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  4. Having www. and non www. links indexed

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Having www. and non www. links indexed

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  • BruLee
    BruLee last edited by Oct 10, 2012, 8:50 AM

    Hey guys,

    As the title states, the two versions of the website are indexed in Google. How should I proceed? Please also note that the links on the website are without the www.

    How should I proceed knowing that the client prefers to have the www. version indexed.

    Here are the steps that I have in mind right now:

    I set the preferred domain on GWMT as the one with www.

    I 301 redirect any non www. URL to the www. version.

    What are your thoughts? Should I 301 redirect the URL's? or is setting the preference on GWMT enough?

    Thanks.

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • AdamThompson
      AdamThompson @BruLee last edited by Oct 10, 2012, 9:10 AM Oct 10, 2012, 9:10 AM

      You should change the links on your website to link to the www version.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • BruLee
        BruLee @BruLee last edited by Oct 10, 2012, 9:06 AM Oct 10, 2012, 9:06 AM

        But should I change the URLs in the website? If the product URLs are without the www., is the 301 redirect enough or should I change them to www. versions?

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • AdamThompson
          AdamThompson @BruLee last edited by Oct 10, 2012, 9:01 AM Oct 10, 2012, 9:01 AM

          It's unlikely that updating your site to 301 redirect non-www URLs to www URLs would negatively impact your site. Google actually recommends that you do this: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=93633

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • BruLee
            BruLee @AdamThompson last edited by Oct 10, 2012, 8:55 AM Oct 10, 2012, 8:55 AM

            Wouldn't this hurt me on the Search Engines? To update all of the website URLs?

            AdamThompson BruLee 3 Replies Last reply Oct 10, 2012, 9:10 AM Reply Quote 0
            • AdamThompson
              AdamThompson last edited by Oct 10, 2012, 8:53 AM Oct 10, 2012, 8:53 AM

              Your plan of attack is correct! 301 the URLs and inform GWT. Of course, update any links on your site, too.

              BruLee 1 Reply Last reply Oct 10, 2012, 8:55 AM Reply Quote 0
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