404 status error

MyRedPacket · 10-01-2007, 08:55 AM

If your site pages return a 404 status error (not found), do you know if google will automatically delete these pages from their index and replace them with the new url page?

My 404 statuses are as a result of all my site pages changing directory, from www.myredpacket.co.uk/Shop/index.php to just www.myredpacket.co.uk (homepage). My section pages from www.myredpacket.co.uk/Shop/section.php etc to now myredpacket.co.uk/section/php...
and same with all the product pages.

Currently google still has all my old urls in the index returning the 404 status error.

Thanks all!

mars guitars · 10-01-2007, 11:11 AM

I think you need a 301 redirect... but I'm just a numptie and can't tell you how to do it!

I don't see how Google could automatically replace them with the new URL... how would it know? (without doing a full check of all possible pages for a 100% match... which is a tall order even for G!)

OldWelshGuy · 10-01-2007, 11:27 AM

HUGE mistake. I assume you are using Apache servers so you need to add this to the HTACCESS file in the following folder.
www.myredpacket.co.uk/Shop/

Code:

RewriteEngine ON
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.myredpacket.co.uk/$1 [R=301,L]

Doing this will give you a smoth trqansition with regard the search engines and you will not return a 404. 404 errors are a CERTAIN way to get the search engines NOT to trust your site

I emplore you to put that redirect (301) into action as soon as possible. Please ask for any help.

mars guitars · 10-01-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldWelshGuy

I emplore you to put that redirect (301) into action as soon as possible. Please ask for any help.

And don't forget to click on the scales symbol in his post and give this guy a reputation boost!

MyRedPacket · 10-01-2007, 01:51 PM

Hi Old Welsh Guy and Mars Guitar
I read this on google webmaster:

Remove an outdated link

Google updates its entire index regularly. When we crawl the web, we automatically find new pages, remove outdated links and reflect updates to existing pages, keeping the Google index fresh and as up to date as possible.

If outdated links from your site appear in the search results, ensure that the pages return a status of either 404 (not found) or 410 (gone) in the header. These status codes tell Googlebot that the requested URL is not valid. Some servers are misconfigured to return a status of 200 (OK) for pages that do not exist, which tells Googlebot that the requested URLs are valid and should be indexed.

Once you have ensured that the non-existent pages return the correct status code, you can either wait for Googlebot to recrawl the pages and remove them from the index or you can expedite their removal using the URL removal tool in our Google webmaster tools."

So i interpreted this to mean that google will remove outdated links the next time they crawl my website??

Welsh Guy, i'm a bit worried not when you say HUGE MISTAKE!
The code you have given:

RewriteEngine ON
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.myredpacket.co.uk/$1 [R=301,L]

What's the $1??
Sorry i really don't understand? Hope you can clairfy

Thanks!

OldWelshGuy · 10-01-2007, 04:27 PM

Ok I will try to explain. YES google say that you should allow a 404 to occur BUT put it in perspective.

Lets say google knows about 500 pages from your site. Now you have moved your site, what have you done? MOVED your site. Those pages STILL EXIST, they have NOT gone away. So the correct error code is 301 moved permamently. This tells the spiders 'hey guys this page isn't here any longer, it is here' please udpate your records, oh and by the way can you transfer all the links and history about this page.

Currently the way you have set things up, anyone who bookmarked a page on your site will get a 404. KILLED THEM DEAD that has as they think you no longer exist. the code I have given you is redirecting the spiders AND PEOPLE to the corresponding page in your new location. the $1 is NOt one dollar it is using ing the symbol as part of the code. It is telling the browser (be it human or spider) whatever request you have made here in this code will be transfered to the new site.

If it makes you less worried, then use the code below. but unless you are certain you know what you are doing just don't go adding things willy nilly as it can mess things up. If there is a htaccess file already in that folder then download that and add the code to it. If the folder has been removed, then it is safe to use it no problem

RedirectMatch 301 ^(.*)$ http://http://www.myredpacket.co.uk

No need to take my advice though, it is 100% your call, if you are not happy with it then don't do it

MyRedPacket · 10-01-2007, 05:37 PM

Hi Old Welsh Guy
You're a star, thanks for he explanation! re coding i have NO clue- i have passed everything onto my web guy. I know for sure this needs to be sorted! So do the old urls always remain in google's index? My number of indexed page is around 2490 currently, and most of them the old urls- will these eventually disappear even with the redirect on them? If they do remain on google, does that mean google will still pick up the 'new' urls as separate pages? Hope that makes sense.

By the way, are you actually welsh?
Cheers
My Linh

OldWelshGuy · 10-01-2007, 06:13 PM

the redirect is using a header responce of 301 ' which means this page has moved permanently. Google will simply slip the new page in place of the old page and the transition between old and new locations will be seemless.

This is how a true SEO works

MyRedPacket · 10-01-2007, 06:38 PM

understood thanks!
Final question (sorry!) -what's the best and easiet way to add the code so that it covers all the /Shop pages and not just the homepage?

john238 · 10-16-2007, 05:26 PM

I would recommend that you use a 301 redirect as if you don't then all your current traffic will be coming to 404 error pages on your site when you could just use a 301 redirect to redirect them the the correct page.

Also, you will lose the PR juice that you have on these pages I would think aswell if you don't redirect them.

Yes google should pick up your new pages, and your old pages will disappear from Google, but there will be other sites still linking to the old pages on the web and giving your backlink juice to the old pages instead of the new ones which you could possibly change with a 301 redirect I believe.

jusen · 10-17-2007, 12:38 PM

you must create httaccess for your site...you should provide links to your main index of your site... hope this will help you.

10-01-2007, 08:55 AM	#1
MyRedPacket Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 28	404 status error If your site pages return a 404 status error (not found), do you know if google will automatically delete these pages from their index and replace them with the new url page? My 404 statuses are as a result of all my site pages changing directory, from www.myredpacket.co.uk/Shop/index.php to just www.myredpacket.co.uk (homepage). My section pages from www.myredpacket.co.uk/Shop/section.php etc to now myredpacket.co.uk/section/php... and same with all the product pages. Currently google still has all my old urls in the index returning the 404 status error. Thanks all! Last edited 10-01-2007 at 11:27 AM. Reason: broken link removal

10-01-2007, 11:11 AM	#2
mars guitars Junior Guru Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 742	Re: 404 status error I think you need a 301 redirect... but I'm just a numptie and can't tell you how to do it! I don't see how Google could automatically replace them with the new URL... how would it know? (without doing a full check of all possible pages for a 100% match... which is a tall order even for G!) __________________ Guitar strings and accessories, Rotosound bass strings, Guitar Capos and Guitar Gifts from Mars Guitars UK . . . .under development.. guitar string guide

10-01-2007, 11:27 AM	#3
OldWelshGuy iWEBTOOL SEO Advisor Contributor Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 675	Re: 404 status error HUGE mistake. I assume you are using Apache servers so you need to add this to the HTACCESS file in the following folder. www.myredpacket.co.uk/Shop/ Code: RewriteEngine ON RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.myredpacket.co.uk/$1 [R=301,L] Doing this will give you a smoth trqansition with regard the search engines and you will not return a 404. 404 errors are a CERTAIN way to get the search engines NOT to trust your site I emplore you to put that redirect (301) into action as soon as possible. Please ask for any help. __________________ Umbrella Consultancy Internet Marketing Company - Rugby Forum - Google Expert Blog

10-01-2007, 01:51 PM	#5
MyRedPacket Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 28	Re: 404 status error Hi Old Welsh Guy and Mars Guitar I read this on google webmaster: Remove an outdated link Google updates its entire index regularly. When we crawl the web, we automatically find new pages, remove outdated links and reflect updates to existing pages, keeping the Google index fresh and as up to date as possible. If outdated links from your site appear in the search results, ensure that the pages return a status of either 404 (not found) or 410 (gone) in the header. These status codes tell Googlebot that the requested URL is not valid. Some servers are misconfigured to return a status of 200 (OK) for pages that do not exist, which tells Googlebot that the requested URLs are valid and should be indexed. Once you have ensured that the non-existent pages return the correct status code, you can either wait for Googlebot to recrawl the pages and remove them from the index or you can expedite their removal using the URL removal tool in our Google webmaster tools." So i interpreted this to mean that google will remove outdated links the next time they crawl my website?? Welsh Guy, i'm a bit worried not when you say HUGE MISTAKE! The code you have given: RewriteEngine ON RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.myredpacket.co.uk/$1 [R=301,L] What's the $1?? Sorry i really don't understand? Hope you can clairfy Thanks!

10-01-2007, 04:27 PM	#6
OldWelshGuy iWEBTOOL SEO Advisor Contributor Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 675	Re: 404 status error Ok I will try to explain. YES google say that you should allow a 404 to occur BUT put it in perspective. Lets say google knows about 500 pages from your site. Now you have moved your site, what have you done? MOVED your site. Those pages STILL EXIST, they have NOT gone away. So the correct error code is 301 moved permamently. This tells the spiders 'hey guys this page isn't here any longer, it is here' please udpate your records, oh and by the way can you transfer all the links and history about this page. Currently the way you have set things up, anyone who bookmarked a page on your site will get a 404. KILLED THEM DEAD that has as they think you no longer exist. the code I have given you is redirecting the spiders AND PEOPLE to the corresponding page in your new location. the $1 is NOt one dollar it is using ing the symbol as part of the code. It is telling the browser (be it human or spider) whatever request you have made here in this code will be transfered to the new site. If it makes you less worried, then use the code below. but unless you are certain you know what you are doing just don't go adding things willy nilly as it can mess things up. If there is a htaccess file already in that folder then download that and add the code to it. If the folder has been removed, then it is safe to use it no problem RedirectMatch 301 ^(.*)$ http://http://www.myredpacket.co.uk No need to take my advice though, it is 100% your call, if you are not happy with it then don't do it __________________ Umbrella Consultancy Internet Marketing Company - Rugby Forum - Google Expert Blog

10-01-2007, 05:37 PM	#7
MyRedPacket Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 28	Re: 404 status error Hi Old Welsh Guy You're a star, thanks for he explanation! re coding i have NO clue- i have passed everything onto my web guy. I know for sure this needs to be sorted! So do the old urls always remain in google's index? My number of indexed page is around 2490 currently, and most of them the old urls- will these eventually disappear even with the redirect on them? If they do remain on google, does that mean google will still pick up the 'new' urls as separate pages? Hope that makes sense. By the way, are you actually welsh? Cheers My Linh

10-01-2007, 06:13 PM	#8
OldWelshGuy iWEBTOOL SEO Advisor Contributor Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 675	Re: 404 status error the redirect is using a header responce of 301 ' which means this page has moved permanently. Google will simply slip the new page in place of the old page and the transition between old and new locations will be seemless. This is how a true SEO works __________________ Umbrella Consultancy Internet Marketing Company - Rugby Forum - Google Expert Blog

10-01-2007, 06:38 PM	#9
MyRedPacket Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 28	Re: 404 status error understood thanks! Final question (sorry!) -what's the best and easiet way to add the code so that it covers all the /Shop pages and not just the homepage?

10-16-2007, 05:26 PM	#10
john238 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 71	Re: 404 status error I would recommend that you use a 301 redirect as if you don't then all your current traffic will be coming to 404 error pages on your site when you could just use a 301 redirect to redirect them the the correct page. Also, you will lose the PR juice that you have on these pages I would think aswell if you don't redirect them. Yes google should pick up your new pages, and your old pages will disappear from Google, but there will be other sites still linking to the old pages on the web and giving your backlink juice to the old pages instead of the new ones which you could possibly change with a 301 redirect I believe. __________________ Affiliate Programs - A large Directory of over 2,000 Affiliate Programs. Includes Contextual Ads, CPM Banners & Popups/Unders, Affiliate Networks, Residual Income Programs, and much more.

10-17-2007, 12:38 PM	#11
jusen Wish you were here! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7	Re: 404 status error you must create httaccess for your site...you should provide links to your main index of your site... hope this will help you.

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