Are you a website owner trying to decide between using a www or non-www domain? While a non-www domain may seem simpler and easier to remember, it has some significant drawbacks compared to a www domain.
One of the main benefits of using a www domain is that it can help avoid the possibility of split page ranking or split inbound links and duplicate content. This can significantly improve your site’s search engine optimization (SEO) and help you rank higher on search engine results pages.
However, if you’ve already established a non-www URL for your site, don’t worry – redirecting it to a www URL is a simple process that can improve your site’s performance and SEO. Here are two different methods to do so:
Method 1: Using htaccess file
To redirect non-www to www URLs using the htaccess file, add the following code to your htaccess file:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www.
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L]This code tells your server to redirect any non-www URLs to the equivalent www URL, using a 301 redirect.
Method 2: Using DNS Settings
Another way to redirect non-www to www URLs is by using your DNS settings. First, go to your domain registrar and add a CNAME record for www.yourdomain.com that points to your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com). Then, go to your hosting provider and set up a redirect from your non-www URL to your www URL.
While using a non-www domain may seem convenient, it can have some drawbacks that can impact your site’s performance and SEO. For instance, it lacks overload protection, and visitors may have a hard time accessing your site during server overloads. Search engines also treat non-www and www as separate sites, requiring distinct SEO strategies.
Additionally, using a www URL allows you to restrict cookies to the root domain or a specific subdomain, reducing the number of HTTP requests and improving the website’s performance.
In conclusion, while the choice between using a www or non-www domain may seem like a small one, it can have a significant impact on your site’s performance and SEO. If you’re already using a non-www URL, don’t worry – it’s easy to redirect to a www URL and enjoy the benefits that come with it.
