Using IP instead of the domain name

[AHA7]

Hello,

If I use the corresponding IP address instead of the domain name in a link, would that be the same as using the domain name in the eye of SE robots.

For example: Assume that the domain name "domain.com" has an IP address "25.25.25.25", are the following two links equivalent in the eye of SE robots (ie they both get followed and credited the same way):

"http://domain.com/pagetitle" and,
"http://25.25.25.25/pagetitle"

[AgentD]

They'll be followed. From an SEO standpoint it isn't as good. You want your domain name to be seen.

The question is, why would you want to do that?

[AHA7]

The question is, why would you want to do that?

I thought that since SE robots are "software" and software deals with IP addresses rather than domain names (which are more human-friendly), then a link with an IP address instead of the domain name would be more robot-friendly :confused: Sorry if that sounds stupid! :D

But another question please:
If I have tons of sites linking to my site using my site's IP address would that make SE's (I mean Google) index my site pages with the IP address instead of the domain name? I don't want to see my site's IP address in my listing on SERP's.

[Aragorn]

I thought that since SE robots are "software" and software deals with IP addresses rather than domain names (which are more human-friendly), then a link with an IP address instead of the domain name would be more robot-friendly :confused: Sorry if that sounds stupid! :D

It not only sounds stupid, it is stupid :D. Because if you have a keyword in your domain, there is a better chance for you to get a higher rank for that domain. With ip you lose that advantage. Also no user will ever remembers a sites ip address. Hence you will lose some visitors too.
But another question please:
If I have tons of sites linking to my site using my site's IP address would that make SE's (I mean Google) index my site pages with the IP address instead of the domain name? I don't want to see my site's IP address in my listing on SERP's.
I'm not sure, but most probably you will get penalized for duplicate content. Because, to most of the search engines it will appear as two site having the same content. I would suggest you to use 301 redirect from either the ip to domain or vice-versa. Why take a risk?

[AgentD]

Well, 'stupid' is a little harsh, but bots have been doing their jobs pretty well for a while. Don't worry about that little extra work it takes to go from domain to IP.

[andre75]

I am currently switching over to a new VPS account and obviously it comes with a new domain. It would be a pitty to lose backlinks because they would go to the old ip's.

[theseokit]

Interesting thought, but I doubt it would work. Best to stick with the domain name :)