When choosing GWT preferred domain its asking for re-verification?

[vmialik]

Trying to set a preferred domain in GWT, and the site is verified via Google Analytics and meta tag in the code, but still asks:

Part of the process of setting a preferred domain is to verify that you own http://site.org/. Please verify http://site.org/.

Tried looking for answer to no avail, am I missing anything?

[Devanur-Rafi]

Hi Vadim,

Yes you need to get both the non-www and www versions of your website verified in GWMT account to be able to set the preferred domain. Its as simple as adding your site without www to the account and hit the Verify this site option. That's it. As you would have your www version already verified, getting the non-www version of your website doesnot require to go through the verification process like uploading the html file or adding the verification meta tag.

Just add your site without www by clicking the ADD A SITE button and click the Verify this site option and you should be good.

Best,

Devanur Rafi

[vmialik]

Great worked like a charm... Now I just delete the new profile that I had just created as the initial profile states my correct preferred domain now, correct?

Many Thanks Devanur!!

[Devanur-Rafi]

Good to hear that my friend. Please do not delete the newly added non-www version of your website as you will not be able to set the preferred domain without it. Just leave it as it is.

You can access your preferred domain by clicking on it to get all the stats in GWMT account.

Best,

Devanur Rafi

[vmialik]

Hmm, I actually did. and it is still there under my original profile, and with my preferred selection. Its just that I have to add the sitemap to the new account and wait until it propagates with all the info and crawl stats/errors.

Ill wait a few days and see if it changes. Or is it a bad idea?

[Devanur-Rafi]

You just need to add the sitemap for the preferred version and refresh the page. All your sitemap info will be readily available. Here we don't need to bother about it propagating or anything of that sort. As the sitemap.xml is still there where it was (in the root folder), nothing has changed for Google.

If you have not done this already, you should go in for a 301 permanent redirection from your non-preferred of your site to your preferred-version.

[vmialik]

By propagating I meant all the statistics currently up, not in a sense of DNS propagation, it takes a while for Google to crawl and the stats to the GWT dashboard. But its not really hard to re-set that up, just dont really see a reason now that the old profile shows the preferred choice selected.

Yes, 301 perm redirect set up

[Devanur-Rafi]

Understood my friend. By propagation, I meant the propagation of the sitemap.xml file for newly added preferred-version of the site and yes, you are absolutely correct. It takes a while for Google to get the stats for the preferred version. Yes, I knew you would be having a 301 in place already, I mentioned about it just in case

Wish you good luck for all your endeavors.

Best,

Devanur Rafi

[vmialik]

Thanks again Devanur, same to you!