Google Webmaster tools issue

[Rich]

in Google webmaster tools, a couple of my websites are somehow listed
twice. The first is the correct url prefixed with "www", the second is
the same url prefixed without.

The stats are completely different, so I guess Google is looking at 2
versions.

How can I correct this? I'm thinking duplicate content issues etc

--
Rich
http://www.rhodes-pefkos.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-lardos.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-kolymbia.co.uk

[Jez]

Post by Rich
in Google webmaster tools, a couple of my websites are somehow listed
twice. The first is the correct url prefixed with "www", the second is
the same url prefixed without.
The stats are completely different, so I guess Google is looking at 2
versions.
How can I correct this? I'm thinking duplicate content issues etc
--
Rich
http://www.rhodes-pefkos.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-lardos.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-kolymbia.co.uk

Rich,

Can can specify in WMT what you want google to look at - www or non. Or,
you can redirect via htaccess to either www or non.

You are correct, you need to sort it out.

Jez.

[gbb]

Post by Rich
How can I correct this?

1. Log in to (or create) your Google Webmaster account for the domain
in question.

2. Under "settings" for that domain, there's an option called
"Preferred domain" where you can tell Google how to consider you
website; i.e, "www.example.com" or "example.com".

Also, if you're on a *nix server, you'll want to put the following
into your .htaccess file:

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example\.com [nc]
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

[John Bokma]

Post by gbb

Post by Rich
How can I correct this?

1. Log in to (or create) your Google Webmaster account for the domain
in question.
2. Under "settings" for that domain, there's an option called
"Preferred domain" where you can tell Google how to consider you
website; i.e, "www.example.com" or "example.com".
Also, if you're on a *nix server, you'll want to put the following
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example\.com [nc]
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

*PLEASE* do not use this, use the other way around. There is no need for
www, and it's annoying as hell.

There is also no need for the nc flag, since a domain name is *always*
lowercase, nor is there anything trailing after it, so I recommend:

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^example\.com$
RewriteRule (.*) http://example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

which means: if HOST is /not/ example.com, then redirect to example.com

[Rich]

Post by John Bokma

Post by gbb

Post by Rich
How can I correct this?

1. Log in to (or create) your Google Webmaster account for the domain
in question.
2. Under "settings" for that domain, there's an option called
"Preferred domain" where you can tell Google how to consider you
website; i.e, "www.example.com" or "example.com".
Also, if you're on a *nix server, you'll want to put the following
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example\.com [nc]
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

*PLEASE* do not use this, use the other way around. There is no need for
www, and it's annoying as hell.
There is also no need for the nc flag, since a domain name is *always*
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^example\.com$
RewriteRule (.*) http://example.com/$1 [R=301,L]
which means: if HOST is /not/ example.com, then redirect to example.com

John,

I follow your posts and respect your views, so I'm intrigued. Everyone
types "www", well everyone in my crowd does!

Are you saying it's wrong to cater for www people?

--
Rich
http://www.rhodes-pefkos.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-lindos.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-faliraki.co.uk
http://www.rhodes-lardos.co.uk

[John Bokma]

[snip]

Post by Rich

Post by John Bokma
*PLEASE* do not use this, use the other way around. There is no need for
www, and it's annoying as hell.
There is also no need for the nc flag, since a domain name is *always*
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^example\.com$
RewriteRule (.*) http://example.com/$1 [R=301,L]
which means: if HOST is /not/ example.com, then redirect to example.com

John,
I follow your posts and respect your views,

Thanks Rich ;-)

Post by Rich
so I'm intrigued. Everyone types "www", well everyone in my crowd
does!
Are you saying it's wrong to cater for www people?

No, no, not at all, just redirect www.example.com to example.com. People
who type the www will still get the site, and a shorter URL. There is
really no need for the www-subdomain.

The cond + rule I gave is: if HTTP_HOST doesn't match example.com
redirect to example.com. If you have subdomain wildcard it also works
for ww.example.com, wwww.example.com, foo.example.com, etc. All are
redirected to example.com.

[www.1-script.com]

responding to
http://www.1-script.com/forums/Google-Webmaster-tools-issue-article57825--1.htm

Post by Rich
How can I correct this? I'm thinking duplicate content issues etc

It's really a no-issue other than it clutters your interface. Definitely
no duplicate content issue unless, of course you can open your website
through both www and non-www URLs and they both work instead of 301 to the
canonical version. But that has nothing to do with WMT.

In fact, having both www and non-www versions of your domain name verified
in WMT may come very handy if you are moving the site to another domain
name - found it out a hard way when because of 301 redirects it was
impossible to verify the non-www version yet it was needed for the name
change.

Other than this special case, it makes no difference if you have both
versions in WMT

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

[www.GymRatZ.co.uk]

Post by Rich
in Google webmaster tools, a couple of my websites are somehow listed
twice. The first is the correct url prefixed with "www", the second is
the same url prefixed without.
The stats are completely different, so I guess Google is looking at 2
versions.
How can I correct this? I'm thinking duplicate content issues etc

I noticed this pop up 3 or 4 days ago.
Under tools you decide which one you want google to "display" and if you
read further it also explains why there is no data for the "new" listing.
My shock was at the "labs" report on webmaster tools. the non-www "new"
listing appears to be way faster however it is also explained that due
to insufficient data points it should not be considered a true
reflection of site speed.

Google just tidying things up their end I guess.