Use http://www. or just http://wesite.com for link building

Grandstrand621 · 10-07-2009, 08:56 AM

Does it make a difference when you are building links to your site if you add the www before your website name or not? I have heard that it does. Just want to make sure.

Istvan Horvath · 10-07-2009, 10:01 AM

Use the version that you defined as the default in Google WebmasterTools for your site.
Once you settled with one version - never change it.
See this thread, too:
www.Domain.com or Domain.com

jazbo · 10-07-2009, 10:04 AM

Those variations count as two different URL's, so stick to one version and make sure you have a google webmaster account to tell Google which one you are using as well.

AJsVRE · 10-07-2009, 06:51 PM

Did you set your domain up with a .htaccess file? If not, do a google search for it, you'll see how to set it up so that things get indexed the way that you want. (either the http:// version or the www. version)

Pick which one you want and then make sure you build links using the one you picked. If links get build the other way from what you chose, it won't hurt you, but you want to keep things consistent.

The reason it "matters" as you've heard, is that they are two completely different sites - to search engines. Even though they are the same exact thing, this is the "duplicate content" penalty that you hear of. You have duplicate versions of the same content on YOUR website.. the http:// version, and the www. version. Set up a .htaccess so that the one you don't want 301 redirects to the one you DO want, and then the search engines won't see two different url's with the exact same content on your domain. (because that is what they are seeing if you don't do it)

10-07-2009, 08:56 AM	#1
Grandstrand621 Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Use http://www. or just http://wesite.com for link building Does it make a difference when you are building links to your site if you add the www before your website name or not? I have heard that it does. Just want to make sure.

10-07-2009, 10:01 AM	#2
Istvan Horvath Watching you... War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Waterdown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,986 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 1,576 Thanked 2,726 Times in 1,656 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use http://www. or just http://wesite.com for link building Use the version that you defined as the default in Google WebmasterTools for your site. Once you settled with one version - never change it. See this thread, too: www.Domain.com or Domain.com
	In the first half of the year we are supposed to work for the taxman. I think that's a mistake. Help me to get rid of the taxman ASAP - thanks! (You, too, should make less mistakes!) Blog

10-07-2009, 10:04 AM	#3
jazbo Systematic Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Norfolk, England. Posts: 1,906 Blog Entries: 9 Thanks: 35 Thanked 298 Times in 217 Posts Social Networking	Re: Use http://www. or just http://wesite.com for link building Those variations count as two different URL's, so stick to one version and make sure you have a google webmaster account to tell Google which one you are using as well.
	Linkbuilding Does Not Have To Be Painful.

10-07-2009, 06:51 PM	#4
AJsVRE Active Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Location: , , USA. Posts: 72 Thanks: 10 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Use http://www. or just http://wesite.com for link building Did you set your domain up with a .htaccess file? If not, do a google search for it, you'll see how to set it up so that things get indexed the way that you want. (either the http:// version or the www. version) Pick which one you want and then make sure you build links using the one you picked. If links get build the other way from what you chose, it won't hurt you, but you want to keep things consistent. The reason it "matters" as you've heard, is that they are two completely different sites - to search engines. Even though they are the same exact thing, this is the "duplicate content" penalty that you hear of. You have duplicate versions of the same content on YOUR website.. the http:// version, and the www. version. Set up a .htaccess so that the one you don't want 301 redirects to the one you DO want, and then the search engines won't see two different url's with the exact same content on your domain. (because that is what they are seeing if you don't do it)
	AJ