install and develop test site in subdir then move to root to match original website

[harrisharris]

hi,

i am looking to develop a new wordpress website (using just purchased studiopress agency theme) in a sub dir to match the structure of our current site, and then once it is finished move it to the root folder where the existing html site resides so that i can to take advantage of our existing search engine rankings on the current html pages.

i have read the page about 'moving wordpress' at http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress

i have also looked at another web page http://askwpgirl.com/how-do-i-move-w...oot-directory/ and the advice there seems to leave the wordpress site in the subfolder and then redirect the original html pages.

i would really appreciate it any advice or suggestions on which is the best method before i get started.

thank you in anticipation.