OK to use domain's root with no content, only for redirection? - Google Search and SEO forum at WebmasterWorld - WebmasterWorld

Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi

Message Too Old, No Replies

OK to use domain's root with no content, only for redirection?

gcan

11:16 am on Oct 23, 2010 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member

Hello,

I have 2 questions.

1) I have a multi domain website. All domains point to the same document root.

I need to redirect users depending of their domain

http://domain.com

redirects to

http://domain.com/english/

http://domain.de

redirects to

http://domain.de/deutsch/

http://domain.es

redirects to

http://domain.es/espanol/

I want to know if it's ok for search engines that domain's root will not show any content:

Accessing

http://www.domain.com

will not show any content, it will only redirect to a different folder. I hope you can understand what I mean.

If it's ok for search engines, what is the best method of redirection in this case?

2) I am going to maka some sections of my website search engines friendly.

For example:

http://domain/something.php?id=3&pid=5

I will change to

http://domain.com/something/3-5/

Search engines have already indexed many of my webpages and I wonder what happends if I change my website? Should I redirect all requests to new URLs? If yes, what is the best method? Thanks.

indyank

4:39 pm on Oct 23, 2010 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member

10+ Year Member

1) check out the country level domains that apple has.I think it does what you are saying.

for eg: [apple.com.au...]

Note: Do a google search for the above url and check the URL structure for the sitelinks and the mainlink.You can also verify for other country level domains of apple.

2) Yes, you should redirect and 301 redirection is the best in your case.

indyank

4:49 pm on Oct 23, 2010 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member

10+ Year Member

But then, let me add that if your site is an established one, with lots of pages, then you will have to be careful in making the 301 redirections. Ultimately it is your decision to move to pretty permalinks...

indyank

5:03 pm on Oct 23, 2010 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member

10+ Year Member

As Tedster mentioned in this thread [webmasterworld.com...] , URL structure is not a factor for google (according to google and Matt Cutts)

tedster

7:00 pm on Oct 23, 2010 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member

10+ Year Member

This is one situation where your redirect should use a 302 status, and not a 301. When search engines see a 302 redirect they index the content of the target page under the original URL. This allows your domain root to be indexed with the content of the "real" home page.

I've been involved with several businesses who did this because they were locked into an infrastructure that forced it on them. Their domains were indexed quite well, which quite honestly puzzled me. And then, last year, Google's John Mueller confirmed that 302 was the best practice if you need to redirect the domain root.

indyank

2:47 pm on Oct 24, 2010 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member

10+ Year Member

Ok..I did say that you should use 301 for the second case.

For the first one, it is 302 as Tedster mentioned.

gcan

8:52 am on Oct 26, 2010 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member

thank you very much for your answers.