12 replies to this topic

[nedesign]

I notice a few familiar faces in here (jill) of people who helped me when I was a search engine newbie not long ago. I still am under the huge learning curve but am getting good advice and learning a few things every day.

Anyhow, I am having a major issue with page rank. I was in the top ten in google when you do a search for "rain barrel" or "rain barrels" for weeks until Google did a bad thing. It dropped my back linked URL [with the www in front] for the non back linked one ( [without the www ]| Result: I completely lost my page position and now google only lists ne-design.net

My question is:

1) Why do I find little information on this when it appears to be a huge issue?

2) What can I do about it, I have been told that a 301 redirect from the one [without the www to the one with the www] won’t work? I have also had to move from Godaddy host to Maxipoint because they could not offer a solution and told me to find another host. I have been emailing other hosts and it looks like there are few/none people who understand what I am talking about. So, I am here...

If someone has the answer to #2 I will give them a big wet kiss! This really is driving me nuts! :tooth:

Edited by Jill, 22 October 2003 - 08:12 AM.

[bwelford]

Welcome to the Forum, nedesign.

I believe others on this Forum have had problems with godaddy.com I can't answer your question but I would like to piggyback another question on it. A host for one of my client's has used a 302 redirect for a permanent switch of domains from www.olddomain.com to www.newdomain.com. It seems to be working fine.

A 302 redirect is intended for a temporary redirection, I believe. Please could someone enlighten us on any advantages/disadvantages of a 302 redirect versus a 301 redirect.

[Jill]

Welcome, nedesign!

We recently discussed this situation here.

Hope that helps!

Jill

[nedesign]

Thanks Jill, it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I spent all weekend looking for answers when all I needed to do was ask the people here who know best.

Great forum!

-Aaron

[Please only use big colored fonts for emphasis. Edited. - Jill]

Edited by Jill, 22 October 2003 - 08:40 AM.

[Tenyque]

1) Why do I find little information on this when it appears to be a huge issue?

Info on Google messing up the www. and nosubdomain mirrors is out there, and it seems to be growing. But you have to realize that many aren't as astute as you in noticing that Google has picked up the nonwww site, and may jump to a panic about being penalised or banned. Or, more likely methinks, not ever notice. And then there's the lack of shared terminology.. (blah blah blah, drones on)

2) What can I do about it, I have been told that a 301 redirect from ne-design.net to www.ne-design.net won’t work?..

I'm not sure the person's experience in saying it wouldn't work, but it is contradictory to my own. Setting up a "smart" 301 redirect that redirects any page requested on ne-design.net to it's respective counterpart on www. should go a long ways towards speeding up Google fixing your fragmentation problem.

On another note, when looking at your web site to help out it seemed like Google was assigning your homepage a DMOZ category, which can sometimes be a culprit in creating fragments. When I looked over the DMOZ category listings though I couldn't find your site. If you have other domains acting as mirrors you may want to also consider setting up 301's on them.

Barry,

As you say the 302 is only for temporary redirection, but seems to work fine. I agree, though have seen the rare exception. Anecdotally, my guess is that Google probably tries to give it the same amount of respect as a 301 because so many web developers use 302's as opposed to the correct 301's when moving files on the server. Because of those rare exceptions where I've seen a page just changed to a 302 hand around longer in the index then a 301, and because the 301 tells the spider more explicitly that "this page is really here now, update your database please" I've always opted for using 301's.

[Jill]

Glad to help, Aaron!

Jill

[nedesign]

Tenyque~ It really does amaze me that people who care about page rank and position do not notice this. My question is, is it a Godaddy related issue or does this happen to everyone?

There seems to be many opinions on this, I wish that one of you would study it and come to a final conclusion then add it to the "Top Ten SEO Things To Do" list. Shouldn't it be in the top ten?

I'm interested in seeing if it repairs my rank and position. I still can't figure out why it doesn't happen to everyone.

Thanks Jill, ready for that big wet kiss I promised?

[Tenyque]

I don't think it is a GoDaddy issue, anyone who has a "mirror" (my meaning: an exact replica of a page hosted under two or possible URLs) of their site is at risk for Google indexing both mirrors - even a mirror as common and innocent as the www. and straight domain name situation unfortunately. Backlinks and DMOZ listings seem to be the major culprits in why Google may think the mirrors are two different sites. Google picking up a mirror can result in poorer spidering, fragmentation of the site (where certain pages are on one domain, but not the other, vice-versa), and fractured link popularity - I hope everything gets straightened out for you nedesign!

[nedesign]

Backlinks and DMOZ listings seem to be the major culprits in why Google may think the mirrors are two different sites.

You know what the strange thing is, I just got DMOZ to list me as www.ne-design.net not long ago you think the opposite would happen. I only have two links left pointing to the non www URL and they do not have high page rank.

It is damn frustrating I tell you, haven't sold a single rain barrel since my page rank and position dropped.

Can people complain to Google successfully when something like this happens?

[Jill]

Aaron, how do you know that this is what the problem is? If your PageRank and position dropped it might be something altogether different. Have you thought about other things that might be wrong with your site?

Once you become an active member here (minimum 10 posts) feel free to post a site review in that category of the forum.

Jill

[nedesign]

I am hurrying to get those ten posts so here is another.

I'm pretty sure my site is optimized pretty good, as I said a reached top ten for "rain barrel" and "rain barrels" then google indexed as ne-design.net and the hit the fan. I'm pretty sure I didn't change anything major.

BUT I would love that, advice is what got me to top ten.

-Aaron

[Tenyque]

Can people complain to Google successfully when something like this happens?

I'm not sure, but it seems like they would appreciate your situation as an example. They could possibly make some modifications to the algorithm/spidering and fix this happenstance for your own and other sites out there. Consider doing a search on your domain name and clicking the Help us Improve link at the bottom of the page.

[nedesign]

I'm not sure, but it seems like they would appreciate your situation as an example. They could possibly make some modifications to the algorithm/spidering and fix this happenstance for your own and other sites out there. Consider doing a search on your domain name and clicking the Help us Improve link at the bottom of the page.

Good idea here is what I wrote:

Hello,



My name is Aaron and I started a thread in a forum that will describe the issue I am having with your search engine. I can’t seem to find much about it but it appears to be an increasing problem.



Please take the time to read the thread at: http://www.highranki...t=0



I would appreciate a email response when you get a free moment,



Thanks,



Aaron F. Pratt



Affordable Rain Barrel

by New England Design



100 Priest Street

Leominster, MA 01453

Owner: Aaron F. Pratt

Phone: (978)840-0145

Fax: (775)628-4325

Cell: (978)790-1816

E-mail: aaron@ne-design.net

Web: http://www.ne-design.net