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If the migration is done perfectly, both domains are already very strong, all content is migrated (and no new keyword cannibalization issues are created), the move should be recognized in a matter of days.

Things to consider:

1. How does the to-be-moved site get crawled and how deeply? A key to successfully moving a site is ensuring that the search engines quickly find all of those 301 redirects.

2. XML Sitemaps can help with a speedy transition. Here is the trick, though. Be sure you have an up-to-date XML Sitemap of the to-be-moved domain just before the transition. Once the move is live, upload the old sitemap to webmaster tools to help get Google looking at those redirected pages.

3. SEO is a relative excercise. There are a lot of variables at play here is both domains show up in the SERPs for the same important keywords. Expect a lot of change as a result of the move. Look out for keyword cannibalization.

I hope this helps!

Lindsay

Hi Meti!

The terminology on the Adwords side is a little different. Rich-snippet-like listings are usually utilizing an Adwords 'extension'. If you're looking to have ratings displayed on your Google Adwords listings, the real question is how to trigger the 'rating extension".

This help page from Google explains the criteria.

http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=185093&topic=29431&path=1713912-1713910-1713909&ctx=leftnav

I hope this helps!

You can download them as many times as needed.

Barry - If you are currently sitting at #2 for your keyword and refer to your existing sub-domain as 'very powerful', I would let this idea go. As Highland said, you stand to lose some rank in doing this, at least temporarily. In addition, the search engines are slowly but steadily losing favor of exact match domains.

Your potential upside doesn't outweigh the risks of this move, in my opinion.

Hi Tim,

I'm seeing much stronger results for my searches on this end. With a query of "columbia next day floors" I have the correct  in the 4th organic position. With a query of "columbia md flooring showroom" I'm seeing that same page in position 8.

I will say that this location appears to have tougher competition than the others. Reviews on your Google Local page will help close the gap. Also, it is possible to get the site-wide footer location text linked?

Happy Optimizing!
Lindsay

Google tries hard to discount paid links so that they don't count. In other cases you might see a minus 10 penalty or worse. Google is also not opposed to stepping in with manual intervention, as was the case with JC Penney last year. Here is a page on paid links, directly from the horse's mouth.