redirect question...

[usbnuts]

I think this category is most appropriate for this question.

I actually have two sites: usbworkshop.com and everythingusb.com

If you search 'USB' on Google, you will see that my site is ranked #4 out of 3,400,000 competing pages. So, I think this says something about the link popuarlity of the site.

Anyway, I am trying to rename the site to EverythingUSB. I'm not going to explain why.

So, I am now trying to promote everythingusb.com on Google and on the rest of the search engines.

Now the question: Should I use a redirect function that sends all traffic from USB Workshop HOMEPAGE to EverythingUSB? Would this be safe? Is this considered as 'cloaking' by SEs?

This is a safety pre-caution. You know better than me what happen when all traffic from search engines are gone.

Thank you.

[ihelpyou]

That is one big problem though. If traffic left because of the search engines, the changing of your Url will not seem like a good decision. In my opinion, there is never a good decision if changing a url that is ranked. Ranked especially in Google.

They watch all funny stuff closely. If they see you have two identical sites in their index, they may either penalize both, or drop one and keep the other, or drop both. You will not have a choice.

Your best bet might be to keep both on different servers and change the content on the new Url. You do not want to mess with a highly ranked site. Especially with that keyword. You may never get ranked again on that same keyword.

Another thought may be to change up the content on the old url and put a notation on the front page saying "we have moved" with the Url to the new site.

No easy choices here but a choice that is extremely important. Bottom line, I would not re-direct under any circumstance, and I will not keep both in the index with the same content.

[Blue]

....and ask a related question.

I have numerous clients wanting me to design pages that are optimized for multiple browsers by having one "index" page that does a browser check in order to redirect to the proper site. In other words, there would be seperate, but mostly identical, sites depending on which browser the surfer was using.

Adamantly, I advise my clients against this, stating that I can design one site that is optimized for all browsers. Many times though, the client still wishes me to go the other route, and there's that "customer is always right" thing.

With Dougs statement: They watch all funny stuff closely. If they see you have two identical sites in their index, they may either penalize both, or drop one and keep the other, or drop both. You will not have a choice. , my question is, will this create a problem with the SE's?

Technically there is a legitimate reason to have multiple identical sites, yet I would like to arm myself with additional reasons to state to my clients why this is a bad idea.

[bigDugan]

I believe the URL redirection will hurt you, and cause your current URL to be dropped-- but it sounds like that's what you want to do, so that you can promote your new URL.

Maybe you could cross-reference your NEW url on your old page, sending them to the NEW url for updated content or for products/services not offered on the current url.

Another suggestion might be to update your DNS record for your current domain, and "point" it to the server with your new URL.

[ihelpyou]

Actually Blue, I cannot see one single reason why having identical sites would be a good thing.

All reasons point to bad. The SE's don't like it. ONe site can be designed Just fine in multiple browsers.

Ask your client to give you a good reason they want multiple sites? There are not any.

[bigDugan]

I know some people think that "duplication is the key to sucess", but I disagree.

In my opinion, a person can concentrate on one thing MUCH better and do a better job of it than trying to maintain a dozen "like" things.

Because you'll never be able to provide the "time" or "quality" if you have too many irons in the fire.

If you have a good thing going, that's great, and you should concentrate your efforts on making it better. This will keep you ahead of your competitors.

If you get bogged down with duplication, it may give your competitor the chance they need to "catch up" to you.

[usbnuts]

Thanks, for the reasons you guys have stated, I am working on a new design for the entire site.

[Blue]

And thanks from me too.

[ihelpyou]

One thing I learned along time ago is to not back down from what you are doing.

You somehow have to convince your client that what you say will work,,.... Will work.

Your client came to you for help; whether it be web design, programming, or SEO. You know what you are doing, the client does not know what you are doing. Most of the time the client is MUCH better off just letting you do your own thing.

It all boils down to trust. If you have built up trust with them, they will let all of it happen naturally.

[Advisor]

Again, I have a different opinion. I would not make two separate sites and I would not get rid of the first site. I would simply park them both at the same IP address. If you want to migrate to the new domain name, then use that in all of your materials etc., and in your sig., but don't remove the old pages at the old domain that are ranking high. You may never get the same rankings and links that you had for the old domain name.

Just my 2 cents!

Jill