Www vs non www

[Guest]

This post is deleted!

[gmellak]

First of all, you might want to make sure you configure the version you prefer (with or without www) in the google webmaster tools, to give google a hint ... technically, www is a subdomain - if you'd like to rank for your domain name without www, links to www.yourdomain.com might take away some linkjuice if you don't employ a 301 redirect.

[Marcus_Miller]

Hey

They are two different domains but google does a pretty good job of knowing which is which usually but that is no reason to run the gauntlet of risk as it's so easy to put this straight. It makes no odds which one you use but www. is the convention for a standard website so... that's my preference.

1. update the primary one in google webmaster tools
   Webmaster Tools > Domain > Site Configuration > Settings

2. Create a 301 redirect to direct all visitors to the primary domain
   more details here: http://www.seomoz.org/learn-seo/redirection 

That pretty much covers it. The redirection is done in a .htaccess file for apache and the specifics are on the link above and this is also a great resource for the basics: http://www.addedbytes.com/cheat-sheets/mod_rewrite-cheat-sheet/

If you are working with a windows server (spits at the floor - sorry) then this will walk you through it:
http://www.hpseo.co.uk/301-redirect-tutorial-iis/

Hope it helps and shout if any questions.
Marcus

[Dan-Petrovic]

There are two factors which may influence which one is picked:

• Links: which version is more linked to (internally and externally)
• Discovery: which version was discovered first

I normally don't fight Google on the version they choose (unless there is a good reason for that) and set the preferred domain in GWT to the one Google already has indexed. I usually just search for domain with no extension or brand to see which version comes up.

[Marcus_Miller]

Solid point - I was assuming it was a new one and everyone knows, assumption is the mother of all f**k ups!