My website has been live for three years and we recently switched to a new domain with a 301 redirect set up. However, after 3-4 weeks, the old domain is still appearing at the top of Google search results with outdated information. Clicking on the result does not redirect to the new domain as expected. Is this normal or could there be an issue with the redirect setup? Clients are finding our site through the old domain and getting stuck on outdated pages without being redirected.
It’s not unusual for a 301 redirect to take some time to fully propagate across search engines. While three to four weeks is on the longer end, it’s not necessarily a sign of an issue. Search engines like Google constantly crawl and update their indexes. However, some factors can hinder the process:
- Complex website structure: If your website is large or has intricate navigation, it may take longer for search engines to fully index the new domain and recognize the redirects.
- Technical errors in the redirect setup: Double-check that the redirect is implemented correctly, especially if you’re using .htaccess. An incorrect configuration can prevent the redirect from working properly.
- Search engine cache: Even with a successful redirect, search engines might still show cached versions of your old pages for a while.
Here’s what you can do:
- Verify the redirect setup: Ensure the 301 redirect is working properly by using tools like the Google Search Console or a web browser developer tool.
- Request re-indexing: Use Google Search Console’s “Fetch as Google” and “Request Indexing” tools to prompt Google to crawl your new domain and update its index.
- Submit a sitemap: Create a sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console to help search engines understand the structure of your new website.
- Be patient: It can take several weeks for search engines to fully update their indices and reflect the new domain.
If the issue persists after several weeks, it’s worth consulting with a web developer or SEO specialist to rule out any technical problems with your redirect setup.