301 Redirects ok?

phochief · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 01:46 PM

When I opened my ecommerce store about a year ago, I also registered variations of my domain name (in case someone accidentally typed "mydomain.net" instead of "mydomain.com")

All of the extra domains have 301 redirects to my store's actual domain name. Will this hurt me at all in Google SERPs?

Thanks,
David

DMC_34 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 01:51 PM

This is a common practice. If they are 301's then no they will not hurt.

DMC

phochief · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMC_34

This is a common practice. If they are 301's then no they will not hurt.

DMC

Ok....I just checked directnic where I have these domains registered to see what they said about their redirects. Apparently they only offer two types of redirects; one that is contained within a framed page, and the other using 302 redirect. Neither of which I should probably be using. I've written them asking if they can do a 301 redirect.

When I did a server header check, I got a 302 on a couple of the domain names, and only a "200 OK" on most of them.

I suppose I'd be better off just removing the redirect altogether if they can't do a 301 right?

My website has a Google PR5, but I'm no where to be found in the SERPs, although all of my pages are indexed. Would an improper redirect affect my SERPs or would it only cause a possible ban from Google?

Thanks,
David

DMC_34 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 05:39 PM

The 302's will hurt if they SE's get ahold of them as they will find duplicate content. I would try to get 301's in place

DMC

jaldridge · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 05:50 PM

I don't think the 302s will hurt the rankings. What I have found with duplicate content is that the original site is the one that gets the full credit and the new sites, with the same content, just don't rank. Why would 302s affect the rankings of the original site? Am I missing something?

alienzhavelanded · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phochief

Ok....I just checked directnic where I have these domains registered to see what they said about their redirects.

If directnic is not your host (Which is probably true since I've never heard of a host that don't allow you to do 301 redirects) and just the place you registered your domain names, then just point your extra domains to your host's name servers and use an .htaccess file. Your registrar is not going to be able to fix the problem for you.