mars guitars

Hello all,
I've just changed my shop from sub-domain http://shop.marsguitars.co.uk to the main domain http://www.marsguitars.co.uk. (subdomain is still live for old links)
When I use the iwebtool rank checker I get the same (poor!) number for Alexis, but for PR get 0 for the main domain and 1 on the sub-domain. Does google see subdomains as a separate entity?

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Bagi Zoltán

I moved your thread to the Google forum, since i think this better spot for this question.

Answering your question i would say that google threat subdomains as different websites, that is why PR is calculated separatly.

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OldWelshGuy

Are you on an apache server? if so you need to adda 301 redirect match to the subdomain.

Subdomains are just that SUB domains, they are separate domains to your main domain and as such are treated differently.

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mars guitars

Hi, sorry for posting thread in wrong forum - thanks for moving it.

So...
I have my site (a small start-up e-commerce store) with three domains to access it:
http://www.marsguitars.co.uk (which I see as the main one)
http://marsguitars.co.uk
and
http://shop.marsguitars.co.uk

It was originally only on the shop sub-domain, with other content on the other two, but now they all point to the same site.
Is this bad practice?
Does it dilute my Google searches?
I understand the 301-redirect but my site is hosted by 'others' and they seem reluctant to do this. If I don't do this will my site suffer?

It's early days, so I'm tempted just to drop the sub-domain... but I will lose some previously-gained links if I do so.

Thanks in anticipation,
Paul

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Guitar strings and accessories, Rotosound bass strings, Guitar Capos and Guitar Gifts from Mars Guitars UK
. . . .under development.. guitar string guide

OldWelshGuy

When you say 'all point to' I assume you are saying that they are mapped to the same folder on the server. The bad news is that you are using an IIS server which means that an apache redirect is out of the question. Ask the hosting company if they will do a local 'DNS bind' for you on all 3 domains (they might not know what this means but ask them anyhow, AND tell them that the SEo will be checking to make sure it is working properly (this is an anti bullshit trap where they tell you they have done it but haven't, and rely on your ignorance not to know).

#1 Server Response: http://www.marsguitars.co.uk
HTTP Status Code: HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Connection: close
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:08:54 GMT
Server: Microsoft-IIS/6.0
X-Powered-By: ASP.NET

----------------------------

#1 Server Response: http://shop.marsguitars.co.uk
HTTP Status Code: HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Connection: close
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:09:54 GMT
Server: Microsoft-IIS/6.0
X-Powered-By: ASP.NET

----------------------------

#1 Server Response: http://marsguitars.co.uk
HTTP Status Code: HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Connection: close
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:10:39 GMT
Server: Microsoft-IIS/6.0
X-Powered-By: ASP.NET
------------------------

What you need to do do is to bind the www & non www domains into one via 301 redirect match, so that a request on one will deliver the other page. I would recommend using the www. version as that is what most people will naturally link to, although you scan redirect to your strongest (backlink wise) version. The same should be done with your sub domain, although it has to be said that there is nothing wrong with having your store on a sub domain it is just clunky to manage.

They 'should' have ISAPI rewrite on the server and 301'ing is easy peasy with this in place.

Finally head on over to google webmaster tools and set your preferred version for indexing the www and non www versions.

Oh I forgot, FINAL Finally hit that button at the bottom left of my post that looks like a scales, and give me some positive reputation as I am like the poor cousin here LOL

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mars guitars

Many thanks OWG... it's great to get some direct from those who know.

I'll get onto the hosting company and see what they can do.

I've added a +ve to your rep - what does that do for you? Do points mean prizes?

__________________
Guitar strings and accessories, Rotosound bass strings, Guitar Capos and Guitar Gifts from Mars Guitars UK
. . . .under development.. guitar string guide