Can javascript redirect harm website

[Ann]

Hello,

Recently my client has used JavaScript redirect in html web page which is redirecting to asp web page. I know JavaScript redirect is temporary redirect and not search engine friendly. But my question is that, is it because of JavaScript redirect that we lost hits in last six months. They have done so at the end of May 2007. Before that in April 2007 TBPR update, we lost few important web page page rank.

Also, the website is hosted in shared IP. My client is constantly asking for the reason & when I say it’s because of JavaScript redirect, they don’t agree with me.

What could be the reason for decline in hits?

SEO Gurus please help.

[tamecrow]

Without seeing the site, we can't say, but the JavaScript redirect certainly isn't helping. Why do you not use a 301 redirect?

[Ann]

Thanks tamecrow for ur quick reply,

As i said, the site is hosted in shared server, so they don't have access to change it.

For the site URL, I cant post it as my client don't want it.

Please help...

[Dubbya]

Obviously, an JavaScript redirect is going to cause issues in that search engines will probably see the redirect page as a "doorway page". If that's the case, it's possible that your site is being penalized.

From the Google Help Center
Webmaster Help Center - Cloaking, sneaky Javascript redirects, and doorway pages

(I'd recommend that you read the entire page.)

"When Googlebot indexes a page containing Javascript, it will index that page but it cannot follow or index any links hidden in the Javascript itself."

"When a redirect link is embedded in Javascript, the search engine indexes the original page rather than following the link, whereas users are taken to the redirect target. Like cloaking, this practice is deceptive because it displays different content to users and to Googlebot, and can take a visitor somewhere other than where they intended to go."

"Note that placement of links within Javascript is alone not deceptive. When examining Javascript on your site to ensure your site adheres to our guidelines, consider the intent."

"Keep in mind that since search engines generally can't access the contents of Javascript, legitimate links within Javascript will likely be inaccessible to them (as well as to visitors without Javascript-enabled browsers). You might instead keep links outside of Javascript or replicate them in a noscript tag."

If you have not been tracking site statistics, it's going to be a little hard to figure out where the problem is originating from or precisely when the loss in traffic began.

You've asked for help in determining why you're losing hits but are unable to provide a URL. Without a URL, we cannot determine your targeted keywords or compare your site against any competitors, nor are we able to check the code in your pages, redirects or main site content.

Get a static dedicated IP address, lose the JavaScript redirect and you'll begin to see some improvements.

.02

[mawells]

I've used JavaScript redirects with no problems BUT I also include a robot.txt tag that tells the search engine not to index this page. That way if the page is served up as a search result the visitor will be sent to the new page and eventually, the page will be dropped from the search index. (Sometimes you simply can't use a 301 redirect with certain hosting companies and sometimes I may choose to reuse the file at a later date, so the redirect may not be permanent.)

[DoneInStyle]

Why can't you do the redirect directly from the domain name registrar? Many supply this service.

[blitzen]

Originally Posted by Ann

As i said, the site is hosted in shared server, so they don't have access to change it.

We have several websites on a shared server and can use our own htaccess to 301 redirect.
You might want to ask your host if you can do that.

[craigmn3]

I assuming the javascript is on an existing page. Why not add a text anchor link pointing to the new page as well.

somethinng like:

If you are not automatically forwarded please click the link below:

then add your new link.

That will also help the people who's browsers block javascript actions as malicious (more of these than you think). This could also be part of the reason why you are missing traffic.

[edhan]

If possible, changing hosting that allows you to do a 301 redirect.

[Ann]

First of all thanks to all of your for answering.

Originally Posted by Dubbya

Obviously, an JavaScript redirect is going to cause issues in that search engines will probably see the redirect page as a "doorway page". If that's the case, it's possible that your site is being penalized.

From the Google Help Center
Webmaster Help Center - Cloaking, sneaky Javascript redirects, and doorway pages

(I'd recommend that you read the entire page.)


If you have not been tracking site statistics, it's going to be a little hard to figure out where the problem is originating from or precisely when the loss in traffic began.

You've asked for help in determining why you're losing hits but are unable to provide a URL. Without a URL, we cannot determine your targeted keywords or compare your site against any competitors, nor are we able to check the code in your pages, redirects or main site content.

Get a static dedicated IP address, lose the JavaScript redirect and you'll begin to see some improvements.

.02

I have read the webmaster guidelines & even showed it to client. According to them they have added only javascript redirect and removed all other contents from the web page.

I know without providing URL, its difficult to analyse the reason for fall in hits.

The client said that they have used this type of redirect two years back but not such fall in hits occurred at that time. I answered them that the pages earlier were not important web pages. This time they made changes in the main index web page which comes after a flash web page.

[Ann]

@mawells

I've used JavaScript redirects with no problems BUT I also include a robot.txt tag that tells the search engine not to index this page. That way if the page is served up as a search result the visitor will be sent to the new page and eventually, the page will be dropped from the search index. (Sometimes you simply can't use a 301 redirect with certain hosting companies and sometimes I may choose to reuse the file at a later date, so the redirect may not be permanent.)

Its a nice suggestion. Thank you.

@DoneInStyle

Why can't you do the redirect directly from the domain name registrar? Many supply this service.

Can your please explain how to do it? I dont have any idea about it.

@blitzen

We have several websites on a shared server and can use our own htaccess to 301 redirect.
You might want to ask your host if you can do that.

Correct me if I am wrong, htacess can be used in Linux server & not for windows server. If it can be done in Windows server, please do let me know any reference site to do it.

@craigmn3

I assuming the javascript is on an existing page. Why not add a text anchor link pointing to the new page as well.

somethinng like:

If you are not automatically forwarded please click the link below:

then add your new link.

That will also help the people who's browsers block javascript actions as malicious (more of these than you think). This could also be part of the reason why you are missing traffic.

Thanks for the nice suggestion. This can be one of the reason.

@edhan

If possible, changing hosting that allows you to do a 301 redirect.

I have already asked client to do so. But, according to Matt Cutt & few other SEO webmasters, It does not matters a lot & cannot harm a site in such a badly manner

[Ann]

Also, from August 2007, few targeted keywords have lost their rankings in Google. Eralier keywords were ranking in top 20 & now they are in between of 50-100.

Is there any updation going in Google? When will TBPR update will happen as its almost 5 months over.

[kayd]

It's my guess that you are using javascript redirects with the link hidden within.

Google will not follow those links, they are for humans, the bots won't see them. So Google (and other SE bots) are trying to crawl your previously ranking pages finding no content and gradually de-indexing them.

It is an absolute urgency that you address this issue immediately. You MUST arrange for search engine friendly redirects (301) and I suggest you get link building to try to recover as best you can.

As much as i hate to post a reference to wikipedia on an SEO matter, this page talks about URL redirection in a simple and concise format.
URL redirection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[brucet]

A drop in hits could have been caused by the Javascript redirect, but the only way to be sure it was this and not some other issue is to look at the timing. Did the drop happen immediately after the redirect was implemented? Did any other changes take place at the same time?

It would definitely be a good idea to implement one of the fixes suggested here, but getting back your lost traffic is the priority. You need to be sure you have correctly identified the actual cause - not just one possible cause. Otherwise you could be putting your main effort into something that is not the real priority.

[kayd]

I just want to stress that javacript redirects are absolutely NOT search engine friendly and this is widely known by competent SEOs. It doesnt matter if the drop (in ranks) happened immediately after or a few days. Removing the content of an already ranking page and using a JS redirect to a new URL is NOT the way to go and is ALMOST CERTAINLY going to affect ranks.

So making sure 301 redirect is implemented SHOULD be the priority at this stage before anything else.

Make sure you also update your main navigation, sitemap and all existing internal static links to the new urls.

[tamecrow]

kayd is correct - Search engines on the whole cannot read JavaScript.

[Ann]

Originally Posted by kayd

It's my guess that you are using javascript redirects with the link hidden within.

Google will not follow those links, they are for humans, the bots won't see them. So Google (and other SE bots) are trying to crawl your previously ranking pages finding no content and gradually de-indexing them.

It is an absolute urgency that you address this issue immediately. You MUST arrange for search engine friendly redirects (301) and I suggest you get link building to try to recover as best you can.

As much as i hate to post a reference to wikipedia on an SEO matter, this page talks about URL redirection in a simple and concise format.
URL redirection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We are using the following javascript redirect:
<script language="JavaScript">
window.location="newpage.asp";
</script>

We have already created sitemap.xml with the new web page url. Google has indexed the new web page. Google usually indexed our website & its web pages in 15 days period.

Since the site is hosted in shared server, 301 redirect is not possible through IAS. I am looking for asp code to redirect it. Hope it works.

[Ann]

Originally Posted by brucet

A drop in hits could have been caused by the Javascript redirect, but the only way to be sure it was this and not some other issue is to look at the timing. Did the drop happen immediately after the redirect was implemented? Did any other changes take place at the same time?

It would definitely be a good idea to implement one of the fixes suggested here, but getting back your lost traffic is the priority. You need to be sure you have correctly identified the actual cause - not just one possible cause. Otherwise you could be putting your main effort into something that is not the real priority.

As i said earlier, the javascript redirect happened in end of May 2007. Before that in April TBPR update we lost few important web page pagerank(5 to NA). After having a discussion in WPW & WMW, I came to know that this was a bug in April 2007 TBPR update and many reputed website & directory has lost its internal web page page rank. So I am assuming its all because of javascript redirect.

As it was an assumption, I am thinking what else could be reason for fall in hits. Was there any updates going on in Search engines?

[Ann]

Originally Posted by kayd

I just want to stress that javacript redirects are absolutely NOT search engine friendly and this is widely known by competent SEOs. It doesnt matter if the drop (in ranks) happened immediately after or a few days. Removing the content of an already ranking page and using a JS redirect to a new URL is NOT the way to go and is ALMOST CERTAINLY going to affect ranks.

So making sure 301 redirect is implemented SHOULD be the priority at this stage before anything else.

Make sure you also update your main navigation, sitemap and all existing internal static links to the new urls.

I know that javascript redirect is not search engine friendly. Yes, the drop in ranking started in June, which improved in July but again went down in August and also in September.

We need to remove the content from the existing page as the new page had the same content. I think you are correct, this only could be the reason for fall in hits. Thanks a lot for pointing it out.

I am suggesting them to redirect using ASP code.

<%
Response.Status="301 Moved Permanently"
Response.AddHeader='Location','http://www.new-url.com/'
%>

It says that it is permanent redirect & I hope it will resolve my problem.

I am thankful to all of you for answering.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by Ann

Hello,

Recently my client has used JavaScript redirect in html web page which is redirecting to asp web page. I know JavaScript redirect is temporary redirect and not search engine friendly. But my question is that, is it because of JavaScript redirect that we lost hits in last six months. They have done so at the end of May 2007. Before that in April 2007 TBPR update, we lost few important web page page rank.

Also, the website is hosted in shared IP. My client is constantly asking for the reason & when I say it’s because of JavaScript redirect, they don’t agree with me.

What could be the reason for decline in hits?

SEO Gurus please help.

I am sorry if my suggestion was mentioned in the thread.
I read here that search engines do not understand JavaScript, and I agree.
But search engines understand the <noscript> tag. And in there you can add a link to the page you want to direct to.

In addition I would like to add an article about search engine friendly redirects we published on our site:
Search Engine Friendly Permanent Redirects - SEO Workers

[DoneInStyle]

@DoneInStyle
Quote:Why can't you do the redirect directly from the domain name registrar? Many supply this service.

Can your please explain how to do it? I dont have any idea about it.

My domain name registrar is NameCheap.com. They offer redirection. So, for instance if I want to direct my domain name domainnameone.com, which is registered through them, to domainnametwo.com, I can do it right through my domain name registrar interface, thus bypassing all these problems you're having on the server. With namecheap this service is free, but even if it costs a small fee it would seem to be worth it in your case, since it bypasses all this hoohaw.

[incrediblehelp]

Ann do you have the code to use a 301 redirect instead of a javascript based solution?

[Ann]

Originally Posted by DoneInStyle

My domain name registrar is NameCheap.com. They offer redirection. So, for instance if I want to direct my domain name domainnameone.com, which is registered through them, to domainnametwo.com, I can do it right through my domain name registrar interface, thus bypassing all these problems you're having on the server. With namecheap this service is free, but even if it costs a small fee it would seem to be worth it in your case, since it bypasses all this hoohaw.

Your are talking about redirect from one domain to another. Here I am talking about individual web page redirect i.e. html web page to asp web page. This i don't think can be done with registrar.

[Ann]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Ann do you have the code to use a 301 redirect instead of a javascript based solution?

I m sorry but couldn't understand what u mean? Currently html web page is redirecting using a javascript code. Since javascript redirect are not search engine friendly, 301 redirect is required.

Now the site is hosted in shared server, individual redirect is not possible.

I am sorry if my suggestion was mentioned in the thread.
I read here that search engines do not understand JavaScript, and I agree.
But search engines understand the <noscript> tag. And in there you can add a link to the page you want to direct to.

In addition I would like to add an article about search engine friendly redirects we published on our site:
Search Engine Friendly Permanent Redirects - SEO Workers

Thanks webnauts for your reference. Yeah, I am going to add a nonscript tag with the new url link.
But can you please tell me what percentage of people will have non javascript browser. Now a days we will find many website which uses javascript or Ajax. Can this really affect my client website is such a manner.

I thought i would use ASP code to redirect but then i came to know that how can we use asp code in html web page. So the problem still persist & ruining my rankings & hits.

Please help me to how to overcome with this problem?

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by Ann

Thanks webnauts for your reference. Yeah, I am going to add a nonscript tag with the new url link.

I said you can use the <noscrip> tag for the search engines. If there are some users they turn off Javascript will help them too. How many users I cannot tell. Maybe 2%? Couple years ago I read statistics that they were 5%. No idea Ann.

Originally Posted by Ann

Please help me to how to overcome with this problem?

If the hosting company does not allow you to edit the .htaccess file or use in your pages server side scripting, you could use the meta tag refresh but it must be setted to 5 or more seconds. And from the usability prospective that sucks. And that is not the best solution either, as search engines are allergic to that.

What is left over, you should advise your client to change their hosting company. Thats all I can tell so far.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by Webnauts

If the hosting company does not allow you to edit the .htaccess file or use in your pages server side scripting, you could use the meta tag refresh but it must be setted to 5 or more seconds. And from the usability prospective that sucks. And that is not the best solution either, as search engines are allergic to that.

I read recently that if meta refresh is set to 0 Google has no problem with it - and treats it like a 301. The logic is that you aren't showing different content to the SE and the human visitor ... I think the topic needs a thread of its own ... I'm going to look around and see what I can find on the topic and start a new thread ...

Cheers, MJ

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I read recently that if meta refresh is set to 0 Google has no problem with it - and treats it like a 301. The logic is that you aren't showing different content to the SE and the human visitor ... I think the topic needs a thread of its own ... I'm going to look around and see what I can find on the topic and start a new thread ...

Cheers, MJ

MJ I am very sure that search engines had a problem with 5 seconds, as they triggered sneaky redirects filters. I also heard that set to "0" Google has no problem with it, and actually seen that technically, why shouldn't it treat it like 301, if the redirect is instant? I posted about this already at Kalena's Blog (Search Engine College) two days ago.

If you find out where you read that, would be very cool if you would let us know too.

[mjtaylor]

I started a thread on the topic with what I found - Yahoo documentation that a Meta Refresh is okay ... and what I didn't:
Is a Meta Refresh Safe When You Can't Do a 301?

Cheers, MJ

[Ann]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I started a thread on the topic with what I found - Yahoo documentation that a Meta Refresh is okay ... and what I didn't:
Is a Meta Refresh Safe When You Can't Do a 301?

Cheers, MJ

Hi mjtaylor,

Thanks for suggesting meta refresh. I knew about it but thought its again a temporary redirect like javascript. So was afraid to incorporate it.