WWW vs Non-WWW

[Topper]

So heres the scenario. I got my site on position #2 on Google. But when I search for all the links that Google has indexed on their site I don't see the home page (the actual domain). I can see other links to my posts but not the home page/main site.

However if I type in my main keyword phrase in Google Im still number #2 with a link going to the main page with "www" attached to it. I have cleared my cache and cookies and used different proxies and different computers its all the same results.

So whats going on? Should I go into Google webmasters and Switch the preferred domain?

Would Love to get some feedback on this scenario.

UPDATE*: The home page/main domain is back in the Google index. But I have New Question. I've been backlinking with the domain name without the "www". But the site thats on position #2 on Google has "www" in domain. Would that be problem in the future? Both non-www and www are indexed. Any pointers?

[jimbojack]

Is your homepage is showing up when searching just your domain name in Google?

[Topper]

Originally Posted by jimbojack

Is your homepage is showing up when searching just your domain name in Google?

Actually I just Checked again. And it does. I just re-appeared right now. So its back to normal, sometimes I don't get Google at all.

[TheTroglodyte]

Google probably sandboxed it temporarily. It does strange things like that sometimes.

[BenJackson]

You want to use a 301 redirect to redirect the "www" version to the non-www version. This will combine the backlinks to both and have all of the link juice from them go to the non-www version. This is called choosing a canonical URL. You can read more about canonicalization here: What is Canonicalization | SEO Discovery

I use a plugin called "simple 301 redirects" because I use WordPress, but you can also read about how to do one manually here: 301 Redirect - How to create Redirects

[jazbo]

Just do a 301 redirect.

[jzorro]

I think most hosting service set up the 301 redirect automatically...

I had a similar problem. I did all my backlinks without the www, but all were being indexed as pointing to the site with the www

[petevamp]

Originally Posted by Topper

UPDATE*: The home page/main domain is back in the Google index. But I have New Question. I've been backlinking with the domain name without the "www". But the site thats on position #2 on Google has "www" in domain. Would that be problem in the future? Both non-www and www are indexed. Any pointers?

This is where the google duplicate content issue does come into play. Your best bet is to simply modify your htaccess file so that it redirects one to the other. Since both pages have the exact same content same meta tags and all the same information. You really need to make sure that they are all going to one or the other not both. It will hurt your rankings in the long run.

Also if you are building links both ways you are spliting your efforts. It is best to choose one linking structure then to use both the www and the non www. Use your favorite link pop tool and see which one has the most or if you have a pretty good idea as to which one you normally link too. You need to just stick with that one linking stucture and it will help.

Best of luck to you hope this helps.