Changing my website to WordPress

  • Not sure where to post this. I have done a blog on WordPress and now want to do my main website in WordPress. However, when I do will I lost my page rank in Google? I ask this because currently, for example, one of my pages is https://www.thecatholictravelguide.com/RouenFranceShrineofJoanofArc.html

    When that page is done on WordPress will it appear new to Google or will it still rank as it has before? I ask this because all of my current pages end with .html and I notice on WordPress sites that is not the case. So I am wondering what will happen when I do my main site on WordPress.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

  • You would create a Page in WordPress with the slug (using permalink setting /%postname%/) rouenfranceshrineofjoanofarc and create a rewrite rule above the WordPress rewrite rules .htaccess:

    <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteRule (.+)\.html?$ https://example.com/$1/ [R=301,L]
</IfModule>

    Note: yoursite.com/rouenfranceshrineofjoanofarc/ is not an SEO friendly URL.

    every old .html also will redirect so if there is not a page or post with that URL you will get a 404 error.

    Once that all works, use Google Webmaster Tools to ask them to re-index site. Folks with old url’s will get directed to the new wp pages.

    Thread Starter Gloria333

    (@gloria333)

    Thanks for the answer. Unfortunately I don’t know anything about coding so I don’t understand what you are saying (although I appreciate you taking the time to reply). I know that the site is not SEO friendly and that is why I want to switch to WordPress. I just don’t want to shoot myself in the foot. I have already put my blog on WordPress…as a way of learning WP. It will have a different URL but it was a way to get my feet wet in WP.

    And that is a good start – remember, you can always hire an expert

    https://jobs.wordpress.net/

    Thread Starter Gloria333

    (@gloria333)

    Well unfortunately I cannot afford an expert which is why I hoped to get an answer here.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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