I started a website 2 years ago, on a free host. Now the site has become quite substantial, with lots of inbound links and decent visibility on several search engines (Google
PR 5). I've been thinking it would be wise to get my own domain name - a thought that was emphasized recently when something went haywire with the links to all my remote stylesheets and javascripts, and my whole site was messed up for a week (with no accountability from the host).
Getting a domain name and a good host will be easy. I don't relish writing to all the sites I know of who link to me, asking them to change the links....but I'll do it. My main concern is what happens to my visibility in the SEs. Will they follow the redirect pages on the old site, and replace my good listings with the new URLs....or will it take a period of time for the new site to generate good listings of its own?
I've thought of writing to the SEs and asking them simply to replace my existing listings with the new URLs. Has anyone here ever heard of such a thing?
Then there's the challenge of getting re-listed in the DMOZ. I wonder if it's truly as important as generally thought. They listed me a long time ago....though, when I search for my site in their directory, it says I'm not listed (even though I actually am listed, as confirmed by a look in the appropriate category!). I've written to them ages ago, to ask why a search of their directory shows my site not to be listed....and also to request an updated description of my site in the listing they do have....and have never had a response from them. So I realize, if I get a new domain name, the new site may never be listed by them....
Any advice on this will be greatly appreciated....
Thanks in advance --------
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. db