Remove or not to remove (from index)

[markrchisholm]

A client of mine had a website working across 3 domains (effectively operating as one by cross linking).

About 8 weeks ago I consolidated all of their content on to one domain. 301 redirects were set up for all pages on the 2 redundant domains.

The domain we chose to use wasn't not the strongest of the 3 (search engine positioning wise) but still carried weight in the search engines. It had to be used for corporate reasons though.

8 weeks down the line Google is still caching some removed content from the 2 old domains. Also my two main pages (on the live domain) are in the sup index. These two pages are effectively the two home pages from the 2 redundant domains.

We have already produced new copy for most key pages on the live domain (including the 2 pages in the sup index), and have started building more links to the live domain.

Generally speaking, it has shot up the serps for most phrases, but I have not managed to get the first page ranking back for it's two main targeted key phrases (that the two redundant domains used to rank for).

I suppose my question is: Should I remove the remaining content from the old domains using Webmaster Tools and risk loosing the juice that will be passed on via the 301's or sit tight for a bit longer?

[MuNKyonline]

I would sit tight, saying that though, are you sure the other domains didnt have better onpage SEO?

What's the URL?

[markrchisholm]

Thanks for your reply, no I don't think that the old pages had better on the page SEO.

I'd love to post the URL, but I'd rather not have my client and colleges reading my forum posts by following referring URLs

I'm certain the issue is that my two main product index pages on the live site are in the sup index, I'm sure once this issue is sorted the rankings will follow. Originally the content of these two product index pages was just a copy of the two home pages from the old domains, 301 redirects were put in place to direct visitors (and search engines) from the old home pages to the new product index pages.

After a few weeks the copy on these pages was rewritten as I suspected the reason they were in the sup index was due to the duplicate content (even though 301s were put in place). Since then the copy has been spirded and cached, but they still drift in and out of the main index.

However, today I have just performed a site only search in Google and both now appear to be in the main index at the same time, so fingers crossed it will stick and the rankings will come.

The redundant 2 domains do not rank for any searches now (haven't for about 4-5 weeks, but when you do a site only search there are still 35 pages (from an original 160) listed, although the home pages have gone. However I'm just paranoid that until ALL the pages are dropped it (Google) will still somehow 'remember' the home pages.

The silly thing is when I read posts like this, I think "just give it some time man!", but when your the one with a boss breathing down your neck doubting your abilities if can be very frustrating to say the least.

[incrediblehelp]

I would agree sit tight. If the old pages have 301 redirects on them the engines are not able to see that content anymore. The 301 redirects would not allow it.

[seo4china]

Just give it time and continue developing links for the selected site...