Replacing old with new website

[kaz]

Hello,

I'd like to seek an opinion:
Recently one of the WordPress based websites has been re-designed and published with approximately 60 pages but with fresh content throughout. It previously had around 50 pages done in HTML.

I have 3 options to move forward with:
1. 301 redirect old pages to new ones.
2. Keep names & extension of all the new pages same as old. (Old version had .html extension which can be dealt with by using an additional WP plugin to re-write the URLs)
3. Keep both new and old website's pages (entire old website is indexed, but not ranked well)

Which of the 3 options is most beneficial?

Thanks,

 

[Community]

Personally there is only real option here is number 1, 301 redirect to new permalinks structure.

Number 2 is viable, and probably do-able without a plugin using permalinks and structuring the website properly. But if you are doing a major change such as this then this is the time to make the structure change.

 

[kaz]

Thank you, I had applied 301 since it is indeed the best practice. I see that new URLs have started indexing, and keywords position is much better after Google crawled for the first time. It is time to now look for mobile speed optimization, though already scored 89, but I know there is a room for improvement. Thanks again admin.

 

[webxerossolutions]

Do proper 301 redirects. And try to maintain the old permalink structure.