Raquel is working on a technical SEO audit for a new client who recently decided to move their website from HTTP to HTTPS. When starting her audit, Raquel notices that some HTTP pages were never redirected to the HTTPS pages, which is now causing issues for the site in search. However, this client is very resistant to the idea of implementing more redirects, since they’ve heard that this can lead to a drop in their search performance. How should Raquel approach this situation with her client?
- She should stop the technical SEO audit completely and tell her client that she cannot continue until they have resolved the issues with redirecting the HTTP pages to HTTPS.
- She should explain to her client how redirects work (focusing on how 301 redirects pass “link juice” to new pages), explain how having both HTTP and HTTPS pages creates duplicate content, and how this can negatively affect the site’s performance.
- She should explain that while improperly implemented redirects can result in a drop in search performance, they are a necessary evil and redirecting the HTTP pages to HTTPS must happen immediately.
Explanation: Raquel should approach the situation with her client by selecting the option that emphasizes educating the client about the importance and implications of redirecting HTTP pages to HTTPS, which is She should explain to her client how redirects work (focusing on how 301 redirects pass ’link juice’ to new pages), explain how having both HTTP and HTTPS pages creates duplicate content, and how this can negatively affect the site’s performance. By explaining how 301 redirects function, Raquel can reassure her client that implementing redirects from HTTP to HTTPS is not detrimental but rather preserves the website’s SEO equity by passing on ’link juice’ and consolidating the site’s authority. Furthermore, Raquel should clarify the potential SEO risks associated with having both HTTP and HTTPS versions of the same pages, emphasizing the issue of duplicate content, which can dilute search engine rankings and confuse users. By educating her client on these technical aspects and their SEO implications, Raquel can build trust and convey the necessity of addressing the HTTP to HTTPS redirection issue promptly to ensure the long-term health and performance of the website in search engine results. This approach fosters collaboration and empowers the client to make informed decisions regarding their website’s SEO strategy, ultimately leading to a more effective technical SEO audit process and a stronger partnership between Raquel and her client.