Use Proper Redirects
When setting up multiple domains such as those mentioned earlier, it’s important that you set up each one properly. Setting up domains improperly can lead to duplicate site/content penalties on the search engines which will ultimately be bad for business.
The best method of setting up multiple URLs is to set up a 301 permanent redirect. The 301 redirect tells the search engine that the URL it is trying to access has been permanently moved to a new location, presumably your main URL. The cool thing is that when a visitor types in the redirecting URL they are automatically flipped to your main site.
Many websites employ on-page JavaScript or meta refresh redirects, or even worse, framed pages pulling in the main site. These methods are effective from the user standpoint but not from the search engine standpoint. The 301 redirect is generally the safest method of redirecting users.
To set-up a 301 redirect you’ll want to talk with your web host, as different servers require different methods if implementation. When redirecting multiple URLs there is a neat little trick that saves hosting fees that you’ll want to use.
- Take one of the redirecting URLs and host it on the cheap. This is the URL that will be set up with the 301 redirect to your main URL.
- Take all your other URLs and park them to point to the URL above.
With this method, you pay for only one additional hosting account ($5 at the most) and all your URLs will automatically flip the visitor and the search engines to your main URL.
Find all posts on Securing a Marketing-Rich Domain Name, or follow the links to previous posts.
Laying the Foundation for a Successful Online Business
Securing a Marketing Rich Domain Name Introduction
Build Your Brand
Secure a .com
Don’t Hyphenate
Spell Words Properly
Multiple Domains: Type In Traffic
Multiple Domains: Misspellings
Multiple Domains: Hyphenated Versions
YourDomainSucks.com