Forum Moderators: open
Problem is he's already lauched his website and the search engines have indexed pages under the oldest domain name. I want them to start indexing using the third domain.
Will the site be penalised for mirror domains, and if so, what's the best way to get the spiders on your side?
I had thought about the 301 redirect for the other 2 domains, but all domains share the same space, so that's not possible, or even relevant, is it?
Now I'm a bit confused. I just want to promote the one domain on the search engines, in the directories, and through a link campaign.
How can I do this within the rules, given the existence of the other domains? Or does it just make no difference at all?
I had thought about the 301 redirect for the other 2 domains, but all domains share the same space, so that's not possible, or even relevant, is it?
Not sure exactly what you mean by "share the same space." If you mean that they're all on the same server, I don't think there's a problem if you're able to use mod_rewrite, but I'm not a server expert. It would be worth moving the redirected accounts to a different server to eliminate the problem.
Check out this thread for various ways of redirecting...
Pointing multiple domain names to main site without mirrors
[webmasterworld.com...]
I think with the number of domains you're talking about, 301s would be fine.
"We cannot setup the redirect in the way you ask I'm afraid. The web forwarding for all 3 domains are already pointing at the same web space. The only time you will really need to use a redirect is if the new domain was on a different server."
Is this BS? are they just after more money here?
Is my client going to have to move the other two domains to a different server (to set up a 301)?
I really need to get to the bottom of this.
I've now read many threads on here about 301s and redirection etc, but I'm still none the wiser. Can anyone give me a more definite answer to this problem?
"We cannot setup the redirect in the way you ask I'm afraid. The web forwarding for all 3 domains are already pointing at the same web space. The only time you will really need to use a redirect is if the new domain was on a different server."
I don't think your host understands your question...
If I understand you correctly, it sounds like you have multiple domains pointing at the same IP in such a way that you're seeing the same content under each domain.
The thread I cite above describes several ways of handling the situation, one of which would be to use name based virtual hosting and then to use mod_rewrite to rewrite all the extra domains so that the site only appears under your main domain. Essentially, this would be redirecting the extra domains to the main domain.
I've yet to encounter hosting company tech support that can discuss this... though sometimes the managers understand what's involved... and not all hosts will let you do use mod_rewrite, and not all servers are enabled to allow it. This is for Apache. I don't know what it's called for Microsoft.
If you don't get a response here, you might want to try posting in the Apache or Microsoft Forum.
I'm in the process of getting my feet wet in mod_rewrite myself (in the past there have been IT departments where I've used it), but my questions involve redirecting between hosts. Maybe I can ask further questions, once I have time, that will help you as well, and steer you to the posts.
I just ran the site through one of those header checkers and got "Apache/1.3.26 (Unix)"
So it is an Apache server.
Looks like the hosting firm just don't get it :-(
I'm going to send them a link to a site which I think explains it well. I won't post the url here, but if you Google for "Changing our domain name affect our search engine rankings", you'll find the page with the instructions.
I'll also send them to the redirect info on the Apache website.
Surely that'll do it!
mod_rewrite..... this is for Apache.... don't know what it's called for Microsoft.
For IIS I think it's called ISAPI Rewrite, and is a .dll. I believe that it isn't free, and I don't think it comes as standard in Server editions of MS Windows.
For Apache for Windows, it's still called Mod_Rewrite.
I remember reading a little while back about someone who developed a means of doing URL rewrites in IIS using straight ASP. Can't remember where I read it (might have been on here), but worth googling around for that before you spend the money on ISAPI Rewrite if you need to do this on a Windows box.
You'll usually only be able to install ISAPI Rewrite on a hosted box if it's your dedicated box. Most hosts will not install software to boxes that are shared, for obvious reasons.
TJ
"We cannot setup the redirect in the way you ask I'm afraid. The web forwarding for all 3 domains are already pointing at the same web space. The only time you will really need to use a redirect is if the new domain was on a different server."
As pointed out above, this means they're just pointed at the same IP. On the server end, you need to have 3 "virtual" websites setup - one for each name. You then do the 301 from within each virtual webserver.
Just to throw an idea up in the air, and I don't know if this will work or not, but could you repoint the 2 additional domains to:-
w*ww.main-domain.com/domain1/
and
w*ww.main-domain.com/domain2/
Then create two new directories on the server "domain1" and "domain2" putting an "index.html" file in each with the 301 redirect in the header?
Like I said, I don't actually know if this will work, but I'm sure someone else will come along to confirm/deny ;-)
TJ
I've an easy solution for you. Just go through this article and you'll get it:
<snip>
Moreover, multiple Domains isnt a problem, Jill wahlen [webmaster of www.highrankings.com has multiple domains pointing to her main site, done through legible method. Read: <snip>
I hope it solves your problem.
Can anyone tell me what use are really these multiple domains
I've a client who is thinking of buying ten Domains to promote one Domain. These ten Domains will be used primarily for promoting the Main Domain.
[edited by: Brett_Tabke at 10:59 am (utc) on June 14, 2004]
[edit reason] thanks, no links to blogs or commercial seo sites. review tos. [/edit]
Looks like I'll need to move the older domains to a different host (one which allows 301 redirects) and then do the redirects.
I'll need to move the older domains to a different host (one which allows 301 redirects) and then do the redirects
This is the only option left for you! Wish u Luck
Cheers
Vani
For my purposes, I need a 301 redirect for two domains. There are lots of hosts offering cheap domain forwarding. If I move these two domains to one of these hosts and get them to "forward" it to the new domain, will that achieve what I'm after?
What is the big deal about this?
If anyone knows of any (cheap) hosts who can happily handle 301 redirects, please sticky me. I don't care where they are, either.
It's an interesting point. You could buy an account, but that is a rather expensive solution. Of course your host should do it! Anyway, if you need a solution (no charge) see my profile or sticky me.
I've read that Apache has something called "Serveralias" which allows you to bind multiple domains to the same virtual host. I'm 99% sure that's how my client's website has been set up.
That's probably why the host doesn't see the need for any redirects. I also read somewhere that redirects are only necessary if you're pointing to specific files (which isn't the case here), but that might be untrue, of course.
I'm getting to the stage where I'd just like to forget all about this, get on with promoting the one domain, and take my chances with Google.
This is taking way too much time to sort out :-(
You do need proper 301 redirects.
If there were no links that google (or any other search engines) can see to the redundant domains then it doesn't much matter how you do it, as long as you redirect somehow.
The reason for using a 301 is where you have an established indexed domain, and you want to change to another domain. The 301 results in page rank being transferred, although it does take a while ( about a month ).
Did you see / read my earlier post?!
The situation is exactly as you've stated. The old domain is already in the SERPS but the homepage only has a PR of 4, and the other pages only have PR3. So I'm not that worried about PR transfer, with it being only 3 or 4.
I'm only concerned that Google will list more pages from the old domain, than the new domain (in its SERPS). I've seen that happen before on other sites.
[webmasterworld.com...]
I've been looking for a host that will do a redirect on a couple of domains (301s I thought) and I've got this reply from one of them about "forwarding".
"In order to properly forward a domain name you only have to have the domain registered with us and set to our 'parked' nameservers. You then only need to choose which URL your domain is resolving to, set it up and wait 48 hours for the propagation period. There's really nothing more to it than that. Once you have it set up, when typed into the address field the domain will always resolve to the URL that you have specified"My question is, is this a 301 redirect, and if not, will it not work in terms of the spiders?
No it isn't a 301. This will give you mirrored domains, which is not what you want.
The solution is to resolve the domain to an IP of a server where you have sufficient control to issue the appropriate 301.
Sorry about the delay replying to your sticky, I missed it. I have now replied.
