SEO Tycoon

**Chris_123K** · 12-08-2011, 05:53 PM

Hey again Tycoontalk, nice to be back and thanks for reading my post.

Background:

a) I have one keyword domain name that my current site is on (learn-mandarin.net), that is finally having some SEO love from Google.

b) I would however now prefer to move it to a brand specific URL for the more professional image that such a URL brings.

The Question:

Will moving the site to a new url with 301's from the old to every page (of course) punish me?

Basically:

1) Will loosing out on the keywords in the URL hurt?
2) Will the new young domain age drag me down?
3) Is there anything else I need to worry/think about?

Really appreciate your feedback!

**chrishirst** · 12-08-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Will moving the site to a new url with 301's from the old to every page (of course) punish me?

No!

Quote:

Will loosing out on the keywords in the URL hurt?

No!

Quote:

Will the new young domain age drag me down?

No!

**Chris_123K** · 12-08-2011, 06:31 PM

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the quick response!

So there are literally no negative aspects to moving a site to a different domain name?

**mogulmedia** · 12-09-2011, 06:13 AM

I've wondered the same things as this before and was tempted to move a site to a new domain though I was petrified that Googel would fall out of love with it so decided against it.

If there is no risk of losing out after all maybe I'll re-consider...

**chrishirst** · 12-09-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_123K

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the quick response!

So there are literally no negative aspects to moving a site to a different domain name?

There are some of course, such as you lose out on some of the branding you may have done and you may have to replace all your stationery, but this is the SEO board and in that respect it will make very little difference.

"Keyword" domains and URLs are NOT as important as you think and "domain age" is simply NOT a factor in anything.

**vangogh** · 12-09-2011, 02:37 PM

Chris a few years ago I moved my site from one domain to another. The old domain had been doing well in search engines and I was a bit hesitant to move it. Like you I was changing for what I thought was a better domain in terms of branding.

As long as you take the time to 301 things you'll be fine. What I observed was at first there was 0 change in search traffic as the old URLs were ranking as they had been and then people were redirected to the new URLs.

There then followed a time where search traffic was down a bit while the SEs sorted out the new URLs. I think it might have lasted a couple of months at most.

After that I was pretty much back where I had been with the new URLs ranking. Some links that had been pointing to old URLs never really found their way over to the new ones. I didn't go about contacting site owners asking them to update. I figured losing a few links wasn't all that big a deal and preferred to focus on the new instead of the old.

In my case I also redesigned the site at the same time and changed the general structure of the site so there was more to consider. In your case it sounds like it's only the domain that's changing. Just make sure the 301 is set up correctly and be prepared for a time of flux where the search engines are sorting things out. You should be fine though.

**Chris_123K** · 12-10-2011, 07:06 PM

Thank you Chris and Van for your time, really appreciate it! This answered my questions completely.

**Petter Brown** · 12-11-2011, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_123K

3) Is there anything else I need to worry/think about?

But it takes time to popular as your previous domain was.

**vangogh** · 12-12-2011, 04:13 PM

Glad to help Chris. Hopefully the move goes through without a hitch.

**mogulmedia** · 12-13-2011, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

"domain age" is simply NOT a factor in anything.

Is that true Chris? I always thought aged domains were treated more nicely than newly registered ones?

Is that just a myth I have followed?!

**chrishirst** · 07:44 AM

Just a myth.

Just like it is with human beings, it's not the "age" but what is done while getting to that age.

Would a seventy five year old Amish man know more about cars than a twenty five year old rally driver because he is "older"?

Would a domain name registered in 2001 for twenty years but only put "live" last week be more "valuable" than one registered and put live in 2010 and has been actively promoted for a year or so?

What about domains that are "old" but have were used as a "crash and burn" exercise for twelve months?

It is NOT the "age" but the history of pages that make them "valuable".

**vangogh** · 12-13-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

it's not the "age" but what is done while getting to that age.

Exactly. Amazing how often people gloss over that latter part though.

**logoonlinepros** · 12-16-2011, 03:22 AM

I think you can change your site url but it would be harmful for you site ranking.

**jw15** · 12-16-2011, 03:42 AM

Be aware of Sandbox and try not to get into it, besides in webmaster tools tell Google that you are changing your domain.

**Shey** · 12-16-2011, 12:11 PM

Here's an explanation from Google about 301 redirects
redirects.jpg
http://support.google.com/webmasters...n&answer=93633

**Benmoore47** · 12-19-2011, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw15

Be aware of Sandbox and try not to get into it, besides in webmaster tools tell Google that you are changing your domain.

Sandbox is very common in new sites so learn to do SEO moderately.

**chrishirst** · 12-19-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benmoore47

Sandbox is very common in new sites so learn to do SEO moderately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw15

Be aware of Sandbox and try not to get into it, besides in webmaster tools tell Google that you are changing your domain.

The "sandbox" (that never actually existed) phenomonena use to occur in 2005

And ceaseed to occur in late 2010, now for [insert name of Deity]'s name GET OVER IT and move on!!!!!!

**vnsmith** · 12-21-2011, 02:28 PM

You need 301 redirections in order to keep the existing backlinks in your site and keep the reputation of your site in the search engines.

**Harlequin** · 12-27-2011, 08:32 AM

I did just this with a customer recently...

Redesigned the site on a new domain that was more keyword relevant.
parked the old domain on top of the new with a 301

They've actually seen an increase in their ranking.

Now I'¡m not saying it's purely because of the domain. The new website is cleaner, easier to navigate and actually has significantly less content. However, it's optimised for the same search terms and the customer actively seeks quality backlinks and adds + updates content weekly.

+ we also moved servers recently and their Google Places listing is now live.

Result... jump to organic rank 4 from 9 with no change in PR.

I was sweating when we did the change and asked for patience and now we are both breathing a sigh of relief...!