Google search still points at our website for business that was sold

[JordanWitthoft]

We had a security systems company and sold it. When you google security systems our website still pops up. We have nothing on our site about security systems for the past 3 years. Any way we can change that?

Thanks,

 

[Diancecht]

Can we see the URL?

Cheers,
Dian

 

[Sympology]

Have you used Googles Webmaster tools?
If not, sign up and follow the instructions. Also make sure you indexs are correct and have valid markers.

http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools

Robert Wilensky:
We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

http://alvechurchlounge.org.uk

 

[ChrisHirst]

Make the URLs that you do not have any longer return a 404 response, but if there are links that point to your URLs that have anchor text with those specific words it's going to take a long while.

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[Sympology]

I'd return a 301 response rather than a 404 as that would make you look like you have site issue, then send to a generic landing page.


Robert Wilensky:
We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

http://alvechurchlounge.org.uk

 

[ChrisHirst]

Why a permanent redirect is the business that WAS linked to is no longer there?

Firstly; A Not Found (404 response) IS the correct response code and DOES NOT suggest 'site problems'. There are ABSOLUTELY NO 'negative' effects from a URL no longer being available.

Secondly; A 301 response would maintain the 'link' that Google has between the anchor text and the URL it points to on the current site. ONLY a 404 or a 410 response is going to remove that connection eventually.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[Sympology]

Good point Chris, I was just thinking that at least a 3xx error would hopefully make the browser redirect, but I guess that not what they ultimately want.

Robert Wilensky:
We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

http://alvechurchlounge.org.uk