Remember those early website versions you launched years ago? They might hold the key to improving your website’s SEO. In the ever-changing landscape of SEO, keeping up with trends and best practices can be a daunting task. That’s why taking a step back and examining old website versions can help you uncover valuable insights. With the following tools and tips, you can find and redirect old webpages that 404 error and may have once held valuable backlinks, thereby increasing your website’s authority and ultimately, your traffic!
Using Archive.org to Look Back in Time at Old Versions of Your Website
First, to uncover old webpages, we recommend starting with Archive.org. This website allows you to view historical versions of websites, so you can see how your website looked at different points in time. Simply type in your website’s URL and select a date range. If you spot old webpages that no longer exist but previously received traffic or backlinks, it’s time to redirect them.
To redirect 404 errors, use the 301 redirect method – a permanent redirect that informs search engines that the old page has been replaced. This will ensure that any valuable backlinks those old pages had will carry over to the new page, thereby boosting your website’s authority. You can set up these redirects through your website’s cPanel or by consulting with your web developer.
Check Historical Backlinks
Next, use a backlink checker tool like ahrefs.com to identify any webpages that still receive backlinks but no longer exist. Use Archive.org to determine how those pages were structured and what content they contained. This information can help you recreate similar content on a new webpage and then redirect the old URLs to the new page.
Check Webmaster Tools for 404s
Lastly, check your website’s webmaster tools for any 404 errors that pop up. This will show you any pages that have been removed or no longer exist on your website. If any of these pages used to have traffic or backlinks, it’s important to redirect them to a new homepage or appropriate page.
By redirecting or rebuilding these old webpages, you’ll increase your website’s authority and overall traffic. While it may seem tedious, taking the time to clean up old webpages can pay off immensely in the long run.
Conclusion:
SEO is ever-changing and can be a difficult task to keep up with. However, by taking a step back and examining your website’s historical versions, you may uncover valuable insights and SEO gold. By using Archive.org, a backlink checker tool, and your website’s webmaster tools, you can locate old webpages that no longer exist but may have once carried valuable traffic and backlinks. By redirecting or rebuilding these pages, you can increase your website’s authority and ultimately, your traffic. So, take the time to dig through your old website versions, and uncover your website’s SEO treasure trove.