Deleting product pages whenever stock runs out wastes rankings and links. The right action depends on whether the product is coming back.
Temporarily out of stock
- Keep the page live.
- Show the status clearly and an expected restock date if known.
- Offer “notify me” and similar alternatives.
- Update availability in product schema; check with our product schema generator.
Permanently discontinued
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Close replacement exists | 301 redirect to the replacement |
| No replacement, page has links or traffic | Redirect to the category, or keep with alternatives listed |
| No value | Return 404 or 410 |
Create redirects with our redirect generator.
Seasonal products
Keep pages for products that return each year.
Read back-in-stock emails.
Want the full picture? This article is part of SEO: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
