preferred domain in webmaster tools

Discussion in 'Site & Server Administration' started by fine0023, May 22, 2012.

  1. #1
    I recently read this information here: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=44231 that generally recommends switching your settings in Google Webmaster Tools to have a preferred domain of either the www or non-www version of your site (I guess to help your site rank better by not having inbound links spread between "www.domain.com" and just "domain.com"). The choices it give you are "don't set a preferred domain" (what I currently have it set as), "display urls as www.domain.com" or "display urls as domain.com"

    I assume in most cases, I would want to set it to one of the latter choices. However, I already have a 301 redirect in my .htaccess to make the non-www version of my url go to the www version. So would choosing a preferred domain in Google still be necessary even with the 301 redirect?
     
    fine0023, May 22, 2012 IP
  2. cesurasean

    cesurasean Active Member

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    I would assume so. Your 301 redirect is horrible. You should setup DNS for both.
     
    cesurasean, Feb 23, 2013 IP