New Google Webmaster Tools | What’s Up?
First let me explain that I have no real issue with Google. I use so many of their free services that I cannot complain, but I have to ask for help on this one. :~)
Recently I moved my domain from www.thejimgaudet.com to thejimgaudet.com and also moved the blog to the root of the domain. I tested all my back links from social media sites like Mixx, Digg and Reddit to make sure the transition went smoothly, and everything was looking good.
Now one last thing
Google Webmaster Tools
Using GWT you can change your “Preferred Domain” so that you do not get caught with duplicate content. I was setup for WWW, but now I need to change to NON-WWW, here comes my problem…
Using the new GWT it seems pretty simple to change this setting (it was in the old version). You can see from this picture that I have the proper domain setup;
Form there you click on your domain, find Site Configuration and then click on Settings.
From here it seems pretty simple, just select the NON-WWW domain and click Save. Then comes this message, no problem let’s go check that out.
First thing I notice is that is reads “verify www.thejimgaudt.com” but I have already setup the 301 redirects and I do not know if I should take them out. Anyway, I head back to the main GWT page to verify the site and I see this;
As you can see, this tells me nothing about re-verifying my website, so I am forced to click the changing verification method link. Using this method I get a 404 (Oops!) error from Google.
Help Me!
Does anyone know how to fix this? Here is my trouble; Google has my sitemap which has 889 urls in it, while there are only 94 urls in the index. There used to be the correct amount.
Am I just paranoid and Google will catch up? I hope so..
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They’ll catch up eventually. Might take a few days/week.
As for verifying…seems like you’d have to shut off the apache redirect, re-verify, then turn it back on…have you tried throwing the verification file in and seeing if it picks it up at the non-www?
P.S. Digging the new design here.
Cool, I was hoping it would catch up. My new posts are ranking pretty well, but my old ones that use to rank well are not, obviously.. I am going to wait a couple days then change my redirect for the verification. I did try putting in the verification file, but no go. Was kind of hoping by putting GWT in the title I would get someone over at G-Town to see it with their alerts. :)
Thanks on the design. I want to change my name to a nice logo, but don’t have the skill at the moment (I never like what I try). Notice I put in Yankee Blue for the header though!
Oh yeah, my whole idea on the site was to be valid and fast. Removed a lot of plugins…Still have some cleaning to do though..
Wish I could help you on this one…I really like the new design though!
Thanks, trying for SPEED..
Can’t help you with this.. but remember Breathe Google
Speedy. Must of added memory.
Speed is awesome. And your new site is plenty fast. Loads right up. I try to keep my plugins low too but they have a tendency to pile up, eh?
As for webmasters…I’m a bit baffled now that I’m trying to enforce the www within GWT for a client. If memory serves right, it didn’t use to be this way, GWT assumed that since you own www, you also own the non-www and vice versa. Odd and annoying.
I have been kind of addicted to plugins. I loved Woopra, but I couldn’t stand not seeing DONE down below.
Yeah, I still haven’t had any updates. I am going to wait until this weekend and if nothing then I will try to remove my redirects.
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Just make sure your Webmaster tools don’t conflict with what you’re trying to do. Google is pretty smart and can usually figure out what it is you want to do.
If you have 301 redirects to thejimgaudet.com Google will follow those directives, that’s what the code 301 is for. It tells Google, this is what I want you to permanently remember.
It’s just like a sitemap. It’s good to submit one, but by default Google figures your site out pretty well without one.
UPDATE:
As Adam was saying my old posts are finally linking and my sitemap is getting back to normal.Still slow, but getting there. Today I had to change my .HTACCESS file to stop redirecting the NON-WWW and then added the WWW site into GWT. Once I did that I RE-VERIFIED the site.After I re-verified I was able to change my Preferred Domain to the NON-WWW with no problems.
I am back on track…
Hey Jim, I figured out another workaround for the GWT issue. All you have to do is add both urls as separate sites under GWT, it’ll ask you to place the verification tag (which should be the same as the first one). Once verified, you should be able to go into the main domain and set the preferred URL!
@adam : Sweet, now that I think of it I should have just tried that in the first place. Thanks for the update.
Oh no you lost your comments and I was going to check on some info I left here! Damn you Disqus, damn you!
Damn, really. I will have to check that out. Thanks!
Damn, really. I will have to check that out. Thanks!