Google preferred domain and IP question

[bradz21]

Hi Everyone, I was hoping someone might be able to answer a few questions for me. I'm having trouble for some reason in Google Webmaster Tools setting a preferred domain. After selecting the xhttp://www. selection, I receive this error:

"Part of the process of setting a preferred domain is to verify that you own xhttp://domainname.xxx. Please verify xhttp://domainname.xxx."

The sitemap and account are verified, when I check the verification section in webmaster tools this is what it says:

"Verification details
You're currently verified for xhttp://www.domain.xxx by the following methods: "

Do I somehow need to verify the website without the xhttp://www. ?

Also I when run a reverse lookup on my domain which is on a static ip address it shows two listings; domainname.net and xhttp://www.domainname.xxx . Is this correct or do I need to make some changes on the server?

Thanks for the help,
Brad

[casinoplanet]

Hi Brad,

I had the same problem with a regular http site.
Google advised to add the website without the www. For that second one I could change the preferred domain.

Hi Everyone, I was hoping someone might be able to answer a few questions for me. I'm having trouble for some reason in Google Webmaster Tools setting a preferred domain. After selecting the xhttp://www. selection, I receive this error:

"Part of the process of setting a preferred domain is to verify that you own xhttp://domainname.xxx. Please verify xhttp://domainname.xxx."

The sitemap and account are verified, when I check the verification section in webmaster tools this is what it says:

"Verification details
You're currently verified for xhttp://www.domain.xxx by the following methods: "

Do I somehow need to verify the website without the xhttp://www. ?

Also I when run a reverse lookup on my domain which is on a static ip address it shows two listings; domainname.net and xhttp://www.domainname.xxx . Is this correct or do I need to make some changes on the server?

Thanks for the help,
Brad

[Chips]

Correct, you have to add the non www to webmaster tools, verify it, then you can set your prefered domain. Once you do that you may delete the non www from your site listing.

If you prefer the non www then doe the reverse... verify both separately then remove the one you do not prefer.

Once you have done this be sure to add a 301 redirect for the non preferred to the preferred. Failing to re-direct to the preferred structure will split your page rank.

Also, you should pick a way to display your home page... do you want it to be www.example.com or www.example.com/index.xxx You may find your home page to be accessible many ways, /index.html /index.htm /index.php etc... Again multiple ways of display will split your page rank up.

[casinoplanet]

Thanks Chips,

I didn't know the non preferred could be removed. Will do that right away. Since I have a properly working 301 to the non www mobile and web site, that should be no problem.

Correct, you have to add the non www to webmaster tools, verify it, then you can set your prefered domain. Once you do that you may delete the non www from your site listing.

If you prefer the non www then doe the reverse... verify both separately then remove the one you do not prefer.

Once you have done this be sure to add a 301 redirect for the non preferred to the preferred. Failing to re-direct to the preferred structure will split your page rank.

Also, you should pick a way to display your home page... do you want it to be www.example.com or www.example.com/index.xxx You may find your home page to be accessible many ways, /index.html /index.htm /index.php etc... Again multiple ways of display will split your page rank up.

[bradz21]

Hi Chips,

Thanks for the advice, I have fixed the problem in Google Webmaster Tools.

As for the 301 redirect from the non-www to the www, how would I go about setting that up? The site is hosted on a Microsoft server.

Also you are correct, I have default.aspx, Home.aspx, ect. and I would like to create a 301 redirect for them as well so the page rank is no longer being split up.

Thanks for the help and advice.
- Brad

Once you have done this be sure to add a 301 redirect for the non preferred to the preferred. Failing to re-direct to the preferred structure will split your page rank.

Also, you should pick a way to display your home page... do you want it to be www.example.com or www.example.com/index.xxx You may find your home page to be accessible many ways, /index.html /index.htm /index.php etc... Again multiple ways of display will split your page rank up.

[universal4]

It depends on which version of Windows it's running.

If it is 2008 then it supports htaccess and the systax is the same as a *nix box.

If it is 2000 (hope not) or 2003 then an ISAPI filter can be installed that allows for an htaccess file to be used. (I think I had a thread here in the tech section that discussed this a bit)

If none of the above fit one method is to create a new site on the same ip with the non www and then do a permanent redirect on that site to the www version.

That is performed inside of IIS and takes only a few seconds to do, your host might be able to help with that.

If you are on a dedicated or virtual server and need a hand let me know and I will help....

Rick
Universal4

[Chips]

If you have access to your .htaccess file then add the following:

RewriteCond  %{HTTP_HOST} ^example.com
 RewriteRule (.*)  http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

Be sure you have

RewriteEngine On

in the file too.

For the other pages... you can redirect them to your root, (www.example.com) with a 301 for each page there is:

RewriteBase /

Redirect 301 /Home.aspx/ http://www.yoursite.com

I think I got it all right. Of course if you have cPanel you can do it quickly through the redirect menu.

[LiveCasinoPartners]

Hi Brad,

I had the same problem with a regular http site.
Google advised to add the website without the www. For that second one I could change the preferred domain.

I've come across the same thing lately too. I had to add the seond domain without the www and then verify it (took a few seconds). It seems to me that google could improve this. It's not too clear what you have to do and many don't understand because it's not intuitive.