Google: Similar New URLs Won't Pick Up Old URLs Signals

Dec 23, 2016 - 7:46 am 8 by

Google Similar

I honestly never heard of this but Google's John Mueller told someone that they do not need to worry that Google will consider new URLs that are close to the same URL name as an old URL to transfer signals from the old URL to the new URL.

For example, you have a page with a lot of bad links at www.domain.com/my-bad-links-url.html and you decide to 404 that page and make a new page with similar content and similar URL at www.domain.com/my-bad-link-url.html (notice one change in the URL name). John Mueller said you don't have to worry about the signals passing if you 404ed the other URL and don't 301 it to the new URL.

He said this in a Google Webmaster Help thread:

If you just remove the old pages, and add new ones -- even if the URLs look similar -- then Google won't be able to forward any of the signals from the old pages to the new ones, and will treat the new ones like any other new page on your site.

Google's John Mueller also said in the past that penalties might follow you to a new domain even if you do not redirect it from the old to the new.

Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Spam Update, AI Mode Changes, ChatGPT Does Use Google, Search Ad News & More

Aug 29, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google Updates

Google August 2025 Spam Update Impact Felt Quickly

Aug 29, 2025 - 7:51 am
Bing SEO

Bing Webmaster Tools Sitemaps Index Coverage Button Missing For Some

Aug 29, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google

Google Tests Rounded Search Results Snippet Design Again

Aug 29, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google Maps

Google NMX Business Profiles May Show New Profiles Button

Aug 29, 2025 - 7:21 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Search On JavaScript-Based Paywalls

Aug 29, 2025 - 7:11 am
 
Previous Story: Google 'Tis The Season! Holiday Doodles For Cold & Warm Locations