No www. at beginning of url?

Liam Hamer · 08-03-2009, 12:14 PM

I just purchased a new domain, then installed wordpress on it. Like my other wordpress powered site, the address has no www. at the beginning of it. This is perhaps a silly question, but does this matter? When I create backlinks, I always use the www. at the beginning, and when people type this into the address bar they still get to my sites. Once they are on them, the www. isn't in the address bar. I know this is a silly thing, but I prefer it to have the www. there

I'm just wondering if a) this is anything to worry about and b) if I can change it

fthomas137 · 08-03-2009, 12:21 PM

Ask this question in a room full of IMer's and you'll get a room full of different answers! I think that people are used to typing the www, but wordpress will autoredirect for you, so I think it's up to you.

I personally use www. in the front all the time. If your domain is already indexed though, don't change it - the old duplicate content thing.

Oh darn, shouldn't mention duplicate content. It's like talking about politics or religion at the same IM party!

Frank

Liam Hamer · 08-03-2009, 12:22 PM

My domain isn't indexed yet

I'd really like to change it to have www. at the beginning if it's possible.

JayXtreme · 08-03-2009, 12:24 PM

This is what is known as domain canocalization.

Not even half as important as it used to be, Google now makes arrangements for it not to matter with the right work on your part.

You can grab yourself a WordPress plugin that will allow you to change it to exactly what you prefer..

Peace

Jay

Jaspworld · 08-03-2009, 12:24 PM

Yeah, this is also a SEO concern. Either use www in front of your website or don't use it at all. Using both can reduce the number of website linking to your site.

Michael Nguyen · 08-03-2009, 12:25 PM

www. or not just be consistent. You can add the www in settings -> general. Use google webmasters and add your domain with the www.

doylesoft · 08-03-2009, 12:29 PM

It's called a 301 redirect, but that's all I know about it. ; )

K1 · 08-03-2009, 12:32 PM

use the htaccess file to direct the www links to the non www links on your website.

You could find it easily online on the instructions

Andy Crofford · 08-03-2009, 12:45 PM

To get the www in WordPress do the following:

Login to your admin panel and go to 'General' under the 'Settings' tab.

Add www. to WordPress address and Blog address.

No need to mess with the .htaccess file since WordPress sets the 301 up for you.

Andy

Liam Hamer · 08-03-2009, 01:34 PM

Thanks everyone, I changed it in my WP settings for both this site and the other site

Paul Hancox · 08-03-2009, 01:48 PM

Yes, you can change it as per Andy's post.

Personally, I like to leave the www out because it gives you 4 extra characters to play with if you reference your site on Twitter (www and the dot), and with just 140 characters, every one counts.

Plus, with a Google indexed page, Google can show (in green) a bit more of the relevant part of your URL, rather than having to waste space showing the www. bit.

I think the www. part will be gone within 10 years, so I leave it out on my newer blogs... saves me the hassle of doing it later, when it's disappeared into the void of pointlessness.

JayXtreme · 08-03-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Hancox

Personally, I like to leave the www out because it gives you 4 extra characters to play with if you reference your site on Twitter (www and the dot), and with just 140 characters, every one counts.

^^ Very smart... I never even considered this aspect before!

Peace

Jay

Andy Crofford · 08-03-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Hancox

Yes, you can change it as per Andy's post.

Personally, I like to leave the www out because it gives you 4 extra characters to play with if you reference your site on Twitter (www and the dot), and with just 140 characters, every one counts.

Plus, with a Google indexed page, Google can show (in green) a bit more of the relevant part of your URL, rather than having to waste space showing the www. bit.

I think the www. part will be gone within 10 years, so I leave it out on my newer blogs... saves me the hassle of doing it later, when it's disappeared into the void of pointlessness.

I agree with Paul on this. I always remove the WWW on my WordPress sites (and most other sites as well).

Chris Stigson · 08-03-2009, 01:59 PM

I know that it DOES effect the rankings and if you do a "link:domain.com" search and a "link:www.domain.com" search you will find DIFFERENT results, so YES it has an effect, and also, you can change it in WORDPRESS without a plug-in or anything... just go to your admin panel than click: "Settings" WordPress address (URL) & Blog address (URL) should be with your www.domain.com and the .htaccess will take care of the rest

That's how,

- Chris

InternetMarketingIQ · 08-03-2009, 02:23 PM

It absolutely matters. Google has made many official statements about Canonicalization. Here is the Matt Cutts video with the important code stripped out so you can cut and paste it into your site should you choose to do so.

Canonical Link Element Avoid Duplicate Content | Internet Marketing IQ ?

And here is another Google/Matt Cutts Article on the subject

SEO advice: url canonicalization

Be consistent in your approach.

08-03-2009, 12:14 PM	#1
Liam Hamer SEO Enthusiast War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1,164 Thanks: 579 Thanked 242 Times in 140 Posts	No www. at beginning of url? I just purchased a new domain, then installed wordpress on it. Like my other wordpress powered site, the address has no www. at the beginning of it. This is perhaps a silly question, but does this matter? When I create backlinks, I always use the www. at the beginning, and when people type this into the address bar they still get to my sites. Once they are on them, the www. isn't in the address bar. I know this is a silly thing, but I prefer it to have the www. there I'm just wondering if a) this is anything to worry about and b) if I can change it

08-03-2009, 12:21 PM	#2
fthomas137 Wordpress Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: , , . Posts: 500 Thanks: 31 Thanked 123 Times in 50 Posts Social Networking	Re: No www. at beginning of url? Ask this question in a room full of IMer's and you'll get a room full of different answers! I think that people are used to typing the www, but wordpress will autoredirect for you, so I think it's up to you. I personally use www. in the front all the time. If your domain is already indexed though, don't change it - the old duplicate content thing. Oh darn, shouldn't mention duplicate content. It's like talking about politics or religion at the same IM party! Frank
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08-03-2009, 12:22 PM	#3
Liam Hamer SEO Enthusiast War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1,164 Thanks: 579 Thanked 242 Times in 140 Posts	Re: No www. at beginning of url? My domain isn't indexed yet I'd really like to change it to have www. at the beginning if it's possible.

08-03-2009, 12:24 PM	#4
JayXtreme Lookin at You.... War Room Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Out Of My Mind - Brandy Too Posts: 4,120 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 2,885 Thanked 1,344 Times in 710 Posts Social Networking	Re: No www. at beginning of url? This is what is known as domain canocalization. Not even half as important as it used to be, Google now makes arrangements for it not to matter with the right work on your part. You can grab yourself a WordPress plugin that will allow you to change it to exactly what you prefer.. Peace Jay
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08-03-2009, 12:24 PM	#5
Jaspworld Jaspreet Singh War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 48 Thanks: 5 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: No www. at beginning of url? Yeah, this is also a SEO concern. Either use www in front of your website or don't use it at all. Using both can reduce the number of website linking to your site.

08-03-2009, 12:25 PM	#6
Michael Nguyen Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,029 Thanks: 60 Thanked 147 Times in 103 Posts	Re: No www. at beginning of url? www. or not just be consistent. You can add the www in settings -> general. Use google webmasters and add your domain with the www.
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08-03-2009, 12:29 PM	#7
doylesoft HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: American Fork, Utah, U.S.A. Posts: 260 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 17 Thanked 28 Times in 20 Posts Social Networking	Re: No www. at beginning of url? It's called a 301 redirect, but that's all I know about it. ; )
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08-03-2009, 12:32 PM	#8
K1 Warrior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 21 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: No www. at beginning of url? use the htaccess file to direct the www links to the non www links on your website. You could find it easily online on the instructions

08-03-2009, 12:45 PM	#9
Andy Crofford HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Carl Junction, MO Posts: 302 Thanks: 1 Thanked 59 Times in 44 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: No www. at beginning of url? To get the www in WordPress do the following: Login to your admin panel and go to 'General' under the 'Settings' tab. Add www. to WordPress address and Blog address. No need to mess with the .htaccess file since WordPress sets the 301 up for you. Andy
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08-03-2009, 01:34 PM	#10
Liam Hamer SEO Enthusiast War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1,164 Thanks: 579 Thanked 242 Times in 140 Posts	Re: No www. at beginning of url? Thanks everyone, I changed it in my WP settings for both this site and the other site

08-03-2009, 01:48 PM	#11
Paul Hancox Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,028 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 433 Thanked 554 Times in 229 Posts Social Networking	Re: No www. at beginning of url? Yes, you can change it as per Andy's post. Personally, I like to leave the www out because it gives you 4 extra characters to play with if you reference your site on Twitter (www and the dot), and with just 140 characters, every one counts. Plus, with a Google indexed page, Google can show (in green) a bit more of the relevant part of your URL, rather than having to waste space showing the www. bit. I think the www. part will be gone within 10 years, so I leave it out on my newer blogs... saves me the hassle of doing it later, when it's disappeared into the void of pointlessness.
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08-03-2009, 01:59 PM	#14
Chris Stigson LazyMillionDollars.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uppsala , Sweden. Posts: 1,129 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 48 Times in 24 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: No www. at beginning of url? I know that it DOES effect the rankings and if you do a "link:domain.com" search and a "link:www.domain.com" search you will find DIFFERENT results, so YES it has an effect, and also, you can change it in WORDPRESS without a plug-in or anything... just go to your admin panel than click: "Settings" WordPress address (URL) & Blog address (URL) should be with your www.domain.com and the .htaccess will take care of the rest That's how, - Chris
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08-03-2009, 02:23 PM	#15
InternetMarketingIQ Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US of A Posts: 2,190 Thanks: 47 Thanked 257 Times in 211 Posts	Re: No www. at beginning of url? It absolutely matters. Google has made many official statements about Canonicalization. Here is the Matt Cutts video with the important code stripped out so you can cut and paste it into your site should you choose to do so. Canonical Link Element Avoid Duplicate Content \| Internet Marketing IQ ? And here is another Google/Matt Cutts Article on the subject SEO advice: url canonicalization Be consistent in your approach.
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