Does a URL affect SERP?

[iandoc]

And, maybe it's been losing traffic for lack of 301s, a subject that you steadfastly evade.

Thanks deepsand.
I think not as there are no real signs of historical links to sub-pages from other domains - only to the domain itself. As such, the only other problems would have been the internal linking which would have sorted itself out by now.

[deepsand]

Thanks deepsand.
I think not as there are no real signs of historical links to sub-pages from other domains - only to the domain itself. As such, the only other problems would have been the internal linking which would have sorted itself out by now.

Questions re. 301s were in reference to redirecting old on-site pages to the corresponding new ones.

Were such not adequately employed, many returning visitors may have become frustrated in their attempts to find a corresponding new page that they abandoned the site, never to return.

[iandoc]

Questions re. 301s were in reference to redirecting old on-site pages to the corresponding new ones.

Were such not adequately employed, many returning visitors may have become frustrated in their attempts to find a corresponding new page that they abandoned the site, never to return.

I understand the point you are making deepsand. But new traffic from the search engines seems to have dropped off also.
Dunno. But the answer to my original question "does this convoluted url adversely affect rankings?" would seem to be - no.
Thanks for your help.

[deepsand]

Have you considered economic factors?

[SteveGerencser]

I understand the point you are making deepsand. But new traffic from the search engines seems to have dropped off also.
Dunno. But the answer to my original question "does this convoluted url adversely affect rankings?" would seem to be - no.
Thanks for your help.

You lost 100% of your internal linking. 100%. All of it. Every last bit. The whole enchilada. Internal linking counts for a lot more than most people know. Failure to do a full 301 redirect when converting a site is as near to incompetence as you can get and in my opinion should be actionable in court.

It's on the same caliber as moving a real store across town and placing a 3" post it note on the door of the old place and then wondering where all the customers went.

If I were your client right now I'd be talking to lawyers about ways I can recover my loses through you. Someone with 15 years experience should know better.

[iandoc]

You lost 100% of your internal linking. 100%. All of it. Every last bit. The whole enchilada. Internal linking counts for a lot more than most people know. Failure to do a full 301 redirect when converting a site is as near to incompetence as you can get and in my opinion should be actionable in court.

It's on the same caliber as moving a real store across town and placing a 3" post it note on the door of the old place and then wondering where all the customers went.

If I were your client right now I'd be talking to lawyers about ways I can recover my loses through you. Someone with 15 years experience should know better.

An apology would be appreciated Steve. i did not carry out the change - it was done contrary to my recommendations. Try to be a little less judgmental mate.

[iandoc]

Have you considered economic factors?

Yes. Its the dramatic drop in traffic volumes from (what was once) a diverse range of search strings. In fact, its for a security company and in times of economic downturn, this is one of the few market sectors that grow !!

[weegillis]

An apology would be appreciated Steve. i did not carry out the change - it was done contrary to my recommendations. Try to be a little less judgmental mate.

Whether or not you carried out the changes yourself is immaterial. If you are in the driver's seat, now, then your best option would be to put the appropriate 301's into effect ASAP. Even if there were no IBL's to the internal pages from domain pages, there would still be IBL's in the index, which once removed, would eliminate all IBL's from the SE except the home page.

Aside: There is no need to take anything personal here. People are responding in what little time they have, and seldom have time to elaborate on the niceties.

[iandoc]

Aside: There is no need to take anything personal here. People are responding in what little time they have, and seldom have time to elaborate on the niceties.

I appreciate the defense of your friend weegillis. I would have thought he could have replied himself though, I have no quarrel with you.

Pushed for time is one thing. Niceties - I agree, not necessary. But there are too may people responding on forums in such a way that demonstrates a certain lack of manners. It's just not necessary.

Anyway, I thank you for your assistance. Unfortunately my client is still wedded to his designer for reasons I do not need to go into on here.

[weegillis]

Correction: Defense of the Forums, not my friend. Personal missives are best kept off boards, via PM.

I appreciate the defense of your friend weegillis. I would have thought he could have replied himself though, I have no quarrel with you.

Pushed for time is one thing. Niceties - I agree, not necessary. But there are too may people responding on forums in such a way that demonstrates a certain lack of manners. It's just not necessary.

Anyway, I thank you for your assistance. Unfortunately my client is still wedded to his designer for reasons I do not need to go into on here.