Need to change from Static HTML to Dinamic PHP

[milady]

Hi there,

After 7 years of having a well positioned website in HTML code I have to change it to PHP because I have to add and "advanced search".

Could you tell me please if there is a way to not loose my position in Google if I change it?

I will appreciate a lot any help.

Thanks!!

[sandis.viksna]

Don't change extensions!!!

Add this line to your .htaccess file:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .html

This will make your .html files to support .php scrip, this said, you can use any php code in your .html pages, and it will work perfectly.

[maneetpuri]

Hi,

I agree with Sandis, changing the extensions will definitely affect your ranking on Google. But since you want to add the advance search for which you need PHP, either you can do what Sandis has suggest, it’s a good way, but if your server does not allow you to do this then you can add new pages for Advanced Search and keep them as .php. Since these will be the new pages so there will not be any impact on the position of already existing pages.

Cheers,

~Maneet

[Apice Internet]

That makes losing positions yes ..
Better than the change. Htaccess is to use the 301 redirect, because you will not lose PR.

[dburdon]

Sandis,

speaking from experience with several client websites its imperative not to change the extensions. A redirect will only preserve the off page PR. The URL, meta tags and content all have a value.