Whats the best method?

[Divvy]

Hi guys,

Maybe someone can help me...

I have a site with multi-language using subdomains like es.domain.com, it.domain.com, etc...
I also have the same site in french but in a different domain.
My idea is to move this french site on domain2.com to fr.domain.com

My only concern is about the same layout and content, don't want to be penalized by google for this. That's why the idea to move to subdomain like the others.

Whats the best method to do this?
Redirect all my visitors through htaccess using 301 redirect!?

Something like this on htaccess of domain2.com?

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule (.*) http://fr.domain.com/$1 [R=301,L]

How about the backlinks that already have?
Is better to contact the webmasters to change them to new url since I don't want to renew that domain anymore?

Thank you guys!

 

[Divvy]

up for me

 

[ModulesGarden]

If you have two different websites with the same or very similar content, then as you said, Google may be interested in that, in a negative way.
To avoid such a situation, 301 redirection would be one of the shortest solutions. I recommend this article for more info: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66359?hl=en

I would keep the old domain, clear the content and set 301 redirections to your new domain.
If you won't renew the domain and someone will take it, he will most probably remove your previously set redirections and you will loose the link juice.

On the other hand you can make 301 redirections, and slowly start to update the links in the meantime, after 1 year it will be just fine to abandon the old domain and let someone else take it.

 

[zeuthunder]

use 301 redirect . no penaliazation will occur

 

[wdc]

you are correct, 301 redirect is "Moved permanently" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_301) so its good way and you should not get penalized. Also backlink juice should be passed to a new website.
you can contact most valuable backlinks site owners to change links