Why redirect duplicated, indexed, deleted products to the original product?

For online stores, it is crucial that the content available on search engines is optimized and relevant. E-commerce sites often face issues with duplicated content and deleted products. This article discusses why it is essential to redirect duplicated indexed deleted products to the original product.

The issue of duplicated content

(From the Search Engines' perspective)

Search engines like Google do not favor duplicated content because it negatively impacts user experience and interferes with the quality of search results. When an online store has multiple URLs displaying the same product or similar content, search engines struggle to decide which version to rank higher. This can lead to the following issues:

Ranking Loss: Search engines may distribute ranking power across duplicated pages, resulting in weaker overall performance.
Indexing Problems Search engines may waste resources indexing these pages, meaning more important pages might not receive adequate attention.

From the User's Perspective

Duplicated content can also be confusing for users. When visitors see the same product multiple times, it can reduce the site's credibility and the overall user experience.

Handling deleted products

(From SEO Perspective)

Proper handling of deleted products is crucial. If a product is no longer available, the URL that previously contained this product is often indexed by search engines. If these URLs return a 404 error, it can negatively impact the site's SEO:

User Experience Degradation User experience degradation: 404 errors can be frustrating for users, increasing the bounce rate.
Loss of link value Inbound links pointing to deleted pages lose their value if not redirected.

From a Business Perspective

On the business side, proper management of deleted products can help maintain customer satisfaction and potential revenue. Redirecting ensures that users who click on a link to a deleted product are taken to relevant content, such as a similar product or the original product.

Why use redirect to the original product?

Redirecting, especially using a 301 redirect, which indicates a permanent redirect, offers several benefits:

Preserves SEO value 301 redirect transfers the ranking power to the new URL, helping to maintain search engine performance.
Improves user experience: Visitors are directed to a relevant content, enhancing site usability and satisfaction.
Reduces errors: Redirects minimize 404 errors, improving the overall health and reliability of the site.

How to implement redirects?

Technical steps

Implementing redirects requires a few technical steps, usually performed by the store's developer or administrator:

Set up 301 redirects This depends on the server configuration, typically done by editing the .htaccess file, configuring the web server, or using an SEO plugin.
Use automated solutions: Many modern e-commerce platforms and SEO tools offer built-in features for managing redirects.
Regular monitoring Regularly checking and updating redirects ensures the site always operates optimally.

Conclusion

Redirecting duplicated indexed deleted products to the original product is crucial for both search engines and users. Such redirects help preserve SEO value, improve user experience, and ensure the online store always offers relevant and reliable content. The technical implementation of redirects is relatively straightforward and can provide significant long-term benefits for the online business.