Webmaster tools wants you to setup 4 sites
Even though you are not using three of them. Several weeks back we brought you the story of setting up HTTPS for a ranking boost. In that video and accompanyingblog post I take you through the steps. This week Google has started sending messages in webmaster tools about setting up all the different versions of your site in webmaster tools and setting up the preferred domain as well. What Google does not tell you is that you should redirect (301) three of those sites to one version.
Google never used to be this explicit. Now it’s telling you to setup all four versions of the domain and to setup the preferred version to appear in search results. You can do this under “Site settings”. Google won’t let you do this though unless you have previously setup the www version as well.
Good for SEO
So why is this good for SEO? It ensures you have only one domain that should appear in search (providing you redirect the others). This is interesting as “setting the preferred domain” has never been a big deal before. As far as I was concerned it was more aesthetic than functional. For instance I have never set it up for this site but because I had everything redirected properly Google has never shown the www version of the site.
SEO Webinar
Finally today I’ll be doing an SEO webinar on the 30th of October at 11AM AEST (GMT+11) https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6070785589126366721 PLaces will be limited so don’t forget to book.
Jim’s been here for a while, you know who he is.
