To WWW or not to WWW

Mark Ulrich · 05-12-2011, 04:32 PM

Do you guys use www in your domains for niche websites or do you leave it off? Does this have an effect on rankings? For example, will search engines see backlinks to www. mydomain.com and mydomain.com as links to the same site or separate sites? Or is this all just a matter of preference?

yukon · 05-12-2011, 07:02 PM

The only thing that matters is you pick whichever one you prefer, & stick with it for all of eternity. Or, until you get bored with the site, whichever comes first.

Seriously, pick one & stick with it. If you check random sites on the net on yahoo explorer, check the same domain twice, first with www then without the www. You'll see that they count links seperate from each other.

Look at the backlink (inlinks) count for both links below:

1) http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?p=www.warriorforum.com&bwm=i&bwmo=d&bwmf=u

2) http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?p=warriorforum.com&bwm=i&bwmo=d&bwmf=u

JustaWizard · 05-12-2011, 07:19 PM

Yukon's right: pick one and stick with it. It really doesn't matter. I tend to use www just for "fun".

Also, make sure you use an .htaccess file to redirect all http:// only to http://www (or vice versa, depending on which you pick to go with).

Hope that helps!
Best,
David

yukon · 05-12-2011, 07:26 PM

Thanks, JustaWizard

I forgot to mention the redirect, to cover any stray backlinks.

That Guy · 05-12-2011, 07:36 PM

How do you redirect using the .htaccess file?

Mark Ulrich · 05-12-2011, 08:39 PM

Thanks! I have been using mostly www so I will stick to that from now on.

05-12-2011, 04:32 PM	#1
Mark Ulrich Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	To WWW or not to WWW Do you guys use www in your domains for niche websites or do you leave it off? Does this have an effect on rankings? For example, will search engines see backlinks to www. mydomain.com and mydomain.com as links to the same site or separate sites? Or is this all just a matter of preference?

05-12-2011, 07:02 PM	#2
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: To WWW or not to WWW The only thing that matters is you pick whichever one you prefer, & stick with it for all of eternity. Or, until you get bored with the site, whichever comes first. Seriously, pick one & stick with it. If you check random sites on the net on yahoo explorer, check the same domain twice, first with www then without the www. You'll see that they count links seperate from each other. Look at the backlink (inlinks) count for both links below: 1) http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?p=www.warriorforum.com&bwm=i&bwmo=d&bwmf=u 2) http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?p=warriorforum.com&bwm=i&bwmo=d&bwmf=u
	- SEO Strategist -

05-12-2011, 07:19 PM	#3
JustaWizard SEO Expert & Author War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA USA Posts: 489 Thanks: 201 Thanked 57 Times in 31 Posts Social Networking	Re: To WWW or not to WWW Yukon's right: pick one and stick with it. It really doesn't matter. I tend to use www just for "fun". Also, make sure you use an .htaccess file to redirect all http:// only to http://www (or vice versa, depending on which you pick to go with). Hope that helps! Best, David
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05-12-2011, 07:26 PM	#4
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: To WWW or not to WWW Thanks, JustaWizard I forgot to mention the redirect, to cover any stray backlinks.
	- SEO Strategist -

05-12-2011, 07:36 PM	#5
That Guy Warrior in Training War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 347 Blog Entries: 8 Thanks: 40 Thanked 27 Times in 24 Posts	Re: To WWW or not to WWW How do you redirect using the .htaccess file?

05-12-2011, 08:39 PM	#6
Mark Ulrich Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: To WWW or not to WWW Thanks! I have been using mostly www so I will stick to that from now on.