Redirecting /default to domain ??

[QuickLearnTraining]

Google analytics shows me that this:  http://www.quicklearn.com/default.aspx is my "top content page"

This page doesn't redirect to my root domain:  http://www.quicklearn.com

IT tells me that "/default.aspx" can not redirect to my domain. I am told: "You can only redirect deeper into the site."

We have had an ongoing issue with duplicate content (that we are in the process of correcting).

Anyone with experience in redirecting that can help? Any advice welcome

[wissamdandan]

If ISAPI rewrites didn't do the trick, did you try using rel=canonical ?

[QuickLearnTraining]

Help me to understand if I did this correctly, and what the fastest solution is ok ?

1.) We used rel=canonical on the http://www.quicklearn.com/default.aspx to eliminate a duplicate content issue. Google should index http://www.quicklearn.com. Google Analytics still shows /default.aspx as top though.

2.) All our subcategory pages have the same type of the thing. /default (etc)

[ http://www.quicklearn.com/biztalk-training/default.aspx  --- http://www.quicklearn.com/biztalk-training/ ]

--->Can we use ISAPI? to fix this issue?

Do the /default pages (extra version) hurt us in indexing and Page rank?

[KeriMorgret]

I haven't heard that one from a developer before (only redirecting deeper into a site), and I do see online people being able to do the redirects. I've used ISAPI rewrites on IIS servers before just fine to handle this, though with a different site architecture.

Just one URL for each page is the best practice. However you redirect, make sure that you use a 301 (permanent) redirect.

[wissamdandan]

Monique,

1)Let me explain something about adding rel canonical

it doesnt mean that it will INDEX quicklearn.com . But what is going to happen is when you will serve googlebot the /default. you will tell him that the canonical version of this page is quicklearn.com. and it means all SEO value will be credited to quicklearn.com and you will not have duplicate content between them two.

Now concerning what Google Analytics will show you exactly whats the user is landing on. and IMO it will still show you the /default

2. i was checking your site and i cant seem to find the URL with default.aspx indexed?

and seems URL structure is working good

[G-Force]

Hi Monique,

If I were you, I would fire the IT... If your IT doesn't know the simple two lines of code that can solve this common problem, I think he doesn't deserve his job.

If all your inbound links are splitted between two pages that are in fact the same / and /default.aspx than you are losing a significant amount of link juice that could all go to the same place and this, without any doubt, affect your rankings.

Best regards,
Guillaume Voyer.

[KeriMorgret]

Hi Monique,

How did things go with IT? Is there anything we can do to help convince them that this can be redirected?

[G-Force]

Hi Monique,

The solution is simple, ask him to put something like that in your default.aspx file, he should understand :

If Request.Url.ToString() = "/default.aspx" Then
    Response.Status = "301 Moved Permanently"
    Response.AddHeader("Location","http://www.quicklearn.com/")
End If

These 4 lines (not 2 finaly, I forgot how asp was... asp) should do the trick.

Best regards,
Guillaume Voyer.