"Borrowing" a client's ranking on redirect

[simonlogan]

We recently had to disable all services of a client of ours for non-payment and our host allows us to do this and redirect all traffic to our own site until payment has been received and services re-enabled.

A day or two after doing this I Googled the name of the client (Stagequest) and was perplexed to find our own site at the top of the rankings for this search phrase! The name of the client doesn't appear anywhere on our site's home page and you can still see some pages on their own site listed below us - what's going on? I understand that traffic will be redirected to our site but dont' get how this could affect the search engine ranking for their site?

The client's site is now re-enabled but we are still showing up as the number one hit for the search term "stagequest".

Anyway understand this behaviour?

[kevsta]

yes, if you 301 redirected and Google recached the clients page, their rankings for that term have probably been transferred to you by the process.

site:www.stagequest.co.uk/ - Google Search

you'll notice that the client's main domain (index) page is no longer indexed? Google has removed that from the index and and replaced it with your homepage

deleting and re submitting your xml sitemap in webmaster tools usually gets them back for a fast recaching in a day or two, and a fe new links at the homepage would probably help speed the swap back up a bit too

[activeco]

You probably did it with 301; then it was normal Google bahaviour.
You should have done it by using 302.

[simonlogan]

Originally Posted by activeco

You probably did it with 301; then it was normal Google bahaviour.
You should have done it by using 302.

Well we still havent' stumped up the full amount so I'm not going to sweat it ...

[activeco]

Originally Posted by simonlogan

Well we still havent' stumped up the full amount so I'm not going to sweat it ...

A bit nasty.
If they pay try to follow Kevsta's advice.

[simonlogan]

Sorry, I meant to say THEY hadn't paid. Bit nasty? Well that amount was just for the hosting for the last two years - it's not including the website we designed and built for them (along with two others) in return for free advertising at an event which still hasn't taken place 2 years on ...

I didn't specify myself the nature of the redirect, it was just the one provided by our hosts and is an easy way to disable all services (including email) but it does appear to be a 301. 302 would be better, it seems, for the website although I don't think that would affect email and since we only do this when there is a long period of non-payment we'd want to (temporarily) disable all services. That said this is the first time we've had to actually do this so it's a rarity.

(... And if only I could vote Barack! Mind you I think that the entire UK could vote for him and Clinton would still insist that she could and will win the nomination ... The Convention it is then ...)

[activeco]

Originally Posted by simonlogan

... since we only do this when there is a long period of non-payment we'd want to (temporarily) disable all services. That said this is the first time we've had to actually do this so it's a rarity.

Actually I like the idea. It's always good to have a backup solution.

[QuickLinkSEO]

I believe Goggle give's more weight to a web sites IP address!!!

In April 2008 I changed my web site name with a PR of 2 to my new web site with no PR. Yes I could have used a redirect, however at some time someone linking to my web site changed their information to a porn link in a big way. Not wanting that kind of linking I didn't use any redirect.

Ok, my point is that using the same web host ( same IP address ) I changed my web site name and Goggle had indexed my new site over night looking for my old web site. What it found was my new web pages giving my new pages a status 200 which mean's the page is OK.

As for all my old pages Goggle gave me 404 for those pages it couldn't find. After a couple of day's Goggle was not looking as much for those old pages and continued to index my new web site.

So I believe that Goggle indexed your web site just after you put the redirect from your customer's site to your own web site and sinse you have no contant of your customer on your web site Goggle came looking for your customers information that had been submitted to it only to find instead your web site information.

Your customer's information was no dault hosted on your web server your ( IP address ) and your site being PR 5 Goggle gave you the rank instead of your customer.

[ron angel]

Originally Posted by simonlogan

We recently had to disable all services of a client of ours for non-payment and our host allows us to do this and redirect all traffic to our own site until payment has been received and services re-enabled.

A day or two after doing this I Googled the name of the client (Stagequest) and was perplexed to find our own site at the top of the rankings for this search phrase! The name of the client doesn't appear anywhere on our site's home page and you can still see some pages on their own site listed below us - what's going on? I understand that traffic will be redirected to our site but dont' get how this could affect the search engine ranking for their site?

The client's site is now re-enabled but we are still showing up as the number one hit for the search term "stagequest".

Anyway understand this behaviour?

you see why it has happened from the other replies. looks like your client is messing about. I would point out what is happening and the amount of business they are loosing probably for ever thank them for the extra traffic to your site and wait for quick payment. if not just leave redirect in place until they do!