First thanks to Vladimir for his outstanding website and wordpress applications. OK, on one of my sites I've been experimenting with switching from a category-based to a tag-based structure, as described in a couple of Vladimir's blog posts earlier this year. Also I have been trying to study how this site (prelovac.com) is structured and apply lessons learned from that.
So, I have created a dedicated tag page, am indexing tag but not category archives, and have removed Category from my permalink structure. I have reduced my number of categories to just four, which provide only broad-level navigational guidance and are no-followed. I had previously not been using tags in any systematic way at all, so I have now gone back and re-tagged posts with chosen keywords–some of which used to be names of categories. Finally, I have set up 301 redirects for all post URLs that were changed (when I went from domain/category/postname to domain/postname.)
I have a few questions. First: Does what I have just described all make sense, and am I leaving anything out? Second: So far after two weeks the dedicated tag page and the tag archives pages have not been indexed in Google, despite the new settings. Is there anything I can do about this, and should I try to establish some external links to the dedicated tag page? Finally: What if anything should I do about the old (redirected) URLs still in the Google index? I assume these will drop out at some point and I may lose a few links in the process, but it's a new and low PR site with most external links just to the domain. Should I ask Google to remove the old category/post URLs? Thanks.
Hi, as a student from the School of Vladimir, please allow me.
Everything you have done so far is fine. Categories can be left in the permalink structure as they are URL issues not indexing or duplicate content issues, although it only helps if the categories are keyword related.
Regarding the Google issues. I'm afraid it's a time matter. Have you got a good XML sitemap plugin and submitted it? Regarding all the old info in the Google records, I think that the more visitors you get and the more content you enter leads to Google visiting your site more frequently and thus the kinks are ironed out…. that is my 'broad view' on the topic as I'm also in the same situation!
Imagine Google saying that every page on your site has a broken link to your home page!!!! OUCH!!!! But I have checked every tiny bit of code possible and all redirections.
Thanks Brian. I do have the XML-Sitemap plugin which is set to index tag pages. What about including optimized meta tags on the dedicated tag page and tag archive pages? I see that Vladimir does not do this but I only half understand the reason. In the case of a small site with minimal PR, would this help get my tag pages indexed and internal links followed?
Vladimir’s WordPress Forum
switching from categories to tags
13:14
27 May, 2009
Scott
First thanks to Vladimir for his outstanding website and wordpress applications. OK, on one of my sites I've been experimenting with switching from a category-based to a tag-based structure, as described in a couple of Vladimir's blog posts earlier this year. Also I have been trying to study how this site (prelovac.com) is structured and apply lessons learned from that.
So, I have created a dedicated tag page, am indexing tag but not category archives, and have removed Category from my permalink structure. I have reduced my number of categories to just four, which provide only broad-level navigational guidance and are no-followed. I had previously not been using tags in any systematic way at all, so I have now gone back and re-tagged posts with chosen keywords–some of which used to be names of categories. Finally, I have set up 301 redirects for all post URLs that were changed (when I went from domain/category/postname to domain/postname.)
I have a few questions. First: Does what I have just described all make sense, and am I leaving anything out? Second: So far after two weeks the dedicated tag page and the tag archives pages have not been indexed in Google, despite the new settings. Is there anything I can do about this, and should I try to establish some external links to the dedicated tag page? Finally: What if anything should I do about the old (redirected) URLs still in the Google index? I assume these will drop out at some point and I may lose a few links in the process, but it's a new and low PR site with most external links just to the domain. Should I ask Google to remove the old category/post URLs? Thanks.
Scott
15:53
27 May, 2009
brian
Hi, as a student from the School of Vladimir, please allow me.
Everything you have done so far is fine. Categories can be left in the permalink structure as they are URL issues not indexing or duplicate content issues, although it only helps if the categories are keyword related.
Regarding the Google issues. I'm afraid it's a time matter. Have you got a good XML sitemap plugin and submitted it? Regarding all the old info in the Google records, I think that the more visitors you get and the more content you enter leads to Google visiting your site more frequently and thus the kinks are ironed out…. that is my 'broad view' on the topic as I'm also in the same situation!
Imagine Google saying that every page on your site has a broken link to your home page!!!! OUCH!!!! But I have checked every tiny bit of code possible and all redirections.
Good luck,
Brian
9:52
28 May, 2009
Scott
Thanks Brian. I do have the XML-Sitemap plugin which is set to index tag pages. What about including optimized meta tags on the dedicated tag page and tag archive pages? I see that Vladimir does not do this but I only half understand the reason. In the case of a small site with minimal PR, would this help get my tag pages indexed and internal links followed?