Changing structure of the site

[snecz]

Hello,
I have to change the structure of the site mainly by changing categories names and url names.
I work in WordPress. I have many external links to the site.
How should I do it properly, both for users and for google?
By htaccess file or by some plugin?
I’m changing the site working locally on wamp.
What is your opinion?

[snecz]

@Stevie_D

If there’s a regular pattern to it, for example, example.com/section/page.htm to example.com/index.php?a=section&b=page, then you can do that using mod_alias or mod_rewrite. (You can have several different regular patterns if you need them).

If there is no way to pattern-match the paths/filenames, you’ll need to do it longhand, setting a Redirect 301 [COLOR="DarkRed"]old/file.htm[/COLOR] [COLOR="darkgreen"]http://example.com/new/filename.htm[/COLOR] line for each and every file. But no matter what plug-ins you use, you’re still going to need to match up old and new names somehow, so you might find you just need to bite the bullet and get on with it.

But this is starting to get off-topic for SEO … for more help on re-writing URLs, you’ll get better answers from the Apache forum.

Thank you Stevie D I’ve tried with a plugin but I think best way (also for seo) will be redirect 301 every url in htaccess file.

Going now to Apache forum

[Stevie_D]

@snecz

I have a lot of url to change. What would be the best way to do it in htaccess file?

If there’s a regular pattern to it, for example, example.com/section/page.htm to example.com/index.php?a=section&b=page, then you can do that using mod_alias or mod_rewrite. (You can have several different regular patterns if you need them).

If there is no way to pattern-match the paths/filenames, you’ll need to do it longhand, setting a Redirect 301 [COLOR="DarkRed"]old/file.htm[/COLOR] [COLOR="darkgreen"]http://example.com/new/filename.htm[/COLOR] line for each and every file. But no matter what plug-ins you use, you’re still going to need to match up old and new names somehow, so you might find you just need to bite the bullet and get on with it.

But this is starting to get off-topic for SEO … for more help on re-writing URLs, you’ll get better answers from the Apache forum.

[snecz]

@alpha_q21

Either you can use redirection plugin for your website or use mod_rewrite in .htaccess file accordingly and redirect your old URL to new one so you can also get benefit for your SEO work you have done on old URL.

I have a lot of url to change. What would be the best way to do it in htaccess file?

[alpha_q21]

Either you can use redirection plugin for your website or use mod_rewrite in .htaccess file accordingly and redirect your old URL to new one so you can also get benefit for your SEO work you have done on old URL.

[snecz]

@AntunTun

I use this plugin and I am pleased with it - Redirection – Manage 301 redirections without modifying Apache | Urban Giraffe

Thanks, I’ll give it a try

[Stevie_D]

If I was doing it myself, I would set up redirects, mod_alias or mod_rewrite in .htaccess. Those will all work. You may find a plug-in easier to use, I don’t know, I’ve never built a site on Wordpress so I can’t comment on what facility it offers there.

The end result is that every old URL needs to be redirected somehow or other to the correct new URL for that page. As long as you achieve that, your work is done.

[AntunTun]

I use this plugin and I am pleased with it - Redirection – Manage 301 redirections without modifying Apache | Urban Giraffe

[snecz]

Thanks. I think I’ll look for a plugin as there’re plenty of urls to change.
I only don’t know how to this properly as I’m working locally now…