404's from old blog

[Dagz]

I had a website for my small business which had a couple of hundred blog posts. That went down for a couple of years due to neglect. For the last few weeks I've been making a new site on the same URL as the old one. I've got to the bottom of the first page for my target keywords. I've been 301 redirecting all the 404's that are coming up to the homepage as I don't yet have replacement URL's and won't for a while. Is that right? Even with image 404's? And with the 404's which I presume are some attempt at hacking (stuff like '/test/wp-admin' that have never existed)?

Another option would be to have the new website on a new URL and just put redirects on certain URL's from the old site. Or am I better off keeping the one I have? Also, I don't like my old URL - I don't like the fact it has a dash in it.

 

[dotcomdude]

Another option would be to have the new website on a new URL and just put redirects on certain URL's from the old site. Or am I better off keeping the one I have? Also, I don't like my old URL - I don't like the fact it has a dash in it.

Now is the best time to decide. If you're never going to like the old one and can find a new one that you like, then go for it now.

I've just switched a big client to a new domain (30,000 pages) and within a couple of weeks we've seen more or less the same top 10 positions we had before the move - and we're still seeing improvement every week.

 

[ServWise]

Switch domain now, save yourself the hassle later as you are doing the redirects now, also it is normally easier to redirect to a new domain (one redirect for the whole old domain with just specific redirects for pages you have alternative content for).

 

[Inva]

If you don't like the domain then i agree with the others that you should pick now another which you are happier with. Also if you 301 urls that were previously 404, they are not 404 anymore

Do not redirect every 404 url. Only those which interest you.

EDIT:
If your domain is the one which you posted in your other post, redwood-tints.co.uk, personally i would keep it with the dash. It's too long to be put together, may become confusing. Also offers clear search indication, otherwise you have to rely on SE smarts.

redwood-tints.co.uk
redwoodtints.co.uk

 

[ServWise]

Do not redirect every 404 url. Only those which interest you.

I do not agree with this, you should redirect all urls that receive incoming traffic, especially if it is listed on a search engine, easiest way to do that is to redirect all traffic that comes into the domain, either directly to a new domain homepage or as specific urls to specific new content.

If your domain is the one which you posted in your other post, redwood-tints.co.uk, personally i would keep it with the dash. It's too long to be put together, may become confusing. Also offers clear search indication, otherwise you have to rely on SE smarts.

redwood-tints.co.uk
redwoodtints.co.uk

Somewhat subjective, I personally prefer the one without the dash and find it perfectly readable.

 

[Inva]

I do not agree with this, you should redirect all urls that receive incoming traffic, especially if it is listed on a search engine

Since a 301 redirect means "the content of this URL has been moved permanently to this new URL", redirecting pages which do not exist anymore to the homepage is wrong because the pages have been removed, not moved.

I think if you intend to keep the traffic (good idea) you should set up a 404 page that is identical to your homepage and put a little explanatory message in it. "what you wanted is not here anymore but look at these other things"

 

[TheWebDesignCompany]

If you are receiving a lot of 404 errors from a website that has been gone a long time, this shows that it has residual SEO value and traffic.

Rather than simply pointing everything to the homepage, I would try to find the nearest match on your website for the original page or file and point each one there.