"www" vs. no "www" SEO point of view !!

[alinpion]

First question is
Does it matter if your site has www at the beginning or not ?

And second question
Why google does not index my site with www ??

I use .htaccess with this code:
----------
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.org
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mysite.org/$1 [R=301,L]

# BEGIN WordPress

# END WordPress
--------------

The site is new but some pages are indexated with www. From what I've read in the past I understand that it takes a while until google properly index your site. In my case I was wondering if wordpress could influenced google indexing regard with www and no www.

[Mick Meaney]

In webmaster tools you can set how you'd like your site to be displayed..

In my opinion www or non-www doesn't matter to your rank, but I do prefer www.

[JamesGw]

I shouldn't make a difference, but Mick is right in that you can change it in Webmaster tools. If your 301 is working, then Google should also do it on its own.

[John Williamson]

Doesn't matter, as long as you stay consistent when building links...

[James-]

Be aware though that www. and no www are considered 2 different sites by Google.
make sure you set one as preferred.

[GregSilva]

It doesn't matter. It is just preference. Just keep it consistent in all the web work you do.

[warner444]

I set the www as the default because it is what people are familiar with.

As far as SEO John said it well "Doesn't matter, as long as you stay consistent when building links..."

[John Williamson]

Originally Posted by Ambience2

That is untrue..

Somewhat correct, but mostly wrong. I wouldn't say 2 different sites, but definitely 2 different URL structures.

[Tiptopcat]

I have sites using both URL beginnings. Makes no difference with regard to ranking etc.

Tiptopcat

[UMS]

Originally Posted by alinpion

I use .htaccess with this code:
----------
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.org
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mysite.org/$1 [R=301,L]

# BEGIN WordPress

No need for these rules as WordPress automatically does this for you.

[Osawa]

no matter on www or non-www just make more backlinks as you can

[Forcefactor]

Most of my sites use www.

When I'm trying to rank high for a niche, I look at what the top 10 is using and I model after them.

[design2convert]

Thanks guys me too was in search of this answers for a long time, but would you suggest me to change to www. prefix if 200 pages already indexed in google should i change the and add www to my website.

[UMS]

Originally Posted by design2convert

Thanks guys me too was in search of this answers for a long time, but would you suggest me to change to www. prefix if 200 pages already indexed in google should i change the and add www to my website.

If most of your backlinks go to

http://example.com

instead of

http://www.example.com

then keep pointing backlinks to http://example.com

It doesn't matter which you choose, but it does help to be consistent.

[linkassistant]

Originally Posted by alinpion

First question is
Does it matter if your site has www at the beginning or not ?

It doesn't matter for a new website. However, if you buy a several-years-old domain without www (which obviously has backlinks), it's not recommended to add www - it can hurt rankings.

Originally Posted by alinpion

And second question
Why google does not index my site with www ??

I use .htaccess with this code:
----------
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.org
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mysite.org/$1 [R=301,L]

# BEGIN WordPress

# END WordPress
--------------

The site is new but some pages are indexated with www. From what I've read in the past I understand that it takes a while until google properly index your site. In my case I was wondering if wordpress could influenced google indexing regard with www and no www.

Your .htaccess looks good. To ensure indexation, add both variants to Google Webmaster Tools.

[intesols]

I really doubt that most people even notice whether there is a www or not once they are on the site.

Those that do, probably have an understanding of the difference, or lack there of, so it doesn't matter.

[indraandriyadi]

idem with warner....... ^_^

[juliagordan]

From the above discussion, mostly I'm in support of James and Mick. And I'm sure most of the webmasters would like to prefer such point.

[James-]

Originally Posted by John Williamson

Somewhat correct, but mostly wrong. I wouldn't say 2 different sites, but definitely 2 different URL structures.

What i was referring to is that if you get backlinks pointing to www. and then also some to the same site without www. then this will have an impact on your rankings. You want all backlinks pointing to one or the other so set one preferred or do a 301 re-direct.

Correct me if i am wrong here

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by John Williamson

Doesn't matter, as long as you stay consistent when building links...

Ya know, I'm glad to read a real logical answer. Most of these threads morph into
some nonsense about google penalizing or the sky is falling.

Even if you are somewhat inconsistent, in the real world it seldom matters.

What does matter, from a visitor standpoint, is having your settings so that
visitors go to your website whether they type www or not. But don't panic. I'd
say the default settings on most servers do that anyway. For some reason,
a lot of government wesbites require the www. or require you to leave it
off. Not sure why. Maybe there are underlying security reasons.

Paul

[walterstewart1949]

A canonical page is the preferred version of a set of pages with highly similar content.

It's common for a site to have several pages listing the same set of products.

[alinpion]

My problem persists !! On 28-07 my site was indexed again and still no www

The code is stil this:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.org
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mysite.org/$1 [R=301,L]

# BEGIN WordPress

# END WordPress

I'm using wordpress with graphene theme; could it be a theme problem because firt time my time get indexed I was using another theme and my site was indexed with www and after I install graphene theme google indexed my site with no www.
In wordpress admin panel the "WordPress address (URL)" is with "www" "site adress (URL)" is with "www"

What do you think is the problem ??

[rahmanpaidar]

Originally Posted by alinpion

My problem persists !! On 28-07 my site was indexed again and still no www

The code is stil this:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.org
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mysite.org/$1 [R=301,L]

# BEGIN WordPress

# END WordPress

I'm using wordpress with graphene theme; could it be a theme problem because firt time my time get indexed I was using another theme and my site was indexed with www and after I install graphene theme google indexed my site with no www.
In wordpress admin panel the "WordPress address (URL)" is with "www" "site adress (URL)" is with "www"

What do you think is the problem ??

I suppose you are you using Windows hosting? The .htaccess
works only for linux hosts. If you are using windows host, then
you might need to consult your host provider to do redirection.

Just insert your url without www in address bar, if .htaccess works out,
you will redirect to www version of your site otherwise you need to find
what is the problem.

[Srinagarhouseboats]

Use google webmaster tool to set this . You can choose option for this

[NickWatson]

I totally agree with mick and james...

For SEO, make sure that your links are consistent and you'lle be fine

[glennforum]

It does not matter whether there is a presence of WWW or absence of WWW it would be best to focus on your link building effort and content development.

[alinpion]

Originally Posted by rahmanpaidar

I suppose you are you using Windows hosting? The .htaccess
works only for linux hosts. If you are using windows host, then
you might need to consult your host provider to do redirection.

Just insert your url without www in address bar, if .htaccess works out,
you will redirect to www version of your site otherwise you need to find
what is the problem.

I have other sites on my account and they are indexed with www ; this is the first done with wordpress

Originally Posted by Srinagarhouseboats

Use google webmaster tool to set this . You can choose option for this

I've created a webmasters account and uploaded their file on my hosting folder . Now I wait for google to index my site again !

I've tried to set "www" but it give me this : Part of the process of setting a preferred domain is to verify that you own http:// mysite.org/. Please verify http:// mysite.org/.. My site is verified with www and without www and why is showing me that ???

[alinpion]

I've found something else ; modify wp-config.php

define('WP_HOME','http://www. example.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','http://www .example.com');

Let's hope this work's !!!

[alinpion]

I'm loosing my cool with google !!! What the f...k I have to do to get my site indexed with "www" ???!!!

I've try by modifying .httacess then in wordpress settings general I've put www in "WordPress address (URL)" and in "site adress (URL)" then I've modify wp-config.php
define('WP_HOME','http://www. example.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','http://www .example.com');
then I've created a google webmaster account but when I try to save my site display with www it gives me this (see atachement)

I've verified my site by uploading a page to my site from google and then click verify in google webmaster tool !

Yahoo had indexed my site with "www" why the f..k google doesn't ????

What to do for google to index my site with "www" ??