Using copy from a current site on a new one

[kbates]

I have a client who is closing down his local business because he'smoving to another state. When he gets there he will launch a new website.On his current website, he put in a lot of work and has a ton of good copy, including blog posts that have helped gain him excellent rankings.He's asking me if he can use that copy on his new site and get original author credit for that, like he did on his current site.Can he use the same copy from his current website on his new websitewithout any problems — and get original author credit for it?Would it be best to shut down the old site or to 301 all of the pages beingmoved to the new corresponding pages?If 301's are the way to go, how long should he leave those in place?Thanks!Kirk

[kbates]

Thanks!

[jasongmcmahon]

Hello Kirk,

As long as you point the root domain, all should be well. I went through the process a few months ago with a clients websites; no problems were encountered.

I've collated the articles I found useful prior to the process I went through.

• https://www.foregroundweb.com/site-url-change/
• https://www.foregroundweb.com/google-search-console-redesign/
• https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/83106?hl=en

[ClaytonJ]

Ta, with the old site going down,  Joe's and Egol's advice is spot on. All straight forward.

Hope that helps.

[kbates]

Hi Joe,  I apologize for the slow delay. I did not get any notifications of replies to my question.

Does your suggestion apply even if the old website will be taken down? (Which is the case)

thank you, Kirk

[kbates]

Thank you for this info!

[kbates]

Hi Don, The old site will be taken down. (I apologize for the slow delay. I did not get any notifications of replies to my question.)

[EGOL]

If a thorough job of using 301s to redirect the site is done, as Joe Viveiros suggested, and those 301s remain in place forever, then all content can be safely moved and all link equity should follow.  It will take a while for Google to figure this out, and possibly a lot longer for Google to appreciate the original author credit, but everything should be fine in a few to several months.

[ClaytonJ]

Hi

What is not clear is - is what is happening to the original site. Is the original site staying up?   If so it is different advice as to a new site and simply transferring content.

Can you clarify?

[jasongmcmahon]

By all means, use the copy especially if you're ranking well for it. I'd recommend:

• Creating 301s
• Updating the robots.txt file, after Go Live with the Disallow / command
• If you have access to the old version of GSC then you can repoint the whole domain over - old to new URL