Backlinking to www vs non-www

[Lesley Huntley]

Hey everyone

I'm in the process of moving a client site to Wordpress.

The thing is, they have a lot of backlinks to the www version of their domain name. I prefer the non-www version. I have set up 301 redirects for every page to the new non-www version and I was just wondering, will it affect their SEO if all the links now point to the non-www version? Or will they redirect and Google will know that's where they have permanently moved to?

Thanks for your help.

[usta]

Originally Posted by Lesley Huntley

Hey everyone

I'm in the process of moving a client site to Wordpress.

The thing is, they have a lot of backlinks to the www version of their domain name. I prefer the non-www version. I have set up 301 redirects for every page to the new non-www version and I was just wondering, will it affect their SEO if all the links now point to the non-www version? Or will they redirect and Google will know that's where they have permanently moved to?
Thanks for your help.

It should not effect seo at least google says. you can change the preferred URL at google webmaster tools at settings.

[ann1986]

just set it in google webmaster tool to treat the with www. and w/out www the same. So even if you build links with the www. it will the the w/out www. the same. Just try https://www.google.com/accounts/Serv...s/tools/&hl=en and see what i mean.

[zoobie]

Originally Posted by kiranraj19

backlinks with www is good

It is not necessary as long as it is consistent.

That is don't do 90% links with www version and 10% links with non-www version.

Actually the best practice is to apply a 301 permanent redirect to show only one version of your site.

[Lesley Huntley]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the advice. Cheers.

[jhonsean]

I prefer the standard version of www because i find it natural and good in gaining quality backlinks.

[nokimchen]

lol....it has got absolutely no difference

[Genesis1]

better with www because it's just looks more natural

[Droopy Dawg]

It does actually... go to siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com, and enter your URL in there with the www, then examine your links.

Now do the search without the www, then take a look.

I guess in the grand scheme it doesn't matter, but you want to be consistent.

I wouldn't change my client's linking... if they have the www in there I'd leave it as-is. If this were a brand new site I'd do it, but if the site is established I'd leave it alone.

Just my 0.02...

Originally Posted by nokimchen

lol....it has got absolutely no difference

[Brendan Mace]

Originally Posted by Genesis1

better with www because it's just looks more natural

Nope... it only matters that it's consistent.

For example, ezinearticles.com DOES NOT use www.

Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo DOES

You can pick one OR the other... just make it consistent. And to answer the OP's question. A redirect should fix the inconsistency.

[paulgl]

Everybody should do a redirect from www to non, or vise versa.

You did not have to do a 301 for each individual page.

EZA does, they just redirect it. Savvy webmasters, as stated,
already do this.

Paul