SEO and domain aliases.

[gm66]

Hi all,

got my first client who uses domain aliasing, .com and .uk versions point to same host.

I think i should advise him to use a 301 redirect as i notice G is ranking both site versions.

Not had a client with a domain alias before, am i thinking straight ?


Cheers,

Gary.

[gm66]

The .co.uk (not .uk as typo'd above) version is the real domain name but the .com alias is outranking it on half of the search-terms.

So if i kill the alias and point the .com to the .co.uk we'll lose those rankings.

Grrr.

[littleman]

My vote is to 301 over the .com to the .co.uk if the site is based in the UK.  I would do this particularly if the sites are mirrors of each other.

[gm66]

Thanks LM looks like best option to me also.

[Rupert]

ditto.

But I would first check the back links on each.  If the .com is a lot stronger, use that one.  plenty of people in the Uk use .com for their business.

it might be difficult to shift the links over to the .co.uk, and a redirect is never a perfect solution.  you would ideally want the links going to the actual domain for best results. 

[gm66]

Thanks Rupert, very few links to the .com so all good

[gm66]

Redirects all done, waiting for change.

He wants to have multiple aliases for different but related domains, is having multiple aliases harmful ?

I didn't like the fact his .com was outranking the .co.uk so i'd rather park the other domains, seems safer.


Cheers,

Gary.

[Adam C]

generally sensible to have the secondary domains 301 to the primary one.

If your client is insistent on the site rendering on multiple domains, you could make use of absolute referenced canonical tags, referencing the primary domain on all URLs.

e.g. at http://www.secondary-alias-example.co.uk/pagex/

<link rel="canonical" href="http://www.yourprimarydomain.co.uk/pagex/" />

[gm66]

Talked him into 301s, ranking of .co.uk good now, thanks for advice.


Cheers,

Gary.