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This is a general question and not related to the specified URL. I have some websites that contain many categories. Now I want to split some categories.

For example:

I have office table and chair category with a unique URL and this page is ranked with some keywords about office chair and office table.

Now I want to split this category into two categories. One for office table and one for office chair.

And the question is:

How can I tell Google that the old category changed to these two categories? and how to change URLs in SERP for related ranked keywords.

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    Google prefers pages that either 404 or 301 and to discover new pages naturally. You can 404 the old category page and let Google discover the new category pages. That is the simplest way. Otherwise, I am sure there are options such as linking the new categories in the old category page if there are links to that page. You can always 301 the old category page to a page where all the categories are linked or something helpful. It is up to you.
    – closetnoc
    May 26, 2016 at 12:53
  • If i use 404 for old category, All keyword ranks for old category page will lost.
    – Mohsen Tavoosi محسن طاوسی
    May 26, 2016 at 14:03
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    No they wont. Your new pages will take it's place.
    – closetnoc
    May 26, 2016 at 17:55
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    Definitely. It often takes week or a couple of months before a page begins to perform where it should.
    – closetnoc
    Jun 2, 2016 at 23:20
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    Your new categories don't have to replace your old category. I would suggest creating the new categories but leaving the old mixed category in place.
    – Stephen Ostermiller ♦
    Jun 9, 2016 at 13:11

1 Answer 1

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There is no way at this point to split your page rank between two new categories the way you are asking about. The only thing I have seen done with this before was to keep the former category online but not in the navigation bar so that Google could still access it but choose which one of the new split categories where the most important and do a 301 redirect to the new split category.

It will take a while to get your ranking on the new categories as high as your former single category but if the quality is the same or better then you should see it balance out and improve at a later date as the keyword analysis and inbound links get established with Google again.

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