Are you diluting your own search engine results?

facialfreak · 11-04-2008, 09:32 PM

One of the most commonly over-looked mistakes I see webmasters making all the time, is allowing visitors (including web crawlers) to see
www. yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com as two different domains ...

The biggest issue this creates, is that google, yahoo, and MSN Live index them as two different domains, and thus share your search results between them.

But you will be glad to know, the fix to this is a very simple addition of a couple lines to your .htaccess file

By using a 301 redirect, what we do is tell googlebot, slurp, and other web crawlers, that yourdomain.com has permanently moved to www. yourdomain.com, and all of the yourdomain.com links, pagerank, and associated google love, should also be transferred to www. yourdomain.com.

Instead of sending maybe 60% of your pagerank to www. yourdomain.com and the other 40% of your pagerank to yourdomain.com, you will now send 100% of your pagerank to www. yourdomain.com.

This is what you need to add to your .htaccess to accomplish this:

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^yourdomain.(.*)
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.yourdomain.com/$1 [R=301,L]

To test to make sure the above amendment to your .htaccess file is working correctly, simply type yourdomain.com (without the www) in your browswer, and it should automatically redirect you to www. yourdomain.com.

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BadWolf · 11-04-2008, 09:36 PM

First of all, thank you for actually posting something concerning webmastering. Very rare these days hereabouts.

Second, does this only concern page rank?

facialfreak · 11-04-2008, 10:02 PM

It will concern your pagerank, SERPs ... anything that is related to how your site is indexed ... sharing your website's results across 2 domains is going to dilute the results that could be focused on one domain.

Look at it like ordering a Rum and Coke .... or ordering a DOUBLE Rum and Coke ...

With twice as much alcohol in a single glass, its going to do its job that much better!

Adding a 301 redirect to your .htaccess should be the FIRST thing you do (by habit),once you have set up your domain on your hosting.

RageCash-Ben · 11-04-2008, 11:11 PM

I implement this on all my domains. Worth doing and a great tip

A.J. Angel · 11-04-2008, 11:56 PM

I have already been doing that on my domains and it does really great. I'm sure the newcomers or those who doesn't know it yet would appreciate the effort FF.

erots · 11-05-2008, 09:08 AM

And so that you all would know - Wordpress does this automatically, unless you are using some very old version in which case you are target for automatic malicious scripts that will fuck you up even worse

BadWolf · 11-05-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erots

And so that you all would know - Wordpress does this automatically, unless you are using some very old version in which case you are target for automatic malicious scripts that will fuck you up even worse

That's good to know, since 90% of my domains have WP on them.

PornBlogger · 11-05-2008, 10:15 AM

thanks facial'

i never gave thought to how that affected SE listings.

very appreciated, thanks again.

peace

MMarko · 11-05-2008, 01:54 PM

From my experiences it seems that this is not issue anymore as there is no difference whether you use www or not (for pagerank or anything else). It seems crawlers have been modified to "see" www and non www domain as exactly same website (which is logical)!

BTW I would suggest anyone who has huge traffic site not to use htaccess if not absolutely necessary and when you use it try to minimalise number of rules. Doing this you will lower Apache load because Apache will have to do less things before serving page.

facialfreak · 11-05-2008, 02:25 PM

MMarko

I'm going to disagree with you on both accounts.

Google still does very much see www and non-www domains as different .. so does Yahoo, and so does MSN Live ... I have not checked other smaller engines, but I am willing to make a wager ...

Secondly, the .htaccess inclusion I have specified is NOT going to increase the Apache load ... it is 2 lines for chrissakes!

What is going to weight down apache is multi-line IP/domain/geo blocking rewrite conditions ...

The more total weight your .htaccess file is, the more you may weight down your apache ... but for 2 little lines, the benefits far outweigh the cons - which are such a non-issue to begin with it is laughable ...

FF

seeandsee · 11-05-2008, 03:05 PM

Thanks for good tip FF!

Freedom · 11-05-2008, 09:23 PM

txs for a useful nugget of knowledge!

MMarko · 11-06-2008, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by facialfreak

MMarko

I'm going to disagree with you on both accounts.

Google still does very much see www and non-www domains as different .. so does Yahoo, and so does MSN Live ... I have not checked other smaller engines, but I am willing to make a wager ...

Can you provide any evidences for your statements? Different PR number for www and non www domain would do it. Try to find one

I couldn't

Quote:

Originally Posted by facialfreak

Secondly, the .htaccess inclusion I have specified is NOT going to increase the Apache load ... it is 2 lines for chrissakes!

What is going to weight down apache is multi-line IP/domain/geo blocking rewrite conditions ...

The more total weight your .htaccess file is, the more you may weight down your apache ... but for 2 little lines, the benefits far outweigh the cons - which are such a non-issue to begin with it is laughable ...

As for htaccess, well you should check how it works and what happens when you add 2 extra lines when you have 100 requestes per second (you can use ab benchmark tool for this). You won't notice anything on blog who has 1000 uniqes per day but if you put this for some TGP or any other bussy site you will notice decrease in performance and higher server load.

In this case these two additional lines are totally unnecessary because there are no evidences that SE treat www and non www domains as two separate web sites (all my sites and I have them over 50 have exactly same PR for ww and non www domain!).

MMarko · 11-06-2008, 06:43 AM

BTW FF I also noticed that you do not use this redirect for your web A1 Web Solutions | Fast, Reliable Level3 Web Hosting so I guess it's not really that big deal at all

facialfreak · 11-06-2008, 07:15 PM

MMarko:

I actually removed the 301 redirect about 5 days ago to illustrate the differences to somebody I was discussing it with, which led to my posting of this thread ... that you so nicely tried to sabotage ...

WTF Is wrong with you man?!? I actually post a BUSINESS-related useful thread, and you have to go bashing me in it??

Does that make you feel like a man? Way to go ...

Ass Weasels like you me think twice about posting more useful threads in the future .. What's the sense if you are just going to troll me around the board?

It's quite simple, if you don't like the advice given, don't use it!! Nobody's holding a gun to your head!!

I have many times publicly stated my SEO/SEM credentials, and have nothing to prove to you - or anybody else!

I make a decent income on my SEO/SEM abilities, and if anybody wants to heed my advice(s), that's great, but FFS there is no need to bash them ..

Since my lack of a 301, R on my main site bothers you so much, I will replace it ..

THANKS FOR PLAYING

RageCash-Ben · 11-06-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by facialfreak

MMarko:

I actually removed the 301 redirect about 5 days ago to illustrate the differences to somebody I was discussing it with, which led to my posting of this thread ... that you so nicely tried to sabotage ...

WTF Is wrong with you man?!? I actually post a BUSINESS-related useful thread, and you have to go bashing me in it??

Does that make you feel like a man? Way to go ...

Ass Weasels like you me think twice about posting more useful threads in the future .. What's the sense if you are just going to troll me around the board?

It's quite simple, if you don't like the advice given, don't use it!! Nobody's holding a gun to your head!!

I have many times publicly stated my SEO/SEM credentials, and have nothing to prove to you - or anybody else!

I make a decent income on my SEO/SEM abilities, and if anybody wants to heed my advice(s), that's great, but FFS there is no need to bash them ..

Since my lack of a 301, R on my main site bothers you so much, I will replace it ..

THANKS FOR PLAYING

You posted something useful. When I see someone come into a helpful thread and post negative stuff I assure you it does not make me want to host with them or use their services. Especially when I know he is wrong

psylocybe · 11-06-2008, 08:23 PM

Well I googled it and from what I found FF is right

MMarko · 11-07-2008, 10:00 AM

Well as you wish. However nobody posted any valid proof for this. And you know why? Because there is none!

I have explained my statement in details so I don't think they're bashing.

MMarko · 11-07-2008, 10:04 AM

BTW one more thing. Forums are here to discuss not to agree with everything that somebody say. But well maybe I missed the point here and I just need to agree with everything said here even if it's completely useless (in fact I wrote and explained cases when this can cause problems and degrade performance!).

facialfreak · 11-07-2008, 04:56 PM

Oh c'mon man!! this is not the first time you have trolled me on the boards ...

but whatever ... Me, Danny Sulivan, Jill Whelan, Andy Wall .... we're all full of shit!

Like I told ya already ... you don't like the advice, then don't use it ... it's not rocket science d00d!

11-04-2008, 11:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
RageCash-Ben . Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,769 Points: 30,351	I implement this on all my domains. Worth doing and a great tip __________________ $40 PER $1 JOIN - 19 SITES - NATS - EPASS Make More Money

11-04-2008, 11:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
A.J. Angel Pimpin' Angel Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Paris, France Posts: 556 Points: 1,280	I have already been doing that on my domains and it does really great. I'm sure the newcomers or those who doesn't know it yet would appreciate the effort FF. __________________ "Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real." Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16th, 1971 - September 13th, 1996)

11-05-2008, 09:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
erots future is now Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Elbonia Posts: 3,752 Points: 165	And so that you all would know - Wordpress does this automatically, unless you are using some very old version in which case you are target for automatic malicious scripts that will fuck you up even worse __________________ Promote Sarah Palin's parody & try to make lots of cash exploiting the buzz New episode coming out soon - Obama who doesn't look like President Obama fucking Palin!

11-05-2008, 10:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
PornBlogger I see you baby.. shakin that Ass! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 1,859 Points: 2,255	thanks facial' i never gave thought to how that affected SE listings. very appreciated, thanks again. peace __________________ - Reading can help your $$$ status Vanity Email Service - "Be different.. Express Your Vanity!" Daily Political News - "Coffee and Politics... Yum!" -

11-05-2008, 01:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
MMarko crohoster Join Date: May 2005 Location: on the net Posts: 1,860 Points: 2,325	From my experiences it seems that this is not issue anymore as there is no difference whether you use www or not (for pagerank or anything else). It seems crawlers have been modified to "see" www and non www domain as exactly same website (which is logical)! BTW I would suggest anyone who has huge traffic site not to use htaccess if not absolutely necessary and when you use it try to minimalise number of rules. Doing this you will lower Apache load because Apache will have to do less things before serving page. __________________ ■ CROHOSTER check plans - quality adult hosting & servers (we accept np points, credit cards, moneybookers and epass)

11-04-2008, 09:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
BadWolf Not a Jedi.....yet. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: the twilight zone Posts: 5,295 Points: 540	First of all, thank you for actually posting something concerning webmastering. Very rare these days hereabouts. Second, does this only concern page rank?

11-05-2008, 03:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
seeandsee ■ Click SIG Bitch ■ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ~ MODERATORS HELL ~ Posts: 17,376 Points: 0	Thanks for good tip FF! __________________ *** BOSBUCKS 50$ PER FREE TRIAL SIGNUP - MAKE MONEY NOW *** Click banner Make [Weg] Ca$h \| BOSBUCKS PAYS 50$ PPS \| XMA $ \| I found cool new micro niche program: RENEGADECASH! Make bank with their great sites!

11-05-2008, 09:23 PM	#12 (permalink)
Freedom Hey Buddy, spare a nickel? Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 717 Points: 40	txs for a useful nugget of knowledge! __________________ Camta$tic Ca$h ! "you don't fail until you stop trying" --_LB_

11-06-2008, 06:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
MMarko crohoster Join Date: May 2005 Location: on the net Posts: 1,860 Points: 2,325	BTW FF I also noticed that you do not use this redirect for your web A1 Web Solutions \| Fast, Reliable Level3 Web Hosting so I guess it's not really that big deal at all __________________ ■ CROHOSTER check plans - quality adult hosting & servers (we accept np points, credit cards, moneybookers and epass)

11-06-2008, 08:23 PM	#17 (permalink)
psylocybe I sell smut and play with fire Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 492 Points: 2,455	Well I googled it and from what I found FF is right __________________ what are you lookin at?

11-07-2008, 10:00 AM	#18 (permalink)
MMarko crohoster Join Date: May 2005 Location: on the net Posts: 1,860 Points: 2,325	Well as you wish. However nobody posted any valid proof for this. And you know why? Because there is none! I have explained my statement in details so I don't think they're bashing. __________________ ■ CROHOSTER check plans - quality adult hosting & servers (we accept np points, credit cards, moneybookers and epass)

11-07-2008, 10:04 AM	#19 (permalink)
MMarko crohoster Join Date: May 2005 Location: on the net Posts: 1,860 Points: 2,325	BTW one more thing. Forums are here to discuss not to agree with everything that somebody say. But well maybe I missed the point here and I just need to agree with everything said here even if it's completely useless (in fact I wrote and explained cases when this can cause problems and degrade performance!). __________________ ■ CROHOSTER check plans - quality adult hosting & servers (we accept np points, credit cards, moneybookers and epass)