: I want search-engines to prefer newer version of my webpage (301-Redirect and Canonical ignored) I've a very curious problem with the index-status of my webpage. It's a little difficult to explain.

Posted in: #301Redirect #CanonicalUrl #GoogleSearchConsole #SearchEngines #Seo

I've a very curious problem with the index-status of my webpage. It's a little difficult to explain.

I launched my webpage in summer 2008 with around 8K sub-pages. Until 2012 all of the 8K pages become indexed by Google and other searchengines, most of them get a Top 10 Rank in the Google-Serps - related to specific keywords.

In 2012 I relaunched my webpage and create new sub-pages with contents - similar to the old sub-pages. I never worked with 301-Redirects or Canonical-URLs to refer visitors from old to new pages. From 2012 until 2013 both variants of the pages were available, although I knew that this is against all "SEO laws". In fact: I produced a lot of "duplicate content". Ironically both variants become indexed, in some cases both variants ranked in the Top 10 on Google.

Since 2013 I want to bundle the power of both variants to a single page.

My first try: Using 301-Permanently Redirects from old to new page.
Effect: Old pages become de-indexed very quickly, no effect on the new pages.
Result: Decrease of visitors referred by Google.

After removing the 301-Redirect, the old pages come back to Google Index very quickly. Nice, but not my intention.

My second try: Including Canonical-URL to all old pages.
Effect: Same as Try #1

My third Try (still active): Remove 90% of the content from the old-pages, just show a small info for visitors: "Content has moved to another page => click here to show new page".
And now? All search engines seem to love also this stupid info.. the old pages still rank much better then the new pages.

Is there another way/try/option?