'Best Practice' for Multiple Redirects
-
-
- Terp
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1720
- Thanks: 23
-
While checking my Google Webmaster Tool account, I noticed that one of my domains was no longer "verified" by Google, though I had set this account up some time ago, used the 'upload verification method,' and all was well.
So I went in to verify it again, and Mr. G asserted that:
Verification status: NOT VERIFIED
Google began following the redirect but was directed to the same URL more than once. Check to make sure that your redirects don't point to themselves.
The redirect language raised some flags.
The domain in question is a .org using no redirects whatsoever; the DNS is pointed directly to my reseller account.
I do, however, have 4 other varients of this domain (i.e., the .net, the .info, the .net, etc) being redirected to the .org.
Originally, I used the GoDaddy domain manager (since I manage my domains and domain purchases through Godaddy) to simply add a redirect to the .org and awaited propogation...all worked well EXCEPT the .com, which never redirected. (I am using 301 redirects, btw).
I struggled for weeks to get the .com to redirect using this method, but to no avail, so I pointed the DNS to my host, removed the GoDaddy redirect, added a redirect domain using cPanel, and finally got it to work; all domains are now pointing to the .org.
Therefore, though everything is seemingly working well, I question the message Google returns when I try to verify the .org and wondering if there are limitations to the number of redirects, a 'best practice' for managing redirects, and how everyone else goes about pulling this off.
Rarely have I had an idea good enough to buy the full spectrum of .com/.net/etc domains, so I am in unchartered redirect territory. I would have just assumed my way was okay, but Mr. G already doesn't like redirects, so having an infinate loop going on that prevents Google from verifying the site is troubling.
-
-
-
- Thomas Barber
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 26
- Thanks: 0
- Graphic & Web Design; Specializing in Customized Themes for Joomla
-
Never mind 301 and meta redirects, that's not the solution here. Undo all of that. The solution here is to properly park your additional domains on your main domain.
Domain pointers allow you to "point" or "park" additional domain names to your existing hosting account. This will allow users to also reach your website when entering the "parked" or "pointed" domain into their browsers.
HINT: Domains must be registered with a valid registrar before they can be parked. In addition, they will not be functional unless they are configured to point to your DNS servers.
So, long story short, all you do is park all the other domains on the main domain tld.
Example:
Main Domain & TLD = yourdomain.com
Parked Domains & TLD's = yourdomain.net, yourdomain.info & yourdomain.org
Three Simple Steps:
1.) Simply go to your main domain's cpanel and click on "parked domains".
2.) Add the domains you wish to park or point to your main domain.
3.) Make sure your DNS is configured to point to you main domain servers.
Once those three steps are done, you can ping the search engines and let them crawl the MAIN domain again.
PLEASE NOTE: There is no need to verify each domain as they all work off the main domain now.
-or-
Re-verify your main site with Google (although I wouldn't recommend this as it's basically starting over and you may lose page ranking for forcing Google too much- hard to say without knowing their absolute algorithm).
I hope I explained this clearly enough. - Last Edit: 16 years 2 months ago by Thomas Barber.
-
904labs
powerful concepts. creative designs.
-
-
-
- Terp
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1720
- Thanks: 23
-
Thanks again, Tom!
I will digest this over a pot of coffee and start to set it up right. Given that I have always used GoDaddy as the registrar, I never used 'parked sites,' as GoDaddy likes to add all their spam/affiliate links to your parked sites, so have using redirects all along...though I understand Mr. G doesn't like them. And never used the 'parked site' feature in cPanel before, either, migrating over from asnp.net hosts that have never afforded me that luxury.
The only thing I am not understanding is how the 'parked site' redirects; this is by design and the normal functionality of parked sites set with cPanel? I'll play around with it and it's intuitive enough that I should be able to figure it out, though.
Thanks again, sir.
[edit] Okay, after 2 seconds of looking at the 'parked site' settings using cPanel, I've answered the follow question and see what's going on now...good stuff, Tom.
-
-
-
- Thomas Barber
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 26
- Thanks: 0
- Graphic & Web Design; Specializing in Customized Themes for Joomla
- Yes, it really is that simple. No need to figure out how the redirection is happening, it's all automated once you've parked it on your main domain. cPanel is awesome and I'm glad to hear you're using that now. It will make life a lot easier for you in the wonderful world of hosting and site management. So from here on out, no need to use GoDaddy for anything more than updating DNS info.
-
904labs
powerful concepts. creative designs.
-
-
-
- Terp
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1720
- Thanks: 23
-
...and using a 'parked domain' (domain pointer) is okay with Mr. G? I did some cursory reading before I flicked the 301 switch and I thought 301 is the way to go, which is why I asked...or perhaps the parked domain route is considered a 301 redirect? The more I think, the more confused I get.
...and no 'duplicate content' issues arise with this method?
-
-
-
- Thomas Barber
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 26
- Thanks: 0
- Graphic & Web Design; Specializing in Customized Themes for Joomla
-
Well here's the best answer to that: I don't know Google's absolute algorithm for SEO.
The only other thing I can tell you is, Google will pick up if you're purposely using and abusing domain parking if say, you're using 100 different domains to point to the one you're trying to drive traffic towards. If that's what you're trying to do, no need in over thinking it, you'll be penalized no matter what.
As far as duplicated content is concerned, well, the parked domains will virtually be identical content, but so long as you're not trying to tell Google it is an independent site that you're trying to validate, they shouldn't penalize you.
Which is a long way of me telling you what I did earlier, don't validate each and every domain, just the main domain, that way you shouldn't get hit with any identical content issues from Google. What they're essentially trying to tell you is, hey, you've already validated a site just like this, no need to do it again, you're forcing us to duplicate what has already been validated. -
904labs
powerful concepts. creative designs.
-
Time to create page: 0.082 seconds