question on linking to domain

[amythepoet]

Oh boy, I have a question, I'm confused about whether to link to a www.yourdomain.com or do you link to just yourdomain.com

because when I do a google search for link:mydomain and another one for link:www.mydomain.com

I get way different results and I t hink that needs to be fixed!

in google, do you do a search like this: site:thenyourdomain.com or do you go like this: links:yourdomain.com

I need help, because I do not understand what is happening with G.

Please help me!

[piatkow]

Technically www and non www are different web sites. It is purely a matter of convention that they are both pointed at the same ultimate location.

When you visit the site the owner will have probably set up redirects so that you will either see www.example.com or example.com regardless of what you typed in. Go with whatever was the owner's choice.

If you are trying to decide for your own site I would go with www despite my personal preference for eliminating those four redundant key strokes as many people will insist on "correcting" your URL and putting it in if you omit it.

[amythepoet]

Yes, I'm talking about my own site and so should I set up a redirect? and how do I check again how many of these internal links I have? I am still confused and upset and google keeps changing things and I need desperate help

[smallcompany]

I always ask about this stuff as I know so little, but you just made me happy that I can actually answer your question. :)

First hand:
[mattcutts.com...]

For more info, do a search on "URL Canonicalization"

Then this (don't sweat too much, just read):
[webmasterworld.com...]

Finally, from the same Apache and who knows what else "guru" (jdMorgan):
[webmasterworld.com...]

The one above is what I use.

In addition to fixing this in .htaccess, you also can setup "www" or "without www" in Google WMT. Do both things.

Once all implemented properly, you don't need to worry how people link to your site. In regards of internal links, pick one way and do it always like that.

[amythepoet]

oh thank you very much, I will read and do as you say, yes I am glad I made you happy, that makes me happy

thank you so much and I too learn so much from reading and asking questions on here have anice day

[amythepoet]

God you tell me not to sweat too much, just read, ok I'm readin', I have another question, to find out who links to my site,

1. would those be called internal links and those are the ones I need

2. do I go like this: link: name of my site

correct?

[smallcompany]

1. Those are external links

2. link:example.com

[amythepoet]

ok and what do I need? internal or external links?

The Internal links would be ones going from pages within my site to other pages within my site, correct?

[leadegroot]

both are important
- internal links (between pages on your site) are easy because you control them completely
- external links (from pages on other sites to pages on your site) are harder because you have to convince someone to put them there.
Internal links are useful (and only a fool doesn't create them)
External links are vital

[amythepoet]

Yup, now the external links , I see are vital, I have many of those too but they are reciprocal for the most part. Is that good?

It is hard for me to find one way links, I have found some, but I have been at for weeks and if if could get some direction as to where to find them, reputable ones, that would be wonderful. I'm at a loss here

[leadegroot]

A current thread may be useful:
[webmasterworld.com ]

[amythepoet]

great, thank you, what about reciprocal links, are they dead in the water now?

[leadegroot]

Not completely, but if they are the only type of link you have, and they are blatantly 'here is my links page' links then... they won't return much value and it might be a small flag, if you have anything else to also set off flags...

[amythepoet]

so a little bit of both I would guess would be ok, all of my reciprocal links are on target and these one way link directories so far are garbage or they take place in india and I am in the states and they look like garbage, I need help hee and fast

[piatkow]

what about reciprocal links, are they dead in the water now?

Links aren't intended for manipulating page rank, they exist to benefit your visitors by taking them to related content when they are finished on your site. I have always found reciprocal links good sources of traffic in their own right, below Google but on a par with Bing or Yahoo. That will vary by subject area of course.

[amythepoet]

That's what I thought, that if the links are a good benefit to my visitors then I should use them, so I will. and the same goes with linking to 1 way directories if they are not on target with my category then why link to them? Also, they are poorly done , full of popups and sometimes it is hard even to tell whee to link to. it's an abomination in my opinion.