URL removal through GWT

[thedon23]

I bought an aged domain from GoDaddy (7 years old). It had three indexed pages. Been about a week or so since I bought it, and have added some content that has been indexed. Those old pages from the previous owner are still showing up in G though.

Correct me if I am mistaken, but domain age is calculated based on when the domain was indexed, right?

I want to submit a removal request through GWT, but am afraid it would possibly effect how big G sees the age of my domain (since I'd be removing the pages that were originally indexed).

What do you guys think?

 

[grav6]

Domain age is based upon the registration date in whois.

As for the still indexed pages, you would be better of redirecting them using a 301, rathern than requesting a removal through GWT, and Google will eventually remove them from their index. How best to do the 301 redirect depends upon what you're using (if it's Wordpress or another CMS, then most have plugins/modules to help do it).

EDIT: Just as an example, if you're editing the .htaccess file:

Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine on
redirect 301 /old-page.html http://www.domain.com/

This will send a message to the browser/SE Bot that the page has moved permanently.

Good luck!

 

[lotar]

Domain age is based upon the registration date in whois.

As for the still indexed pages, you would be better of redirecting them using a 301, rathern than requesting a removal through GWT, and Google will eventually remove them from their index. How best to do the 301 redirect depends upon what you're using (if it's Wordpress or another CMS, then most have plugins/modules to help do it).

I second this. Or even better, keep the same url structure and put some original content on the pages so you don't lose their place in the index.

 

[grav6]

Yeah, you are right lotar.

 

[thedon23]

Thanks guys. When I search site:domain.com through Google, and click on the links to the pages (the ones from the old owner), it automatically redirects to my homepage. I guess that means I already have a plugin installed on Wordpress that is doing a 301 redirect for me?

 

[grav6]

Yes, maybe it's an SEO one for the way it handles 404s.

EDIT: 404 = status code for a page not found.

 

[mrdexter]

Thanks guys. When I search site:domain.com through Google, and click on the links to the pages (the ones from the old owner), it automatically redirects to my homepage. I guess that means I already have a plugin installed on Wordpress that is doing a 301 redirect for me?

You can easily double check that it is a 301 by using this:

http://webtools.live2support.com/header.php