Forum Moderators: phranque
1. www.keyword1-keyword2.com
2. www.companyname.com
I would like to know the impact of redirecting www.keyword1-keyword2.com to www.companyname.com via a host cname. The redirect would not mask the url.
The reason I am thinking about this is based on link text. Would i get a boost on keywords by having www.keyword1-keyword2.com as the link text from sites that link to me. Most of the sites only put the url in the link text and not keywould i would like them to use? Would the two keywords in the domain name flow through as keyword in the link text even though when the domain name is resolved it would be www.companyname.com
Any thoughts on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott
I've never fooled with CNAME records or redirected multiple domains to the same content so I can't comment with any authority... But I have a nagging feeling that you could earn a duplicate content penalty this way.
Does anyone have a REAL answer? ;)
>> REAL answer
I'll try, but it seems there's more than one question, so there's probably more than one answer as well ;)
>> host cname
Now, is that a CNAME DNS record or is it something else, like a cpanel redirect or something? I assume that it is a DNS CNAME, correct me if i'm wrong.
>> CNAME
With a CNAME alias, both domains will show the same content. You need to be aware that what you are doing is essentially constructing a duplicate [google.com] website. Furter, it's not only two duplicates, it's probably four, as www and non-www versions count as separate sites too (although two subdomains is a minor concern, compared to two domain names).
>> The redirect would not mask the url.
I'm not sure i understand that sentence. A CNAME is essentially an alias to another domain name. This means that when you enter any of those two URLs in your browser you will see the same content, the URL will just be different. I gess you can call that "unmasked".
>> Would the two keywords in the domain name flow through as keyword in the link text
Yes, if the keywords are used in the anchor text, which they will be if people link to you using the keyword domain name.
However, if people link to your site using two different URLs, you will waste some of the incoming link power. You could have, say, one domain with two incoming links in stead of two domains with one incoming link each. The one with two links would be stronger than the two with one link each.
>> even though when the domain name is resolved it would be www.companyname.com
The whole idea about a CNAME is that the same web server can serve more than one address. Your A record might be pointing your companyname.com to an IP, so it's right that that is the "proper" domain for the site, but Your CNAME record will make your keyword domain an alias to domainname.com.
Ask for "coke" or ask for "coca-cola" and you will get the same soft drink. What counts is what will end up being in the address line of the browser - with a CNAME record, both domains will show up.
>> Any thoughts on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
In stead of making a duplicate site, and possibly harming yourself, you should choose one of the two domains and stick with that. If you are convinced that your keyword URL is better for you, you should change your companyname.com to keyword-url. If not, or if in doubt, then don't. This is not something you just do for an easy win, without realizing that it has potential risks if not done 100% right.
Oh, and even when you do it right, it's not like it's something that is done in a day or so - it can easily take a month or more before the changes are reflected in the serps, and during that month all kinds of odd things may happen if that 100% is just a little bit lower than that.
But, let's cut the smalltalk and get to the action. If you do so, make sure you set up a 301 redirect so that all incoming requests for pages at both domains will always end at one URL only. This thread will show you how: Site change of URL [webmasterworld.com]
