Effect of Multiple Indexes

does it effect SE indexing, ranking

[vaniaul]

Hello,

I just wanted to know from SEO perspective if we use multiple indexes on the HTML platform. Will it effect any of our SEO rankings, indexing etc.

Kindly explain the effect of using this from SEO perspective.

Looking forward to your feedback. Incase there is any relevant thread, then please post its URL as well.

Thanks in advance!

Warm Regards,
Vani

[caveman]

Sorry Vani, not sure I understand what you mean by "multiple indexes"?
- Multiple variations of a homepage?
- More than one page called "index.htm" (e.g. in different folders/directories)?
- Other?

[vaniaul]

Thanks caveman for the follow up. Yes, I also thought that I needed to clarify my query. Please see below:

Presently I'm having a site in which I'm having 7 directories:
1. widgets1
2. widgets2
3. widgets3
4. widgets4
5. widgets5
6. widgets6
7. widgets7

Under every directory I'm having an index page:

1. widgets1/index.html
2. widgets2/index.html
3. widgets3/index.html
4. widgets4/index.html
5. widgets5/index.html
6. widgets6/index.html
7. widgets7/index.html

For linking to the above mentioned INDEX PAGES, I can do it by specifying any of the following URLs:

1. ht*p://www.mysite.com/widgets1/
2. ht*p://www.mysite.com/widgets1/index.html

I want to know that if I use the first option [without index.html] then how it will be beneficial for my Search Engine Campaign.

N.B: I've seen a couple of websites and forums linking to their directories using the folder name only without giving the "index" for example:
ht*p://www.mysite.com/widgets1/

Well, in this website the link to Search Engine forum is also like this:
ht*p://www.webmasterworld.com/forum5/

I'm more than thankful to you for giving time to clarify my point. Thanks a lot!

Warm Regards,
Vani

[edited by: caveman at 4:33 am (utc) on Nov. 7, 2005]
[edit reason] URL's unlinked [/edit]

[caveman]

Excellent Vani,

"ht*p://www.mysite.com/widgets1/" is the way to go. This path differentiates the various index files so no worries there.

The above option is cleaner, and allows you later, if you like, to change the extension, since ".html" was never specified.

As always, when in doubt, hard code the URI's (as opposed to relative paths).

[vaniaul]

Great thanks Caveman! That clarifies my query.

Additionally it would be great if you could tell me the benefit from SEO point of view also, since I'm definately gonna implement this strategy. So am curious to know a bit more from you!

Warm regards
Vani

[caveman]

None between "/" and "/index.html" that I know of; just flexibility in the future, and cleaner, shorter URL for visitors to see.

[vaniaul]

Okay I got it. Great Thanks!