“Ask an Professional“ is an occasional characteristic the place we ask ecommerce specialists questions from on-line retailers. For this installment, we handle a query about redirecting customers from previous URLs to new ones. It comes from Brian Rogers, internet merchandising supervisor for 511 Tactical, an internet (and bodily) retailer that sells specialised clothes and equipment to regulation enforcement and fire-protection professionals.

For the reply, we flip to Jill Kocher, supervisor of the search consulting providers group at Covario. She can be an search engine marketing guide and an everyday contributor to Sensible eCommerce.

When you’d wish to submit a query, electronic mail Kate Monteith, workers author, at kate@practicalecommerce.com and we’ll try to deal with it.

Brian Rogers

Brian Rogers: “We’re at present altering the URLs on our web site to change into extra search engine marketing pleasant. We’re planning on utilizing the 301 command to redirect the previous URLs to the brand new URLs, however will we lose all the precious in-bound hyperlinks [which help with search engine optimization] we’ve going to the previous URLs?”

Jill Kocher

Jill Kocher: “A 301 redirect is the surest option to move hyperlink reputation to the brand new URL and de-index the previous URL in a URL rewrite state of affairs. The trick is ensuring that the server header standing is a 301 everlasting redirect, not a 302 short-term redirect or a meta or JavaScript refresh.

“Solely the 301 redirect accomplishes these three necessary targets:

  1. Redirects the person agent to the content material on the new URL

  2. Passes the previous URL’s hyperlink reputation to the brand new URL

  3. Prompts de-indexation of the previous URL

“The opposite widespread types of redirects, 302 redirects and refreshes, will solely accomplish the primary purpose of redirecting the person agent to the content material on the new URL.

“Understand that a interval of rating and site visitors volatility tends to observe URL rewrites. Sometimes the engines may have adjusted their indexation and rankings to mirror the brand new URLs inside 30 to 90 days of profitable implementation; however, relying on the scope of the URL rewrites and the flawlessness of the redirect implementation, it may be a bumpy journey. It’s a good suggestion to plan URL rewrites and different structural adjustments for slower seasons, leaving a superb 90 days earlier than the location must be performing for a peak promoting season once more.”

Sources

  • Google Webmaster Central article on 301 Redirects
  • Information to Making use of 301 Redirects with Apache