Bing Webmaster Tools Adds Site Move Tool

Bing announced a new feature for Bing Webmaster Tools – the ability to inform Bing of a site move.

The new Bing Site Move Tool allows you to not just move from one domain to another domain but also from within a site; URLs to URLs.

Moving From Within The Same Domain Name

If you are moving and redirecting many URLs from one place to another within the same existing site, this scenario is useful if you want to notify Bing of a major URL move within the same site. This comes in handy when you’ve redesigned your site architecture and are now redirecting many URLs to new locations, and you want Bing to pick up on this change as soon as possible.

Moving From One Domain To A Different Domain

If you are moving and redirecting URLs from one site to another verified site use this. This type is a great way to notify Bing that you are moving from one domain to another domain. You can move to any other domain that you have also verified as a site in Bing Webmaster Tools.

Google only offers the “change of address” from one domain to another and not within the same site. Microsoft decided to one-up Google and mention it by saying, “whereas other Webmaster Tools only allow a “Change of Address” from one domain to another, we wanted to allow web publishers more flexibility.”

This can be done at three levels: (1) Domain, (2) Subdomain and (3) Directory.

Microsoft Bing still says you should keep your 301 redirects in place; this does not substitute for it, but rather, helps expedite the move. They also add two caveats; (1) you must set up the redirects to a new domain that resolves, and (2) once you do the move, you cannot issue another move request for six months.

About The Author

Barry Schwartz

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on SEM topics.