I got a new domain and now I'm no longer ranked very high in Google

Mike_R · 02-01-2008, 10:24 PM

Hi!,
I'm not very good at webmaster stuff yet so excuse me if I use the wrong terms.

I run a Ellen Degeneres fan site and my domain used to be Fangap.com/EllenDegeneres and that domain climbed to be about the third result when you searched "Ellen Degeneres fan site" on Google but on Dec. 17, 2007 I received a new domain at EllenDegeneresFan.com (I know it's really long but I received it free) and now my new domain isn't even listed in at least the first three pages of results in Google when you use the search term mentioned above.

Does anyone now why this problem happened and how I could fix it?

Here's some additional details

The Fangap.com/EllenDegeneres domain was created on 8/26/2007
Both of the domains mentioned in my post go to the same website

I don't have very much technical control of my fan site but if I contact Fangap they will assist me in changing stuff

Thank you so much for any help!

**Cricket** · 02-01-2008, 10:26 PM

Did you use a 301 permanent redirect from the old pages to the new pages?

Mike_R · 02-01-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cricket

Did you use a 301 permanent redirect from the old pages to the new pages?

I'm so sorry but with pretty limited knowledge in this area I have no clue. Fangap just emailed me and told me that because I updated the site alot they gave me the new domain.

**Cricket** · 02-01-2008, 10:32 PM

You probably do not have access to do a 301 permanent redirect, but you may want to ask Fangap if it is possible. You are not duplicating content, correct? The old site is no longer showing?

Mike_R · 02-01-2008, 10:39 PM

I'll ask them if it's possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cricket

You are not duplicating content, correct? The old site is no longer showing?

I'm not sure if you are asking if the old site is showing in google or when I type the old addressee into my browser but the answer is that it's showing in both of the above options.

**Cricket** · 02-01-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_R

I'll ask them if it's possible.

I'm not sure if you are asking if the old site is showing in google or when I type the old addressee into my browser but the answer is that it's showing in both of the above options.

That may be part of your issue right there, showing duplicate content on two different domains.
http://www.google.com/support/webmas...y?answer=35769

Mike_R · 02-01-2008, 10:55 PM

ooh, I'll try to get rid of the old domain.
Thanks so much for you help!

**Cricket** · 02-01-2008, 10:57 PM

Welcome to the community. It is a pleasure to meet ya!

pinkfluffybunny · 02-03-2008, 08:40 AM

Screw the redirect - point both domain names at the ip and don't register the new one with the engines.

Already registered the new one - bad bad girl. Google doesn't know you're ignorant they think your a bad black hatter using an old site spam trick. They will forgive and choose the domain the Search Engine gods like most :-)