Moving a Site...Again?

[TheDonk]

I moved a site that was on a .org to a .com a couple of months ago, 301'ing every page and updating in webmaster tools. Now, since the U.S. market is crumbling I want to build on another domain that targets non-US. I'd really like to move this content to the new domain, but not sure how Google will react to that content moving again in such a short period of time.

Any thoughts? Have you ever moved a site twice in such a short period of time? Am I risking a penalty if I do this?

[DealerDan]

I've did it with no problems at all, other than a few week delay for Google to get its indexing of the new site sorted out.

When you do it I'd 301 url #1 to url #3 as well.

[Randy Ray]

I've never done it, but I guess like anything else, there's a risk element involved. It would be hard for me to put a number on the risk level though, although I'd have to assume it's fairly low.

[GregW]

I don't know any details about the site you're thinking of moving, but it's worth considering what happens if you don't redirect the site to a new domain. If you don't redirect, you're left with a site on a domain that you're not entirely happy with. It sounds as though you have ideas and plans for this site if you redirect it as well.

Assuming the earnings from the site isn't a huge factor, I'd just go for it. Being able to work on a site I'm excited about and have plans for would be more than enough of an incentive to take the small risk with redirecting.

[MJ]

You are nuts if you do this to the site I'm thinking of buddy, making rash decisions right now isn't likely going to lead you to where you want to be. Come football season who knows where we'll be.

[TheDonk]

You are nuts if you do this to the site I'm thinking of buddy, making rash decisions right now isn't likely going to lead you to where you want to be. Come football season who knows where we'll be.

I don't want to make a rash decision about this. This is the site you're thinking of, and I'm having a hard time figuring this out. Here's the thing...yeah I could create non-US content on the current site and try to go after those terms anyway, but I know I can do better on the new domain assuming it has a decent backlink profile and content, which the old site already has. So, like Greg said, considering that earnings are not anything worth worrying about, I feel like the potential for the new site is so much higher.

What if football comes back in the fall...that's the kind of thing keeping me on the fence atm. I'm fighting this thought 'how long do I want to fight the U.S. market?' A big part of me feels it's time to start targeting markets that can't be taken away from me, and going after non-US is the way to do it. Also, I don't see any reason the new site can't rank for the same types of football terms it already ranks for, so I'm not sure much, if anything is lost with this move.

I'm totally up for debate on this though...so feel free to tell me what I'm missing in my thought process.

[MJ]

.com is the one true "global domain" so I'll just say it again, pure foolishness if you actually do this.

You can target non US markets with a .com easily.

[TheDonk]

I don't know any details about the site you're thinking of moving, but it's worth considering what happens if you don't redirect the site to a new domain. If you don't redirect, you're left with a site on a domain that you're not entirely happy with. It sounds as though you have ideas and plans for this site if you redirect it as well.

Assuming the earnings from the site isn't a huge factor, I'd just go for it. Being able to work on a site I'm excited about and have plans for would be more than enough of an incentive to take the small risk with redirecting.

This is most painful part of this decision. The domain it's on now is a very good domain, but it really targets U.S. visitors more than non-U.S.. The new domain is very non-US. I feel like I'm throwing away a great domain if I do this...but the bottom line is building a long-term business that we can rely on isn't it?

I dunno wtf to do for sure, and either way I go is gonna have some pain involved. You're right, I'd be a lot more excited to have this new site with instant content & backlinks pointing to it - something that almost instantly (weeks) can start attracting non-US visitors.

[TheDonk]

.com is the one true "global domain" so I'll just say it again, pure foolishness if you actually do this.

You can target non US markets with a .com easily.

Okay...I'll keep thinking, lol. I won't be making a rash decision.

[pokeraussie]

Completely agree with MJ. If its a premium .com I think you'd be crazy redirecting the site to a different domain to target non-US visitors.