change domain name NOT content

[findtim]

hi, I'm about to change a domain name, the site has only 12 pages, we will be keeping the exact paths for the new site.

is a simple php htaccess 301 redirect the best way to do it these days?

the site ranks WELL, @ number 2

I have potential to KEEP the current site but will duplicate content kill me? I'm concerned about the backlinks to the current site and client ( of course ) doesn't want to pay for a complete appraisal on SEO and backlink profiles.

any advice happily accepted ,

coolangattasandshostel moving to coolangattasandsbaclpackers

I am also interested in how others would deal with this request, they decided themselves to change to backpackers from hostel, registered the domain ( fine ) then want me to switch it over and expect that they won't drop rank, I have told them i'll do the switch but I can not guarantee your rankings will hold.

and their answer was "why not" , my reply was " because you just changed domain names ! its a completely different link to google "

anyway, I'm not moving anything until I get there acceptance of my POINT on the SEO

tim

 

[plano]

It is not necessarily a 'completely different link on google'.

It is a change of domain name:

**************************
If you've moved your site to a new domain, you can use the Change of address tool to tell Google about your new URL. We'll update our index to reflect your new URL. Changes will stay in effect for 180 days, by which time we'll have crawled and indexed the pages at your new URL.

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/83106?hl=en
***********************

 

[findtim]

FANTASTIC, thanks for the link, one of the reasons i LOVE DNT

tim

 

[Ashman]

Tim you claim to have been a web developer for the past 10 years at least. How could you not know about the change of address tool in WebMaster Tools? If I were your client I would have bounced you in 2 seconds if that!

 

[Rhythm]

Ashman, that last post was unnecessary and you know it.

 

[findtim]

it never hurts to ask as you never know what changes

and this proves you should have the ability to ask stupid question on a forum as that is what it is here for.

sure, have a joke but include a smiley face

tim

ps its 14 years and i have stated MANY times i'm not very good at SEO knowledge.

 

[Data Glasses]

experience is the best teacher