I am about to upload a revamped site of Joomla (update from 1.5 to 2.5 + changes). I currently have a test bed sub-domain that I am currently working on. In few days I am about to do the swap and replace the old site with the new one.
I am worrying about Search Engines and specifically Google. The site currently has a very good rank (appears 2nd in the search), what actions do I have to take in order to be updated and preserve the rank? (except submitting the new sitemap I guess).
It's not a difficult task but because I don't have the option to be wrong or mistakes to be done I an asking for a more "expert" advice.
Thanks in advance.
The Upgraded version of the site have any URL changes like images or pages Then you have to take the things more carefully and redirect all old URLs to the New one with 301 redirect.
Otherwise Google will consider those pages are not exists and it will loose page rank.
Also this question is not well suits for this platform, Its better to ask on Webmaster.
In this way you will not loose old page urls ranks. For making old non-existing URLs to new corresponding url,
on your htaccess file.
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule your_old_url_without_domain http://www.domain.com/new_corresponding_url [R=301,L]
You're using Nginx Server so the htaccess doesn't work for try to use Nginx htaccess converter.
for more details
Hope it make sense..