How do I get Google to add the www to my URL?

[kmtell]

It was recently brought to my attention that the www of my URL does not appear in the Google SERPs. So, instead of "www.company.com", we get "company.com". It is my understanding that certain browsers have issues with this. If that is true, how can I get Google to recognize the www at the beginning of my URL? Thanks.

[Craig_F]

make sure you have a few links to the full url and you should be all set. i wouldn't worry too much about this.

[kmtell]

Over the past several weeks I've been going around finding relevent directories to list with and have always submitted the full URL. Probably someone from my company in 1998 submitted the shortened version somewhere and that's how it happened. I just never noticed until now.

[Craig_F]

if you are concenred you should be able to view the backlinks and see who is linking to you without the 'www'. if it is not many, contact them and see if they'll fix it.

if it was me, I'd just keep on building new links to the full url and not worry about it.

[Chris_R]

For the record - I don't think some broswers have issues with it - some HOSTS do.

If you switch hosts - you want to make sure they can handle the just domain.tld.

I wouldn't worry too much about it like Craig said.

[Craig_F]

> For the record - I don't think some broswers have issues with it - some HOSTS do.

Agreed. I never heard of any browser issues either.

> If you switch hosts - you want to make sure they can handle the just domain.tld.

Very important point, especially if you have lots of incoming links without the 'www'

[jdMorgan]

kmtell,

If you (or the guy in the corner office) are worried about it, install a 301-Moved Permanently redirect from company.com to www.company.com

The method used to do this varies depending on what server your site is hosted on.

Lots of threads on this subject here on WebmasterWorld - use the site search to find 'em.

HTH,
Jim