Removing Content

Z4K · 09-14-2009, 10:02 AM

Is officially removing content good or bad for rankings? What is the best way to remove a discontinued product so my site is not penalized? Remove it from the sitemap and add it to the robots.txt file?

Is it bad to use the URL Removal Tool? If I use the URL removal tool I still need to add it to the robots.txt file, right?

Thanks,
Z4K

alex-party · 09-16-2009, 10:46 AM

Where does it say that google penalize sites for removing contents?

If removing page has alot of inbound links, then you will loose some traffic and with URL removal tool, you make sure noone finds it anymore. If someone finds it, it must return 404 page. Placing a record in robots.txt usually not a bad idea too.

Z4K · 09-17-2009, 07:03 PM

Unofficially I've been told that removing content could explain a drop in ranking. It is not stated as such by Google or written anywhere that I could find so that's why I'm asking. As you say, if you remove it properly with the url removal tool, robots.txt and making sure a 404 page is available it should work just fine without penalty. Thanks.

Z4K

09-14-2009, 10:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Z4K Junior Googler Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lawrence, MA Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Removing Content Is officially removing content good or bad for rankings? What is the best way to remove a discontinued product so my site is not penalized? Remove it from the sitemap and add it to the robots.txt file? Is it bad to use the URL Removal Tool? If I use the URL removal tool I still need to add it to the robots.txt file, right? Thanks, Z4K

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09-16-2009, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
alex-party Elite Googler Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Russia/Ireland, Official Google Search Appliances Partner Posts: 1,127 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Where does it say that google penalize sites for removing contents? If removing page has alot of inbound links, then you will loose some traffic and with URL removal tool, you make sure noone finds it anymore. If someone finds it, it must return 404 page. Placing a record in robots.txt usually not a bad idea too.

09-17-2009, 07:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Z4K Junior Googler Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lawrence, MA Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Unofficially I've been told that removing content could explain a drop in ranking. It is not stated as such by Google or written anywhere that I could find so that's why I'm asking. As you say, if you remove it properly with the url removal tool, robots.txt and making sure a 404 page is available it should work just fine without penalty. Thanks. Z4K

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