Skip to content
    Moz logo Menu open Menu close
    • Products
      • Moz Pro
      • Moz Pro Home
      • Moz Local
      • Moz Local Home
      • STAT
      • Moz API
      • Moz API Home
      • Compare SEO Products
      • Moz Data
    • Free SEO Tools
      • Domain Analysis
      • Keyword Explorer
      • Link Explorer
      • Competitive Research
      • MozBar
      • More Free SEO Tools
    • Learn SEO
      • Beginner's Guide to SEO
      • SEO Learning Center
      • Moz Academy
      • MozCon
      • Webinars, Whitepapers, & Guides
    • Blog
    • Why Moz
      • Digital Marketers
      • Agency Solutions
      • Enterprise Solutions
      • Small Business Solutions
      • The Moz Story
      • New Releases
    • Log in
    • Log out
    • Products
      • Moz Pro

        Your all-in-one suite of SEO essentials.

      • Moz Local

        Raise your local SEO visibility with complete local SEO management.

      • STAT

        SERP tracking and analytics for enterprise SEO experts.

      • Moz API

        Power your SEO with our index of over 44 trillion links.

      • Compare SEO Products

        See which Moz SEO solution best meets your business needs.

      • Moz Data

        Power your SEO strategy & AI models with custom data solutions.

      NEW Keyword Suggestions by Topic
      Moz Pro

      NEW Keyword Suggestions by Topic

      Learn more
    • Free SEO Tools
      • Domain Analysis

        Get top competitive SEO metrics like DA, top pages and more.

      • Keyword Explorer

        Find traffic-driving keywords with our 1.25 billion+ keyword index.

      • Link Explorer

        Explore over 40 trillion links for powerful backlink data.

      • Competitive Research

        Uncover valuable insights on your organic search competitors.

      • MozBar

        See top SEO metrics for free as you browse the web.

      • More Free SEO Tools

        Explore all the free SEO tools Moz has to offer.

      NEW Keyword Suggestions by Topic
      Moz Pro

      NEW Keyword Suggestions by Topic

      Learn more
    • Learn SEO
      • Beginner's Guide to SEO

        The #1 most popular introduction to SEO, trusted by millions.

      • SEO Learning Center

        Broaden your knowledge with SEO resources for all skill levels.

      • On-Demand Webinars

        Learn modern SEO best practices from industry experts.

      • How-To Guides

        Step-by-step guides to search success from the authority on SEO.

      • Moz Academy

        Upskill and get certified with on-demand courses & certifications.

      • MozCon

        Save on Early Bird tickets and join us in London or New York City

      Unlock flexible pricing & new endpoints
      Moz API

      Unlock flexible pricing & new endpoints

      Find your plan
    • Blog
    • Why Moz
      • Digital Marketers

        Simplify SEO tasks to save time and grow your traffic.

      • Small Business Solutions

        Uncover insights to make smarter marketing decisions in less time.

      • Agency Solutions

        Earn & keep valuable clients with unparalleled data & insights.

      • Enterprise Solutions

        Gain a competitive edge in the ever-changing world of search.

      • The Moz Story

        Moz was the first & remains the most trusted SEO company.

      • New Releases

        Get the scoop on the latest and greatest from Moz.

      Surface actionable competitive intel
      New Feature

      Surface actionable competitive intel

      Learn More
    • Log in
      • Moz Pro
      • Moz Local
      • Moz Local Dashboard
      • Moz API
      • Moz API Dashboard
      • Moz Academy
    • Avatar
      • Moz Home
      • Notifications
      • Account & Billing
      • Manage Users
      • Community Profile
      • My Q&A
      • My Videos
      • Log Out

    The Moz Q&A Forum

    • Forum
    • Questions
    • Users
    • Ask the Community

    Welcome to the Q&A Forum

    Browse the forum for helpful insights and fresh discussions about all things SEO.

    1. Home
    2. SEO Tactics
    3. Intermediate & Advanced SEO
    4. Migrating Subfolder content to New domain Safely

    Moz Q&A is closed.

    After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.

    Migrating Subfolder content to New domain Safely

    Intermediate & Advanced SEO
    migration seo ranking
    6
    7
    1038
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as question
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with question management privileges can see it.
    • davidifaso
      davidifaso Subscriber last edited by

      Hello everyone,

      I'm currently facing a challenging situation and would greatly appreciate your expertise and guidance.

      I own a website, maniflexa.com, primarily focused on the digital agency niche. About 3 months ago, I created a subfolder, maniflexa.com/emploi/, dedicated to job listings which is a completely different niche. The subfolder has around 120 posts and pages.

      Unfortunately, since I created the subfolder, the rankings of my main site have been negatively impacted. I was previously ranking #1 for all local digital services keywords, but now, only 2 out of 16 keywords have maintained their positions. Other pages have dropped to positions 30 and beyond.

      I'm considering a solution and would like your advice: I'm planning to purchase a new domain and migrate the content from maniflexa.com/emploi/ to newdomain.com. However, I want to ensure a smooth migration without affecting the main domain maniflexa.com rankings and losing backlinks from maniflexa.com/emploi/ pages.

      Is moving the subfolder content to a new domain a viable solution? And how can I effectively redirect all pages from the subfolder to the new domain while preserving page ranks and backlinks?
      I wish they did, but GSC doesn't offer a solution to migration content from subfolder to a new domain. 😢

      Help a fellow Mozer. Thanks for giving a hand.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • AreejAnjum
        AreejAnjum last edited by

        Here's a step-by-step guide to help resolve the issue:

        Thorough Content Audit:

        Evaluate the content in maniflexa.com/emploi/ and identify the key pages that contribute positively to your rankings.
        Keyword Mapping:

        Map the keywords associated with the main site (maniflexa.com) and the emploi subfolder. Identify any overlapping keywords.
        Backlink Analysis:

        Examine the backlinks to maniflexa.com/emploi/ pages. Identify high-quality backlinks that contribute to your main site's authority.
        New Domain Purchase:

        Purchase the new domain (newdomain.com) and ensure it aligns with the content of maniflexa.com/emploi/.
        Create Redirect Strategy:

        Implement 301 redirects from maniflexa.com/emploi/ to the corresponding pages on newdomain.com. This will preserve SEO value and redirect users seamlessly.
        Update Internal Links:

        Review and update internal links on maniflexa.com pointing to emploi subfolder pages. Redirect them to the newdomain.com pages.
        Update Sitemap:

        Submit an updated sitemap for maniflexa.com to reflect the changes in the emploi subfolder. This helps search engines understand the new structure.
        Inform Google Search Console (GSC):

        Although GSC might not offer a direct solution, inform Google about the domain change through the "Change of Address" tool. This is available in the GSC under the Settings.
        Monitor Traffic and Rankings:

        Keep a close eye on your website's traffic and rankings during and after the migration. Use tools like Google Analytics and other SEO monitoring tools.
        Content Enhancement:

        Consider enhancing the content on maniflexa.com to reinforce its relevance to the digital agency niche. This can aid in the recovery of lost rankings.
        Communicate Changes:

        Inform your audience about the domain change through newsletters, social media, and on-site notifications.
        Seek Professional Help if Needed:

        If you're unsure about any step, consider consulting with SEO professionals or agencies to ensure a smooth transition.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • gladstonesonjust
          gladstonesonjust last edited by

          "Sure, we can proceed with migrating the subfolder content to the new domain safely. Please provide more details or specific instructions, and we'll ensure you a best laptop smooth transition."

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Ali00786
            Ali00786 last edited by

            Migrating subfolder content to a new domain requires careful planning to maintain SEO and ensure a smooth transition. Here's a brief overview:

            1. Audit and Plan: Analyze content, backlinks, and traffic of the subfolder. Plan the migration considering SEO implications.

            2. Redirects: Implement 301 redirects from old subfolder URLs to new domain URLs. This preserves SEO value and guides users to the new content.

            3. Google Search Console: Add both old and new domains to Google Search Console. Use the Change of Address tool for the subfolder migration.

            4. Content Transfer: Move content to the new domain. Maintain URLs or create equivalent content.

            5. Update Internal Links: Update internal links on both old and new domains to point to the new location.

            6. Monitor and Test: Monitor traffic, rankings, and crawl errors post-migration. Test URLs, redirects, and functionality.

            7. Communicate: Inform users, subscribers, and stakeholders about the migration to the new domain.

            8. Sitemap and Robots.txt: Submit a new sitemap for the new domain and update robots.txt files accordingly.

            Remember, a smooth migration minimizes SEO disruptions. Careful implementation and thorough testing are crucial to maintain visibility and user experience during the transition.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Ali00786
              Ali00786 last edited by

              Migrating subfolder content to a new domain requires careful planning to maintain SEO and ensure a smooth transition. Here's a brief overview:

              1. Audit and Plan: Analyze content, backlinks, and traffic of the subfolder. Plan the migration considering SEO implications.

              2. Redirects: Implement 301 redirects from old subfolder URLs to new domain URLs. This preserves SEO value and guides users to the new content.

              3. Google Search Console: Add both old and new domains to Google Search Console. Use the Change of Address tool for the subfolder migration.

              4. Content Transfer: Move content to the new domain. Maintain URLs or create equivalent content.

              5. Update Internal Links: Update internal links on both old and new domains to point to the new location.

              6. Monitor and Test: Monitor traffic, rankings, and crawl errors post-migration. Test URLs, redirects, and functionality.

              7. Communicate: Inform users, subscribers, and stakeholders about the migration to the new domain.

              8. Sitemap and Robots.txt: Submit a new sitemap for the new domain and update robots.txt files accordingly.

              Remember, a smooth migration minimizes SEO disruptions. Careful implementation and thorough testing are crucial to maintain visibility and user experience during the transition.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • FaialZamir
                FaialZamir last edited by

                Migrating subfolder content to a new domain while ensuring safety and SEO integrity requires careful planning and execution. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide:

                Steps to Migrate Subfolder Content to a New Domain Safely:

                1. Create a Backup:
                  Before making any changes, back up your entire website, including files, databases, and content, to prevent data loss.
                2. Map Out the Migration Strategy:
                  Plan the migration process and ensure a comprehensive understanding of the content structure and URLs.
                3. Set Up the New Domain:
                  Acquire the new domain and set up hosting and server configurations.
                4. Mirror the Structure:
                  Create a similar folder structure on the new domain to maintain the subfolder organization.
                5. 301 Redirects:
                  Implement 301 redirects from the old subfolder URLs to the corresponding new domain URLs. This redirects users and search engines and preserves SEO value.
                6. Update Internal Links:
                  Review internal links within your content and update them to reflect the new domain URLs.
                7. Update XML Sitemap:
                  Generate a new XML sitemap for the new domain and submit it to search engines through Google Search Console.
                8. Update External Links:
                  Notify authoritative external sites linking to your subfolder content about the domain change.
                9. Monitor Google Search Console:
                  Keep a close eye on Google Search Console for any crawl errors or issues after migration.
                10. Monitor Traffic and Rankings:
                  Monitor website traffic and search engine rankings post-migration to detect any significant drops.
                11. Inform Users and Customers:
                  Notify users, customers, subscribers, and relevant stakeholders about the domain migration.
                12. Post-Migration SEO Audit:
                  Conduct a thorough SEO audit post-migration to ensure all elements are working correctly.
                13. Monitor for a Few Weeks:
                  Continuously monitor website performance, user experience, and SEO metrics for a few weeks post-migration.
                14. Address Issues Promptly:
                  Address any unforeseen issues promptly and make necessary adjustments.
                15. Update Robots.txt and .htaccess:
                  Update robots.txt and .htaccess files to ensure proper indexing and redirection.
                16. Submit Updated URLs:
                  Re-submit updated URLs to search engines for indexing.
                17. Test Proper Functionality:
                  Test forms, buttons, scripts, and other functionalities to ensure they are working correctly on the new domain.
                18. Engage SEO Professionals if Needed:
                  For larger or complex migrations, consider seeking assistance from experienced SEO professionals.
                  Important Notes:
                  Properly handling redirects and maintaining URL structure integrity is crucial for retaining SEO rankings.
                  Communicate the migration to users and stakeholders to minimize confusion and maintain trust.
                  It's important to thoroughly plan and execute the migration process to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition without compromising SEO rankings or user experience.
                  I am actively engaged in enhancing the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies for the PythonProSupport blog. Through meticulous planning, diligent analysis, and implementation of effective SEO tactics, my focus revolves around optimizing content, refining keywords, and improving the overall visibility and ranking of the PythonProSupport blog across search engine results. Embracing the latest SEO methodologies, I aim to elevate the blog's online presence, ensuring it reaches a wider audience while maintaining quality standards and relevance within the dynamic landscape of digital content.
                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • guestposting4442
                  guestposting4442 last edited by

                  Essential Hoodie & BAPE Hoodie: Elevating Your Wardrobe with Style
                  Hoodies have become more than just a comfortable piece of clothing; they are a fashion statement, reflecting personal style and cultural influences. In this article, we delve into the world of Essential Hoodies and BAPE Hoodies, exploring their unique features, style impact, and what makes them essential additions to your wardrobe.

                  Understanding Essential Hoodies

                  Essential Hoodie are more than just a casual wear option. Crafted from high-quality materials, these hoodies offer comfort and versatility. With various designs and colors, Essential Hoodies have become a staple in many wardrobes, providing a blend of simplicity and functionality that suits various occasions.

                  Exploring BAPE Hoodies

                  BAPE, or A Bathing Ape, is a renowned brand synonymous with streetwear fashion. Their Hoodies, often adorned with iconic ape motifs, have gained international acclaim. Beyond clothing, BAPE represents a cultural movement, with celebrities and influencers proudly sporting their unique designs.

                  Quality and Craftsmanship: Essential vs. BAPE Hoodies

                  While Essential Hoodies focus on practicality and comfort, BAPE takes craftsmanship to a whole new level. Using premium materials and employing unique design techniques, BAPE Hoodies stand out as exclusive pieces that transcend conventional fashion norms.

                  Style and Fashion Statements

                  Essential Hoodies cater to those who appreciate simplicity, offering a blank canvas for individual style expression. On the other hand, BAPE Hoodies make bold statements, often becoming collector’s items due to their limited releases and distinctive designs.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • 1 / 1
                  • First post
                    Last post

                  Got a burning SEO question?

                  Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.


                  Start my free trial


                  Browse Questions

                  Explore more categories

                  • Moz Tools

                    Chat with the community about the Moz tools.

                  • SEO Tactics

                    Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers

                  • Community

                    Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!

                  • Digital Marketing

                    Chat about tactics outside of SEO

                  • Research & Trends

                    Dive into research and trends in the search industry.

                  • Support

                    Connect on product support and feature requests.

                  • See all categories

                  Related Questions

                  • wildernessscotland

                    How to Get a New Organic SERP Image Pack

                    serp seo image optimisation

                    I have been doing a little on-page SEO on our site today and came across the following images embedded within organic SERPs, please see the screenshot. Obviously the users eye is drawn to these and therefore they are likely to result in more clicks. It would be great to know what they are called and how to go about getting these for our own results? If we managed to implement these across our site it would make a big difference for us, as working in the travel space, images are so strong when painting a picture of the destination. Thanks
                    Ben 0073280b-3daa-4558-b5fd-3cbde422d623-image.png

                    SEO Tactics | | wildernessscotland
                    0
                  • fslpso

                    Unsolved SEO And Digital Marketing Training

                    seo seo tactics seo training digital marketing training

                    Hi Everyone, I have a basic SEO and Digital Marketing knowledge and looking for a course /training which will teach me step by step SEO and tools need to use with hand on training. I have a website (https://gemslearninginstitute.com/) which I need bring in Google Packs and on the first page of Google. I have attended a few courses but none of them offered in depth knowledge with hands on training so whatever I do it is not producing results. Thanks

                    SEO Tactics | | fslpso
                    0
                  • ciehmoz

                    Will skipping <H> tags affect your SEO?

                    seo

                    Will skipping <H> tags on a page have any impact on your SEO, e.g. skipping a <H2> so your page has a <H1> and then goes to a <H3>? Obviously a page must have a <H1>, but does it matter if you skip other headings?

                    Technical SEO | | ciehmoz
                    0
                  • Virginia-Girtz

                    How can I avoid duplicate content for a new landing page which is the same as an old one?

                    Hello mozers! I have a question about duplicate content for you... One on my clients pages have been dropping in search volume for a while now, and I've discovered it's because the search term isn't as popular as it used to be. So... we need to create a new landing page using a more popular search term. The page which is losing traffic is based on the search query "Can I put a solid roof on my conservatory" this only gets 0-10 searches per month according to the keyword explorer tool. However, if we changed this to "replacing conservatory roof with solid roof" this gets up to 500 searches per month. Muuuuch better! The issue is, I don't want to close down and re-direct the old page because it's got a featured snippet and sits in position 1. So I'd like to create another page instead... however, as the two are effectively the same content, I would then land myself in a duplicate content issue. If I were to put a rel="canonical" tag in the original "can I put a solid roof...." page but say the master page is now the new one, would that get around the issue?

                    Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Virginia-Girtz
                    0
                  • smpomoryCRH

                    How Can I Redirect an Old Domain to Our New Domain in .htaccess?

                    There is an old version of http://chesapeakeregional.com still floating around the web here: http://www.dev3.com.php53-24.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/component/content/category/20-our-services. Various iterations of this domain pop up when I do certain site:searches and for some queries as well (such as "Diagnostic Center of Chesapeake"). About 3 months ago the websitetestlink site had files and a fully functional navigation but now it mostly returns 404 or 500 errors. I'd like to redirect the site to our newer site, but don't believe I can do that in chesapeakeregional.com's .htaccess file. Is that so and would I need access to the websitetestlink .htaccess to forward the domain? Note* I (nor anyone else in our organization) has the login for the old site. The new site went live about 9 months before I arrived at the organization and I've been slowly putting the pieces together since arriving.

                    Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | smpomoryCRH
                    0
                  • blake.runyon

                    Canonical Question: Root Domain Geo Redirects to SubFolder.

                    Howdy, Working on a larger eComm site that 302s you based on your location. With that in mind should I canonicalize the final page. domain.com => 302 => domain.com/us/, domain.com/fr/, etc... (Should these all have a canonical pointing to the root domain.com?

                    Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | blake.runyon
                    0
                  • BrandBuilder

                    New Site (redesign) Launched Without 301 Redirects to New Pages - Too Late to Add Redirects?

                    We recently launched a redesign/redevelopment of a site but failed to put 301 redirects in place for the old URL's. It's been about 2 months. Is it too late to even bother worrying about it at this point? The site has seen a notable decrease in site traffic/visits, perhaps due to this issue. I assume that once the search engines get an error on a URL, it will remove it from displaying in search results after a period of time. I'm just not sure if they will try to re-crawl those old URLs at some point and if so, it may be worth it to have those 301 redirects in place. Thank you.

                    Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | BrandBuilder
                    0
                  • essdee

                    Merging Domains... Sub-domains, Directories or Seperate Sites?

                    Hello! I am hoping you can help me decide the best path to take here... A little background: I'm moving to a new company that has three old domains (the oldest is 10 years old), which get a lot of traffic from their e-letters. Until recently they have not cared about SEO. So the websites have some structural, coding, URL and other issues. The sites are indexed, but have a problem getting crawled and/or indexed for new content - haven't delved into this yet but am certain I will be able to fix any of these issues. These three domains are PR4, PR4, PR5 and contain hundreds of unique articles. Here's the question... They want to move these three sites **to their main company site (PR4) and create sub domains for each one. ** I am wondering if this is a good idea or not. I have merged sites before (creating categories and/or directories) and the end result is that the ONE big site, is much for effective than TWO smaller, less authoritative sites. But the sub domain idea is something I am unsure about from an SEO perspective. Should we do this with sub domains? Or do you think we should keep the sites separate? How do Panda and Penguin play into this? Thanks in advance for the help! SD P.S. I'm not a huge advocate in using PR as a measurement tool, but since I can't reveal the actual domains, I figured I would list it as a reference point.

                    Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | essdee
                    0

                  Get started with Moz Pro!

                  Unlock the power of advanced SEO tools and data-driven insights.

                  Start my free trial
                  Products
                  • Moz Pro
                  • Moz Local
                  • Moz API
                  • Moz Data
                  • STAT
                  • Product Updates
                  Moz Solutions
                  • SMB Solutions
                  • Agency Solutions
                  • Enterprise Solutions
                  Free SEO Tools
                  • Domain Authority Checker
                  • Link Explorer
                  • Keyword Explorer
                  • Competitive Research
                  • Brand Authority Checker
                  • Local Citation Checker
                  • MozBar Extension
                  • MozCast
                  Resources
                  • Blog
                  • SEO Learning Center
                  • Help Hub
                  • Beginner's Guide to SEO
                  • How-to Guides
                  • Moz Academy
                  • API Docs
                  About Moz
                  • About
                  • Team
                  • Careers
                  • Contact
                  Why Moz
                  • Case Studies
                  • Testimonials
                  Get Involved
                  • Become an Affiliate
                  • MozCon
                  • Webinars
                  • Practical Marketer Series
                  • MozPod
                  Connect with us

                  Contact the Help team

                  Join our newsletter
                  Moz logo
                  © 2021 - 2025 SEOMoz, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. All rights reserved. Moz is a registered trademark of SEOMoz, Inc.
                  • Accessibility
                  • Terms of Use
                  • Privacy

                  Looks like your connection to Moz was lost, please wait while we try to reconnect.