Wondering about google site: search, and www vs non www

[allstatetransmission]

This post is deleted!

[Digital-Diameter]

The key issue here is that www is a sub-domain and can be considered duplicate content. Even in cases when it is not, you are allowing Google's bot to determine which is more authoritative. I might suggest that having only one listed in Google is the preferred option.

Personally, I prefer the www version as users often expect it, though consistency is more important than with or without.

Let me know if mis-understood your question.

Best,

Michael

[RobertFisher]

Jeff

I am a bit surprised by the no results with the www. An example is our site, drumbeatmarketing.net, when you put it in that way on a site: you return the correct version, the www. I am not sure re the 301 you are using, but one way to help yourself is to go into GWMT and make sure you have a preferred domain.

Login to WMT, go to the gear in the top right of the page (settings), go to site settings and you will see the page with geographic target, then preferred domain. Select the preferred domain (appears you are wanting the www). This should assist you in ensuring it is correct. Then, if you can have someone check the 301, that would be good. If you have a question re the 301, add it to the responses here and we will assist.

EDIT - I checked in screaming frog and your 301 is the www to the non www. This is what you wanted? If you do the preferred domain that should assist as well. When was the 301 put in?
Lastly, it makes zero difference which you use www or non www. Once you have it in correctly whatever the searcher puts in, it will resolve to the correct version.

Best

Robert

[allstatetransmission]

Wow thank you guys for the great responses. I will definitely go into WMT and make the suggested changes, and yes you are correct I want the non www version.

My manager is asking:

So would having the www version not show up in my "https://www.google.com/#q=site:www.allprofleetpainting.com" search hurt us at all?

and I am sorry for rephrasing/re-asking the question I just want to make sure I am saying to him the right answer. Which I am gathering as long as we 'have the 301 redirect, the preferred domain selected, and its the link we want to use wont hurt our SEO value.'

[RobertFisher]

From Screaming Frog you have redirected correctly the www version to the non www version. (Which is what you stated above you wanted).

By selecting the non www version in GWMT, you are just reinforcing that it is done in a way that works for you.

There is no damage to the www not showing. Go to the nav bar and type in drumbeatmarketing.net and enter; you will see it resolve to www.drumbeatmarketing.net. 
So, any non www page is not going to show unless we have something wrong. All is good. Yours is just the opposite as that is what you wanted. No matter what anyone says, it is irrelevant which you choose to use (with the obvious exception where the site has not had a preferred domain and now has two values for PA and you are trying to merge them).

Good question, glad to help,

Robert