A week ago, the client informed me that they plan to relaunch their website on Monday. However, I have not received access to the development site, a new sitemap, or information about the new URL structure. The website is quite extensive and has been around for almost 7 years with good links and rankings. Despite my warnings about the potential negative impact on organic visibility, the client still wants to proceed without allowing time for proper redirect mapping. I am considering redirecting all existing pages to the root and addressing the issues post-launch once I have the new URL structure. What would you do in this situation?
It is crucial to have a comprehensive crawl of the current site to understand the existing URL structure and content. This will enable you to identify and prioritize pages for redirection. While redirecting everything to the homepage might seem like a quick fix, it could lead to a chaotic and confusing user experience. Instead, focus on creating a well-structured redirect map that aligns with the new site’s URL structure. It is important to document your recommendations and concerns in writing to protect yourself from potential liability. Ultimately, the decision lies with the client, but you should emphasize the importance of proper redirection for maintaining organic visibility and avoiding significant traffic loss. By highlighting the potential consequences of not implementing redirects, you can encourage them to reconsider their decision.