SEO and deleting pages

[paulie555]

Just when we're starting to rank quite well on a few keywords some of our suppliers have discontinued a lot of their ranges. It's going to be in the region of 200 products that will be deleted and replaced. Just wondered if there's anything I need to consider seo wise.

[Chunkford]

Make sure your xml sitemap is updated, use google webmaster tools and that you have a redirect (.htaccess) set up so that any old links to the product pages are redirected properly.

[grantglendinnin]

Just when we're starting to rank quite well on a few keywords some of our suppliers have discontinued a lot of their ranges. It's going to be in the region of 200 products that will be deleted and replaced. Just wondered if there's anything I need to consider seo wise.

Deleted and replaced - ie. discontinuing a red car and introducing a blue car, or discontinuing a red car and introducing a black truck?

If the products have similarities - we're in the same boat as you every year (I suspect this probably happens across every industry though) - read up on 301 redirects - redirecting the 'old' page to the 'new page' - I wouldn't advise redirecting the old red car to a black truck as they are barely related.

Redirect the 'well and truly discontinued' pages to an appropriate section.

[paulie555]

Thanks guys, I'll look into the 301 redirects.