Domain Forwarding Help

by LifeinVegas

Posted: 12 years ago 14 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

My client has multiple domains with different sites sitting on them. So I created 1 main site for him and pointed the other 3 domains at the 1 main site.

The problem is that now the other domains are going to show the same content as the main domain, and I think they will get hit for duplicate content?

I've been reading about 301 redirects but I can't quite figure it out. Could someone please help me out with this?

Thanks

#domain #forwarding

RexMapes 12 years ago

Can you give me a better idea of what you want to accomplish here?

If you want the various sites to have unique content or home pages a 301 is not the way to do it. A little more info would be helpful.
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LifeinVegas 12 years ago

I just want to redirect the various domains to the main url, consolidation if you will. But I want to do it in the most SEO friendly way.
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- RexMapes 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by LifeinVegas
  
  I just want to redirect the various domains to the main url, consolidation if you will. But I want to do it in the most SEO friendly way.
  
  Wow, that's a lot of variables to be taken into consideration.
  
  Are the sites similar in content? Are they addressing the same topic? Are they being replaced totally by the one master site? Do they currently receive much if any traffic?
  
  Without seeing the sites my generic answer would be:
  
  If you want to maintain the old sites and use the content that is on them, then I would try to create a page on them that led to the new site for a reason and not just a cold link.
  
  If there is no real reason to maintain the old sites then either redo them so they have current and worthwhile content or call them past history and do a 301 redirect. They won't have much if any effect then on your new site's ranking.
  
  A 301 is a permanent redirect with a delay. It tells browsers and search engines the old site is no longer in use and they should go to the new site. Search engines will then simply ignore them.
  
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NeverStop 12 years ago

You need to park the domains and then point them to the main domain name
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- LifeinVegas 12 years ago
  
  Does a parked domain pointing at the main domain hurt rankings for the main domain?
  
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  rgb 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by LifeinVegas
  
  Does a parked domain pointing at the main domain hurt rankings for the main domain?
  
  For sure that is not the way to do it, if you want to do if for SEO purposes.
  
  I would rather just keep the domains add a few good links and maybe use them as tier 1 in my backlinking plan and or to give links back if I do any link exchanges
  
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LifeinVegas 12 years ago

The other domains have been circulated in print material so they want anyone hitting those url's to be directed to the new site on the main domain only.
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- RexMapes 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by LifeinVegas
  
  The other domains have been circulated in print material so they want anyone hitting those url's to be directed to the new site on the main domain only.
  
  Ok, you posted this as I was typing my previous post. This is exactly what a 301 redirect is for. The old sites will not affect the SEO or rankings of the new site.
  
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  LifeinVegas 12 years ago
  
  Exactly, I don't need the old sites, or their content. I'm not sure how to do a 301 redirect from 3 different domains, plus 1 domain doesn't even have a site, but my client used the url in print ads so it must also point at the new site.
  
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  Espen Samuelsen 12 years ago
  
  If the new site is essentialy replacing the old ones, and they are only to be kept because the addresses are in printed material, then there should be no worry about SEO for those anyway, right?
  
  So then you could just forward them to the new one. The new one will not suffer in rank from having domains redirecting to it.
  
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RexMapes 12 years ago

The domain without a site can simply be redirected in C-Panel as forwarded to the new site.

For the others you will need to insert code into the root directory for the redirect.

Give this site a try: A 301 Redirect Guide for the Clueless!
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RexMapes 12 years ago

He could do that if the old domains don't have any search engine ranking they want to take advantage of. If the old sites do have ranking of any value, then the 301 would be a better choice for right now.

A major consideration at least for the near term is the security settings on viewers browsers.

A user pulling up an old site might very well receive a security warning that they are being redirected. Many would assume something bad is about to happen and just stop the browser never reaching the new site.

A 301 redirect tells the browsers that the redirect is ok as the new site is a replacement for the old site.
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LifeinVegas 12 years ago

I'll keep trying the 301 redirect, it didn't work just now, but I'm sure I had something set wrong For now I'm just going to forward. Thanks everyone for your input.
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- RexMapes 12 years ago
  
  If you want some assistance getting those set up you can reach me at rexmapes@gmail.com
  
  Thanks
  
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