Will Changing URLs on some pages of my site hurt SERP?

[ROFLjuice]

Okay so, I'm stupid when it comes to stuff like this. Let's say my website is about pants, and the website is www.xyzblah.com. One of the pages, if you wanted to buy some pants, would be www.xyzblah.com/buysomepants. Now, I've had it named that way for 2 years.

After reading up on anchor text, and how the name of an url shouldn't throw together words, but seperate them with hyphens like buy-some-pants, I wanted to change the url from www.xyzblah.com/buysomepants to www.xyzblah.com/buy-some-pants. This would help anchor texting to it easier to do, right?

Will changing something like that hurt how Search Engines rank you? Especially if I want to do it to other pages on the site besides the buysomepants one.

I hope you guys can understand what I'm saying.

[Black Cat]

I get what your are saying but in my experience it is probably better to leave it well alone and build links to your buysomepants page, rather than changing the url.

It still contains your target keywords, but i would argue that if is receiving a decent amount of traffic and has done for a while, leave it alone.

If it is receiving zero traffic then sure go ahead and change it, but make sure you put a redirect in for those that have already bookmarked/linked to that page.

[seorocks]

I agree with Black Cat - if your link building campaign and internal linking is using anchor text about (buy some pants) - this is what will add value to the page and help it rank better. Just make sure whatever is linking to that page is relevant. also ensure your on-page optimisation is nocely done.

changing the URL's isnt a good idea just for this reason. however, if YOU HAVE to do it, then make sure you use 301 e-direct!

[ROFLjuice]

Alright, thanks for the help!

[ami_iss]

You left out some important information:
Are these pages listed in Google?
Have they been up for a while and might they be linked to by others?

If you answered yes to both of the above, do not change any file names. You will lose whatever you built until now.

SEO - Search Engine Optimization

[ami_iss]

And oh yes - don't use 301 redirects - that's a good way to lose your Google standing - they warn about it. It might not always be true, but it is foolish to disregard explicit instructions from Google.


SEO - Search Engine Optimization

[innominds]

Unless the url is indexed and has many links pointing it, it will not make any difference.

[jamescliff]

In this case, 301 redirect is best
By 301 redirect. Link juice of old URL will successfully pass to new one
& it will be also helpful for SEs to understand that which URL is running right now

[Marblemouth]

Hyphen in url may get some extra advantage in seo ranking.

[incrediblehelp]

I would leave it alone. Keywords in the URL is only ONE very SMALL factor in ranking a page.

[vmontero]

Originally Posted by ami_iss

And oh yes - don't use 301 redirects - that's a good way to lose your Google standing - they warn about it. It might not always be true, but it is foolish to disregard explicit instructions from Google.


SEO - Search Engine Optimization

I didn't realize Google penalized for using 301 redirects. Where do they warn against doing this?

Thanks.

[villageloop]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

I would leave it alone. Keywords in the URL is only ONE very SMALL factor in ranking a page.

I would have to agree. Especially since you already have key phrases in your file name.

Also, I am not sure about the 301 penalty that is stated above. I have never heard that a valid permanent redirect is a bad thing?
This is the exact type of situation that would require a 301 re-direct. It is what they were created for.

[jawn_tech]

Totally understand the question.

Changing URL's is swatting a fly with a frying pan, at best. Even if hyphens made a difference, it's minuscule compared to numerous other variables in determining what could make a site or page rank better...

And as it goes with SE's (mainly google), algorithms change. So what may be a small advantage today could be a small disadvantage next week. (or, a bigger problem)

One never knows, but one can be sure of the inherent risk involved in putting forth the time and effort. I see it as spending $20 on a lotto ticket where the grand prize is $25, and the odds of winning are 1:1000, without knowing what will be the case with search algo's tomorrow. (Not to mention hyphenated domains are hard to promote offline)

[Web Design Company]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

I would leave it alone. Keywords in the URL is only ONE very SMALL factor in ranking a page.

I agree with mod. Try insted to build quality backlinks for your page/site , especially from dofollow blogs, articles and sites.

[full house]

no its not!if you just properly change it!Did you use 301?