http:// vs. https://

Google is using the backlink with the best PR?

[samkaski]

I have a small non-commercial site that has approximately 50 backlinks. The site itself has PR6. The problem is that until now ODP, Google and Google Directory all listed my site properly then something happened 2-3 weeks ago that broke at least Google Directory.

When I do a search on my site the SRP will contain links that have a URL beginning with https:// and not with http://. All but one backlink have http://, it doesn't seem to matter as the one having the https:// backlink has the biggest PR, more specifically PR7.

Is there anything I can do? A Apache Rewrite for Google Bot?

[Dave_Hawley]

Hi samkaski

The site itself has PR6

Sites don't have PR, only Webpages do.

something happened 2-3 weeks ago that broke at least Google Directory

That is rather vague.

https:// and not with [<...]

the "s" means it's a secure page.

Is there anything I can do? A Apache Rewrite for Google Bot?

Anything you can do about what?

Dave

[samkaski]

I am trying to point out that in the SERP Google lists the https:// link instead of the http:// one, the latter would have better PR.

Example: say my webpage is located at [mypage.org...] and has a PR of 6. Now [mypage.org...] isn't indexed at all. Now there is another site [anothersite.org...] (PR7) that links to my webpage with the URL [mypage.org....] In the SERP Google will list my webpage with the URL [anothersite.org...] instead of [mypage.org...] which is used in all the other places except [anothersite.org...] (rest of the backlinks, ODP, submission to Google, etc).

By the Apache Rewrite condition I could redirect all access to https:// by the GoogleBot to [....] Maybe that would solve my problem if there is no other way.

[Dave_Hawley]

Sounds like asking the PR7 page to change your url to http from https would solve the problem.

Why do you have a secure page and an unsecure mirror page anyway?

Dave

[Macro]

Sites don't have PR, only Webpages do

People keep saying this but I don't think it's necessary. There's hardly a webmaster who doesn't know that PR refers to a webpage. When they say "my site has a PR of x" I take it to mean they are talking about their homepage; they invariably are.

Why do you have a secure page and an unsecure mirror page anyway

I don't believe he has a mirror page.

samkaski, it's probably the case the anothersite.org's webmaster just copied the URL from his address bar when browsing your site and didn't notice the "s". Have you tried contacting him to request a change in the link?

[samkaski]

The [anothersite.org...] is a CERT selling company which wants to advert the CERTs they have given for free and thus uses the https:// URL. I am sure they will not change it to http:// even if I ask. Any ideas other then the Apache Rewrite condition trick?

[Dave_Hawley]

People keep saying this but I don't think it's necessary

It's probably more necessary than repeating what I already suggested prior to your post. Besides, we cannot assume we all know the same things. If we did this forum wouldn't exist.

Dave

[Dave_Hawley]

samkaski, if the https ranks better than the other page in Google then there's a reason. Just change/modify all the important factors for http and sit back and wait.

Dave.

[dirkz]

Any ideas other then the Apache Rewrite condition trick?

Not really if you can't request a link change.

Some options remain though:

As it seems to be a little bit redundant to have the page in two versions (http and https) and since https only makes sense if you need some encryption, why not change all the links from the linked to https page to links only containing http. From the ordinary http pages link https stuff only when necessary.

This way you would transfer the PR from the https main entry to the http version.

I know this could be a little bit shortsighted since I don't know your site, but maybe it helps.

[samkaski]

I was in contact with the Google people and after a lengthy discussion it was clear that placing a robots.txt that denied all access on the https:// virtual host was the only solution. The Apache Redirect isn't sufficient. Now my SERP is correct again. Thanks to those who helped.

[Shak]

If the link is still pointing to https, but it has robots.txt that denied all access on the https:// virtual host was the only solution ,

does that mean NO pr benefit is gained from that link?

Shak

[samkaski]

Shak, yes that is my understanding but that hasn't been verified by Google people. I am happier now that I got my Google directory connection back in the SERP than I am worried about my PR. However my PR seems to remain intact after the change.

[plasma]

Just do a 301 redirect (from http to https).