.60\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.75\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.90\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]

#Boards
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.0/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1 [L]

# Pagination for Boards
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.20/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.40/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.60/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.80/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.100/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.120/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]


RewriteRule ^profile\.html;u=([0-9]+) vbseo301.php?action=user&oldid=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t[0-9]+\.0\.html;msg([0-9]+)(.*)$ vbseo301.php?action=post&oldid=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap_).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(admincp/|modcp/|cron|vbseo_sitemap)
RewriteRule ^((archive/)?(.*\.php(/.*)?))$ vbseo.php [L,QSA]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !/(admincp|modcp|clientscript|cpstyles|images)/
RewriteRule ^(.+)$ vbseo.php [L,QSA]
AuthGroupFile /dev/null

Hello Jaffery,

Those URLs are related to the SMF default ones. You should apply these rules (as stated on 404/301 Redirect Tool thread) to cover and redirect the default SMF default URLs, besides the friendly URLs you were using:

Code:

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} board=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=%1 [L]

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} topic=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=%1 [L]

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} .msg([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=post&oldid=%1 [L]

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} action=profile;u=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=user&oldid=%1 [L]

right after 'RewriteEngine On'.

Moreover, your .htaccess file looks Ok .

I already tested and added right after RewriteEngine On, however, it is still taking to homepage (rather showing content of homepage). you can check yourself..
www.etalkindia.com/index.php?board=89.0

Also, urls like :
etalkindia.com/index.php?something are also showing content of main page only.

Please try this:

Find in your .htaccess file

Code:

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(admincp/|modcp/|cron|vbseo_sitemap)

Add vbseo 301, so:

Code:

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(admincp/|modcp/|cron|vbseo_sitemap|vbseo301)

It worked, now old smf urls are also being redirected properly, however, regarding pages like this :

Code:

www.etalkindia.com/index.php?action=arcade;sa=play;game=234.

Still they are showing content of home page.

Also, if there is something like etalkindia.com/index.php?game then it shows page not found and that is the requried behaviour, however if same page is like :
etalkindia.com/index.php?game=xxx then it open content of homepage again!..

So, in other words following kind of urls are treated as separate page but actually showing content of homepage only !

Code:

www.etalkindia.com/index.php?action=arcade;sa=play;game=235
www.etalkindia.com/index.php?action=arcade;sa=play;game=234

Apologies for delay, Jaffery.

You want to redirect all of that URLs (with the random string after index.php?) to your homepage?.

www.etalkindia.com/index.php?board=89.0

URLS like above which leads to default smf urls are ok however, other urls with query string in them are also showing content of homepage, hence technically they are separate page but same content showing homepage content . So it will result in dupicate content.

So what I want, that URLS other than default smf those who doesn't exist in real should give 404 error ie. should give not found (I have already made arrangement as per one article which to show 404 custom page in vbulletin).

Hope I am clear now!

Hello Jaffery,

You can put this in your .htaccess file, right after RewriteEngine On line:

Code:

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} !(board=[0-9]+|topic=[0-9]+|.msg[0-9]+|action=profile;u=[0-9]+)$
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo.php?vbseourl=http://www.www.etalkindia.com/404.php [L,R]

Hello Jaffery,

I haven't heard back from you on this matter since my last response, and I'm wondering if you got what you were looking for with the above RewriteRule.

Please let me know

I tried it had problem. If I put it just after RewriteEngine On , the old SMF url to new URL won't work. Also I noticed that if there is a wrong URL without query string then again its showing content of HOME page with with Unique URL. Below I have my current .htaccess , you may want to have a look on it .

Code:

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} board=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=%1 [L]

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} topic=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=%1 [L]

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} .msg([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=post&oldid=%1 [L]

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} action=profile;u=([0-9]+)
RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=user&oldid=%1 [L]


#Rewrite rules for old Board URLS (non-seod SMF urls)
#RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} board=([0-9]+)
#RewriteRule index\.php vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=%1 [L]



RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} index\.php
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^$
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ http://etalkindia.com/ [L,R=301]
#RewriteRule ^index\.php$ http://etalkindia.com/ [R=301,L]

# Redirect all pages of same topic to first page
#RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.[0-9]+\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1 [L]

# Redirect all pages of same Boards to first page
#RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.[0-9]+/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1 [L]


# Topics
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.0\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1 [L]

# PAGINATION FOR TOPICS
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.15\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.30\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.45\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.60\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.75\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t([0-9]+)\.90\.html$ vbseo301.php?action=thread&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]

#Boards
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.0/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1 [L]

# Pagination for Boards
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.20/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=2 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.40/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=3 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.60/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=4 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.80/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=5 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.100/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=6 [L]
RewriteRule ^.+-b([0-9]+)\.120/$ vbseo301.php?action=forum&oldid=$1&page=7 [L]


RewriteRule ^profile\.html;u=([0-9]+) vbseo301.php?action=user&oldid=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^[^/]+/.+-t[0-9]+\.0\.html;msg([0-9]+)(.*)$ vbseo301.php?action=post&oldid=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap_).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(admincp/|modcp/|cron|vbseo_sitemap|vbseo301)
RewriteRule ^((archive/)?(.*\.php(/.*)?))$ vbseo.php [L,QSA]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !/(admincp|modcp|clientscript|cpstyles|images)/
RewriteRule ^(.+)$ vbseo.php [L,QSA]