Moving a site - Google impact?

[monaghan]

Is there a need to re-validate a site in Google's webmaster tools when it is moved? If so, how?

I'm not just doing a simple A to B move, it will be moving to a new CMS. The domain remains the same, simply pointed to a new set of name servers, however, the actual site layout / content will change slightly.

 

[retired_member21]

So I take it all the URLs will change?

If so - you've got to look at preserving the old pages which are indexed/rank by redirecting them to the corresponding new page(s) on your site.

If this can be automated great, but it usually has to be done by hand.

There is also a setting in webmaster tools for saying you are moving site, may want to look into that.

 

[monaghan]

There's not too much content on the current site and most of this is out of date, so redirect is not so critical, the main page is indexed but will retain the same URL so shouldn't be an issue. I'm using Drupal on the new site so can easily override a page path to match an existing URL for anything I need to keep consistent between systems.

The moving site option seems to be for changing to a new domain, hence the question here

 

[retired_member21]

In that case you should be fine just overwriting it then. If you've got an xml sitemap it may help it to pick up new architecture quicker. With regards to re-validating, you'll only have to do that if you delete the previous authentication method - fairly simple to revalidate, and you won't lose any data.

My main concern would've been losing PR/rankings from existing pages but sounds like thats taken care of so not to worry

 

[wb]

As Nick says, you shouldn't need to re-validate it unless you delete the account in Webmaster Tools.

 

[monaghan]

I'm on page 1 of G for the main keyword, so keen not to loose the position

Hopefully plenty of new content over the next few weeks / months will get me up there on other keywords as well. I'll take care not to flood the site with new pages too quickly though, don't want it to appear as spam.

 

[macwilson]

If the URL structure remains the same I don't think it will have any impact in Google results, the only thing that will impact is the downtime due to the new name servers, as it takes around 12-48 hrs for DNS to propagate.

 

[Bart Simpson]

Yes, I agree with Macwilson, If the URLs remain same then it won't affect your Google rankings.

 

[Asherr]

Hi, The main domain is same and you have submitted your site before to webmaster tools and your site map has been generated by Google so I think it is not important to make an y kind of update in Webmaster tools for new set of name servers.