I have a domain that keeps changing in the organic listings of google. One week it is: www.keyword.com then, it is: keyword.com then, it changes to: key-word.com then, it changes to: keykeyword.com I own keyword.com, key-word.com, and keykeyword.com . All have the same content and I know I could just 301 redirect to the main keyword.com domain. But can someone explain why google keeps changing their mind on the listing? Is 301 redirect the only solution? I need to have all three domains up and would only like the keyword.com domain to show in the listings. Thanks.
Well, the best solution to tell google which domain it's more important to you is to make a 301 to the domain that you want to rank. If you need to have all three domains up then make each domain different with unique content, why do you need to have the same content on all 3 domains if you only want to rank keyword.com ??
First let me say that you have a very nice domain name. As for the question, I'm not an expert on it but doesn't 301 work "from" and "to"?
I am with Carroseo; Why not build unique content and take 3 of the top 10 ...or better yet--301 'em all into one? Eric
If you want only 1 to rank well then you definitely don't want to have 2 mirrors of it out there as well. Original content is also looked at.
the domain isnt exactly keyword.com . that's just an example. its a corporate site and they bought up different domains (variations). I am in the process of 301 redirecting all domains to www.keyword.com, but I was wondering in the future, if the key-word.com , keyword.com, or www.keyword.com would show. Is there a way to control this?
Its because your domain names gets hits & visitors accordingly. Dont use same content for all the 3 domains if you want to be on top for all the 3 domains if only keyword.com is concerned than redirect 301 would be better for other domains. As simple as that
As said earlier, use .htacess to get rid of all problems of canonicalization as well as this www,no-www thing.