Got surprise after reading Title.
But it’s truth that according to Search Engine following titles are different.
- www.site.com
- http://site.com
- http://www.site.com
- http://www.site.com/
- site.com
- site.com/index.html
- site.com/Index.html
Thought we are getting same data using any one of them. Did you notice that when ever your submitting URL for comment or registration form etc are using with www or with out www. If your answer is I am using both and you had do link building for 100 links but according to search engines it might be 50 link for your www URL and 50 for non www URL (just example) Even index.html and Index.html (capital word / character ) is different in terms of Search Engine.
No are you worried that ohh my God what to do ? Don’t get panic. There is a way out of it. It this is known as URL Canonicalization.
What is URL Canonicalization ?
Canonicalization is the process by which URLs are standardized. For example, www.site.com and www.site.com/ are treated as the same page, even though the syntax of the URL is different.
Why Is Canonicalization An Issue For SEO?
Because many times Search Engine treat www.site.com, site.com/ and http://site.com as three different URL but actually it the same URL. This difference will lead you to low PR as there not better link juice or traffic on one URL.
What Conditions Can Cause This Problem?
- Different URLs i.e. www.site.com V/s site.com
- Capital URLS like Default.html and default.html are different URLs.
- If you are forwarding multiple URLs to the same contents.
- If you are generating Dynamic URL based on different conditions and this URL keeps on changing.
- Trailing questions marks, with or without parameters i.e. www.site.com/index.php? or www.site.com/index.php?data=google
- Inaporoprite use of 302 redirect
What the Step needed to solved this problem ?
The following things can help you to get better result for your Link Juice and other benefits.
Fix Your URL
Fix up your URL with www or with out www. Submit your URL whenever needed in your specific manner. If you decided to go with www.site.com then you should not use any other option.
Use Google Webmasters
Update Google about your preferred domain via Google Webmaster. You can log on to Google Webmaster and then go to Site configuration –> Settings and update your Preferred domain. Check the image bellow.
Use 301 Redirect
You need to write a bellow mention code in your .htaccess file which will redirect your all traffic which comes on http://site.com on www.site.com (Kindly edit site.com with your URL before updating .htaccess) .htaccess is crucial for website just make sure to take backup before editing site.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^site.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.site.com/$1 [L,R=301]
If you want reverse thing i.e. www.site.com should convert in http://site.com then use following code.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.site.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://site.com/$1 [L,R=301]
If want to learn more thing about 301 Redirect then Check this
I thinks this will help you to redirect traffic and links juice on one domain only and gradually It will help you much for getting good search engine results. Still you are hungry for know more about this I will suggest you to check the following articles on this issue by Industries expert.
- SEO advice: URL canonicalization by Matt Cutts
- Canonicalization by Wikipedia
- Preferred domain (www or non-www) by Google Webmaster Tools
- Duplicate content and multiple site issues by Google Webmaster Central Blog
With this Don’t forgot to Secure your Blog from Unauthorised Access : Make your Blog more Safe.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Jaydeep.
This is nice description about URL canalization issue.
Personally i would like to comments on some basics like it would be nice if you have add or mentioned here more about Mathemetical or XML canalization issues, which is also equally knows and important.
I guess in new version of wordpress we can decide which url we want either by www or non www. More over for safe side I use Webmaster tool to select my preferred URL.
What would you suggest? do we still need to edit our .htaccess file ??
Hi Jaydip,
Nice information about 301.
Thanks for sharing gr8 tips about 301 redirection.
It’s always refreshing to read your posts – thanks again
thank you sir..
I was knowing all theory about canonicalization and 301 redirection nut wondering about exact code for redirection, b’coz I dint seen practically how to fixed up this problem.
Thanx for such a simple explanation and redirection code also.
great.
I never new this until i read your post! anyway thanks!