doug503

My first post and a "cautionary tale" about changing your domain name.

About 6 weeks ago I changed my site's domain name from a generic name to an exact match name, following what I thought was Google's change of address procedure. Unfortunately, somehow, it looks like whatever I did got the site thrown into Google's sandbox (or worse). Before the change, the site was on page 4 (and climbing), for the targeted keyword, now it's sitting on page 80.

Maybe an expert can point out where I went wrong, it probably won't help me but it might help someone in the future who wants to change their domain name.

Basically I did what Google says to do which is:

1) Use a 301 Redirect to permanently redirect all pages on your old site to your new site... and according to Google: "a page-to-page redirect will help preserve your site's ranking".

2) Use the Change of Address tool in Webmaster Tools to notify Google of your site's move.

I think I might have gotten off track in a couple places...

First, Google recommends that you first move your site and then make any redesign changes. Instead I made a number of changes to the site at the same time that I moved it, so there wasn't a 1:1 match between pages on the old site and the new site (Which apparently Google doesn't like).

Secondly, there was a delay between making the 301 redirects and using the Change of Address tool. As part of redirecting process, I redirected the front page of the old site to the front page of the new site. Somehow this apparently confused Google and it wouldn't let me use the change of address tool. Finally I tried "un-redirecting" the front pages, run the change of address tool, and then redirect the front pages again. This worked, but maybe by the time I figured it out the damage was already done.

Digging a little deeper in Google's "help" section, I found I wasn't the only one to have problems with changing addresses. One site had been in the "sandbox" for over 5 months.

So for what it's worth that's my Google change of address experience. If the site ever gets out of the sandbox, I'll post a follow-up.