Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi,

Need advice please.  The question is whether or not use www. in our domain name which we`ve had for years.

I`ve been reading about canonical URLs and want to set my domain format preference in Google`s Webmaster Tools.

We chose to drop the "www." because our business name is long and it didn`t seem to add anything. Also, the Webmaster Tools show that with the domain.com format, we have a ton more external links than with www.domain.com

Many prominent companies, including Start Up Nation, Google, MSN and many SEO companies, use "www."  For clarification, we do use www. in printed collateral, on business cards, and videos.

What do you suggest?

Both should work. What is the question here?

Thanks nhgnikole. Both do work. 

Is one format better than the other and why?

it`s really all about preference.

If it`s better without it, then go for it!  It`s the cool thing to do!

Pick one, and start to wean yourself off the other.

If you`ve got more backlinks to the domain.com version, go with that (and set your google sitemap/account to use that version)

Then, be sure to create an htaccess (server file) that redirects all requests for the www to the not-www version (avoid the duplicate content issue)

and over time, as printed materials come up for replacement, change the URL before applying ink to  paper.

Even if people continue to use the www in front, your domain will still resolve in their browsers, so it`ll take time to shift over, but no one will be left behind or locked out.

Appreciate your advice Chris and Mike.

Okay, I`ve started the migration by omitting the www. in my signature block at Start Up Nation. 

Still hoping for a few more gurus to respond to get consensus.