Do Pages Need To Be Identical For 301 Redirects To Work
NO not in my experience. BUT only redirect users and Googlebot to HIGHLY equivalent pages where possible. Google is getting MORE and MORE strict with this guideline, as detailed by Googles John Mueller in a recent tweet:
QUOTE: 301-redirecting for 404s makes sense if you have 1:1 replacement URLs, otherwise well probably see it as soft-404s and treat like a 404. John Mueller, Google, 2017
A good rule of thumb with any redirects is to give visitors what they are expecting when they click on a link.
I often redirect many old URLs to one URL if its relevant and a good user experience but I avoid redirecting irrelevant pages to irrelevant destinations.
My general rule of thumb is to make sure the information on the old page are present in the new page copy.
Most SEO already know the power of a redirect, and how you use a 301 redirect to push even totally unrelated pages to the top of Google (for a time sometimes a very long time.
Google is much better at preventing this sort of manipulation.
Why Perform A User Rename Instead Of A Primary Domain Change
As previously mentioned, performing a primary domain change does not change how users sign-in. It does change the resources and settings that are associated with the organization, and its not always possible to locate every resource that points to the primary domain out there on the web. Additionally, and currently most importantly, in order to perform a primary domain change all 100% of Chrome devices have to be deprovisioned, the licenses have to be removed, and after the domain change has been completed, all Chromebooks have to be re-enrolled in the new domain. This requirement is something that Google has been working to simplify and even has had a Beta program to test a new method where every Chromebook doesnt need to be touched, twice. But until it has been completely vetted, this is one of the current requirements for performing a primary domain change, and this is one of the major factors preventing schools from doing it. Amplified IT has been notified that the beta is still open, and for those with support contracts with Amplified IT, we can work with schools to bypass the Chromebook deprovision/re-enroll step of a primary domain change.
How To Use Googles Change Of Address Tool
Before moving forward, make sure the www and non-www version of your current domain is already added and verified within .
Please note, this tutorial is assuming that you have already purchased your new domain and to point to your web server.
Step One: Setup a 301 permanent redirect from your old domain name to the new one. This is the fundamental step.
You are informing Google and other search engines that when a user tries to access your old domain name, they will be redirected automatically to the new one.
Also, 90-99% of link juice is passed when doing a 301 permanent redirect. If your website is running on an Apache server and uses an .htaccess file, your code will look similar to the one below.
Step Two: Login to your Google Search Console account. Add the new website properties and set them up accordingly.
Step Three: Click on the old domain name. Youll need to repeat these steps for the www and non-www version of the website.
Step Four: Click on the cog icon in the top right corner and select Change of Address.
Step Five: If you already setup the 301 permanent redirect from the old domain to the new one, the first 3 steps on the page will automatically populate and the green check box should appear.
Step Six: Click on Submit to fully process your change of address request. If you receive a green check box next to submit then you are all set.
Please note, there is also a withdraw button in case circumstances change and you need to undo this action.
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Why Change Domain Names
There are many reasons for wanting to change, perhaps you dont like your domain name, or maybe youve had feedback that your customers dont like it.
So, what happens if a name just isnt working for you anymore?
There are benefits of domain name changing. You might be able to get your hands on a shorter and more memorable domain name one thats marketable, modern, and appeals to your customers.
Lets take a closer look at four reasons you might want to switch names.
Reason 1. You want to rebrand
Maybe your company was bought and you need to undertake a domain name change, or a brand agency recently swept you off your feet, resulting in a company name change, and therefore a pressing need to change your domain name?
Perhaps you own a company that sold blue dog collars and registered for the name billsbluecollars.co. After a short while, you start to realize that red collars are more popular. You no longer want that .co domain, you want a .com, and to revamp your domain name entirely.
Its perfectly understandable that if a complete overhaul and fresh design are happening, you might need a new domain to match.
Reason 2. Youre relocating
Imagine youre an actor. An exciting move from a small US town to Toronto in Canada might mean that your acting portfolio website needs to change from a .us to a .cato reflect your availability.
Reason 3. Your business has changed
Reason 4. Your dream domain name is up for grabs
Make Sure The Destination Domain Has A Clean Past
Skip this step if youve just purchased an entirely new domain name. This information only applies when you bought an older domain from someone else or at a domain auction.
Switching to an existing domain that already has a past is like buying an old house. You first have to check for any structural damage and to make sure its not haunted 🙂
Youd search for the domain on archive.org to get a history of what actual website pages were displayed on it. If you do get results, take a close look at them. Any spam or low-quality content?
To be really thorough, you could also search for the domain using ahrefs Backlink Checker tool.
The free version of their tool allows you to see a small set of backlinks for that domain, and to get an idea of its overall history.
And if theres something live on the domain already , you could also . That will tell you how well its been indexed by Google and if there were any manual penalty actions taken against your domain .
If you do notice any manual actions applied to your domain name in the past, you have to stop here and address those problems first, and then file a reconsideration request to have Google lift those penalties.
Further reading on this sub-topic:
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What Can A Business Do With A Dns Server
Speaking of the business context, some companies offer DNS services with easy-to-use plugins. For example, you can filter malicious websites at the DNS level so that the pages never reach employees’ browsers. You can also filter out porn sites and other inappropriate sites.
Icloud locked iphoneIs it possible to unlock an iCloud locked iPhone? One way to unlock a locked iCloud phone is to bypass iCloud Activation Lock by following these steps. Step 1. Grab your iPhone and on the iPhone screen, press the Home button, then tap Wi-Fi Settings. Tap i next to the Wi-Fi symbol. Now you need to change the existing DNS settings.What can you do with an iCloudâ¦
When You Should Change Your Domain Name
Your domain name is essentially akin to your home address. Each website is accessible through a unique IP address. When you register a domain, youre actually creating a record on a Domain Name System that tells people, Hey, if you visit this domain, youre connecting to this particular IP address.
It sounds complex, but its a very straightforward system. People dont often change domain names for fear that their users wont be able to find their sites again. However, there are some instances where doing so can be beneficial:
- Rebranding purposes. In some cases, you may want to change your sites entire image and name, and youll need a new domain to complete the package.
- Better communication for your sites focus. Depending on your options, you may have chosen a domain name that youre no longer satisfied with, or picked an unsuitable Top-Level Domain i.e. the .com, .net, or other identifier following the domain name.
The good news is the process of changing to a new domain name is pretty uncomplicated. Not only will you keep your content in the process, but you also wont confuse your regular visitors. Youll simply need to follow a simple step-by-step procedure to ensure you dont run into any problems.
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How To Fix Dns Problems In Windows 10
- Clear your DNS cache and restart Winsock. To resolve DNS errors, DNS flush and Winsock reset are shown as:
- Change the DNS error feed option setting in Windows 10. Another solution on the hotfix list for:
- Use Google’s public DNS server. A public DNS server used by Google for a more secure and faster connection. Therefore, if there
- Disable the peer-to-peer feature of Windows Update. Peer to peer is a new feature in Windows 10
How To Change Your Yahoo Dns To Mx
If your DNS is hosted by Yahoo!, follow the instructions below to edit your domain’s MX records and receive email. Log in to your domain administrator account with Yahoo. Select Domain from the toolbar at the top of the page. Click Manage Advanced DNS Settings. Enter in the text box.
Ping 8.8 8.8Which is the best IP address for ping test? Network connectivity can be pinged to Google DNS as described below. The result looks like this because you can see that the time or RTT is very low. Alternatively, the IP address can also be used for the ping test, which has the same performance and functionality as:.Why is my ping command not working for Google?Check your nameserver entry in /.Is there a ping test for Google DNS?It â¦
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Why Is Dns Not Connecting
DNS server is unavailable mainly due to incorrect DNS server address setting, network connection error, TCP/IP changes, malware or virus infection, router, firewall issues, etc. “Your DNS server may be unavailable ” or similar errors .
Ps4 Cannot Connect To ServerWhy is my PS4 reporting it canât connect to Wi-Fi before it expires?| The PS4 cannot connect to the Wi-Fi network in the allotted time. The reason could be due to the proxy server you are using or simply because the router cannot assign an IP address or connect to the PS4. Try restarting your router or check your proxy settings and delete them if there are any.What do you do with it when your PS4 wins and apost connects to wifi?PS4 does not connect to the inteâ¦
How Do You Implement 301 Redirects On Apache Servers
It takes only a few lines of code to achieve this change of address in some instances. It is usually a simple if sometimes drawn out process.
The time it takes to complete a typical project is dependent on how large and how complex the website is if you are aiming to redirect the entire site, including internal pages, to exactly the correct urls on the new site.
Success is often dependent on your access to particular files on your host server, or the CMS your website is constructed with.
I can discuss my experience with Apache servers where I use .htaccess files and 301 permanent redirects. NOTE some of this code may need to be modified depending on your setup:
EXAMPLE: Redirecting to a new domain: :
Options +FollowSymLinksRewriteEngine onRewriteRule https://www.hobo-web.co.uk/$1
EXAMPLE Redirecting one version of your domain to the WWW version of your domain
Options +FollowSymlinksRewriteEngine onrewritecond % ^hobo-web.co.uk rewriterule ^$ https://www.hobo-web.co.uk/$1
EXAMPLE Redirecting one page on a site to another equivalent page on the same domain:
redirect 301 /how-to-do-keyword-research/ http://www.hobo-web.co.uk/how-to-do-keyword-research/
With a 301 permanent redirect instruction at your server level, the age, authority, and reputation of your old website in Google are transferred to this new web address.
Upon successful implementation, the new domain ranks where the old domain once ranked.
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How To Change The Domain Name Of Your Universal Analytics Property
If you were to make a new Google Analytics Property and connect it to your site, youd not have the Google Analytics data to compare your current stats to. So wed like to propose you change the domain name of your current Google Analytics property rather than starting from scratch.
Step 1: Navigate to and go to the existing Google Analytics Property youd like to change the domain name for.
Step 2: Click on the Admin Cog in the bottom left of the main menu.
Step 3: In the middle column, click Property Settings.
Step 4: Change the Property Name and the Default URL.
Step 5: Save the changes!
Your Google Analytics Universal Analytics property name and default URL are now changed and saved!
Turning Off Google Domains Access
As the G Suite administrator, you may not want others in your organization to be able to purchase new domains.
You can turn off this feature for all people in the organization, or you can assign it to only certain people. Sign in to the Google Admin console as an administrator to start the process. Click Apps > Additional Google Services > Google Domains to access your options for turning off domain access.
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Should I Change Dns Server On Router
In fact, if you want to use a third-party DNS server on your devices, they recommend that you change it on your router. This is a one-time setting and if you change your mind and want to change your DNS server later, there is a place where you can change the settings. To do this, call the web interface of your router.
Clean Up Your Site Before A Changeover To Https
While not absolutely necessary, when I say clean up my site before I move to HTTPS, I mean:
- getting rid of redundant pages on my site and sorting obvious low-quality issues before I move to HTTPS
- reducing the number of redirect paths to important pages on the site
- reducing the amount of broken or misdirected links on pages on the site to lay down a clean, internal linking solution for the future
- speeding up a website load times
- disavowing all known low-quality backlinks
- reconnecting broken backlinks to pages on the website
- preparing templates for new internal linking requirements that minimise any redirects
Essentially I work with sites with a lot of site-quality issues, and fixing them before you move has benefits in managing the site and anything you need to do in the future.
Moving to HTTPS can add a layer of complexity to some sites, so in some cases, cleaning up before you move makes analysing the impact easier, later.
As an SEO, telling clients to move to https ) is not exactly news they want to hear.
This is compounded by the fact that Quality Rating Issues on a site are more important to tackle heads on, than prioritising moving to a secure server for an elusive ranking boost.
Moving to HTTPS is important from a security point of view, of course, but fixing quality issues is more important for me .
I think, though, with this move from Google chrome, migrating to HTTPS is going to have to be up there as a priority too.
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