How best to retain SEO when moving URL

[mattconnors428]

Hi,

I am building a new website on a different url than the exiting one, what is the best way to retain the SEO that the current website has with Google?

I was thinking of using 301 redirects but is there a better option?

Any help / suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Community]

301 redirect is the best option, Along with specifying in search console that the site is merging/moving, you'd need to have both domains verfied in search console to do so.

But yeah 301's are what you need to do to give yourself the best chances of existing ranks moving across, bear in mind though that there is no certainty that it will carry across, branding or moving domains shouldnt be taken lightly.

 

[aliciaaddison]

When moving a URL, ensure you use 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones and update your sitemap with search engines. For a seamless transition without losing SEO value, consider consulting with Impressico Digital. They specialize in maintaining SEO rankings during site migrations.

 

[John_Collinson]

Using 301 redirects is indeed the best option for retaining SEO value when moving to a new URL. Additionally, make sure to update all internal links, inform Google of the change through Search Console, and keep your site structure and content as similar as possible to maintain rankings.

 

[bangalorewebguru]

301 Redirects: Implement 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones to preserve link equity and ensure users and search engines are directed to the correct pages.

Update Internal Links: Update all internal links on your site to point to the new URLs to avoid broken links and improve user experience.

Update External Links: Reach out to websites linking to your old URLs and request them to update their links to the new URLs, if possible.

Notify Google: Use the Change of Address tool in Google Search Console to inform Google of the URL change and speed up the re-indexing process.

Monitor Traffic and Rankings: Keep an eye on your site's traffic and keyword rankings after the migration to quickly identify and address any issues.

 

[hajave]

301 Redirects: Implement 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones to preserve link equity and ensure users and search engines are directed to the correct pages.

Update Internal Links: Update all internal links on your site to point to the new URLs to avoid broken links and improve user experience.

Update External Links: Reach out to websites linking to your old URLs and request them to update their links to the new URLs, if possible.

Notify Google: Use the Change of Address tool in Google Search Console to inform Google of the URL change and speed up the re-indexing process.

Monitor Traffic and Rankings: Keep an eye on your site's traffic and keyword rankings after the migration to quickly identify and address any issues.

Yes, 301 redirects are the best way to retain SEO when moving to a new URL. Ensure all key pages are redirected properly, update internal links, submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console, and monitor traffic to catch any issues.

 

[augustusgeorge861]

Hey, yeah, 301 redirects are definitely the way to go. It's the cleanest way to tell Google that your content has permanently moved. Just make sure you map out all your old URLs to the new ones correctly, and you should be good to go. There might be some temporary dips in traffic, but it'll bounce back once Google re-indexes everything.

 

[mediacubikey]

301 redirect is best for redirect the existing the url to new urls.

 

[umersheikh234]

Great question! Retaining SEO during a URL change can be tricky, but if done right, you won’t lose your hard-earned rankings. At Affordable SEO San Diego, we’ve successfully handled multiple URL migrations while preserving (and even improving) SEO performance. Here's what works best:


1. 301 Redirects
Always use 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones. This tells Google the content has permanently moved and helps pass link equity.


️ 2. Update Internal Links
Don’t rely on redirects alone—update all internal links across your site to reflect the new URLs. It improves crawl efficiency.


3. Submit a New Sitemap
Once the move is complete, submit your updated sitemap in Google Search Console. It helps Google index the new URLs faster.


4. Monitor Search Console Closely
Keep an eye on crawl errors, traffic, and index coverage. Fix any issues quickly to minimize ranking loss.


5. Rebuild Backlinks (if possible)
Reach out to high-quality referring domains and ask them to update their backlinks to the new URLs—it helps maintain authority.

We recently moved several important pages to new URLs and were worried about losing traffic. Thanks to the expert team at Affordable SEO San Diego, we retained our rankings and saw no drop in visibility. Their technical SEO guidance, redirect strategy, and ongoing support made the process seamless. If you’re planning a URL move, this is the team you want by your side!

 

[James78989]

Hi,

I am building a new website on a different url than the exiting one, what is the best way to retain the SEO that the current website has with Google?

I was thinking of using 301 redirects but is there a better option?

Any help / suggestions would be appreciated.

Hello,

You've understood 301 redirects very well; they remain the most effective method for maintaining SEO equity when transitioning to a new domain. Just ensure each old URL matches exactly to an equivalent on the new site. Moreover, remember to change the internal linking structure, submit the sitemap again in Google Search Console, and keep an eye on crawl errors.

While I was creating a new website recently, I did the same thing, and the strategic redirection helped us keep most of our rankings.