Will merging sites create a duplicate content penalty?
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I have 2 sites that would be better suited being merged and creating a more authoritative site. Basically I'de like to merge site A in to site B. If I add new pages from site A to Site B and create 301 redirects for those pages on site A to the new pages on Site B is that the best way to go about it? As the pages are already indexed would this create any duplicate content issue or would the redirect solve this?
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Thanks for the answers folks.
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I second TheeDesign - do the change of address in Webmaster tools. Double-check your 301's. Then check them again...
Good luck, it's possible to do without a penalty. I did it earlier in the year, I lost a little traffic in the first month, then gained ever since (except for current - no one wants to visit a mortgage broker's website during Christmas because they have much better things to do, like eating mice pies and sipping mulled wine!!!)
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You will be fine with redirects, also remember that Google has said that duplicate content is not an issue as long as it is not malicious.
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Go ahead and create the redirects but you also might want to submit a change of address in Google Webmaster Tools.
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