Migrate to https (SEO question)

ionik

Registered Member

Dec 3, 2011

70

13

• Dec 17, 2014

• #1

Hi!

My website is #2 for my main niche. It is ranked as root domain (non-www). Now I am migrating to https and have a chance to redirect it to https://www.mysite.com. Is there any difference if I redirect it to https www or non-www? I am prepared I will lose some rank, but I don't know what to do... Does it even matter?

 

snaip

Junior Member

Oct 3, 2014

114

41

• Dec 17, 2014

• #2

There is no difference if you redirect to www or non-www. If you decide to redirect to www make sure the site works fine

 

Conor

Elite Member

Nov 7, 2012

3,621

6,217

• Dec 17, 2014

• #3

Keep it as non WWW if it's already non WWW.

 

Aty

Elite Member

Jan 27, 2011

7,631

5,301

• Dec 17, 2014

• #4

Treeofl1 said:

Keep it as non WWW if it's already non WWW.

Click to expand...

I would do the same. And I'm pretty sure there's no difference in terms of SEO.

 

Last edited: Dec 17, 2014

lord1027

Elite Member

Sep 20, 2013

3,218

2,342

• Dec 17, 2014

• #5

Treeofl1 said:

Keep it as non WWW if it's already non WWW.

Click to expand...

I don't see any SEO benefits, but I'd also keep it without www if people are already used to it.

 

ionik

Registered Member

Dec 3, 2011

70

13

• Dec 17, 2014
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #6

Ok thank you all. I will stay with non-www.

 

Zwielicht

Elite Member

Aug 31, 2013

21,128

40,601

• Dec 17, 2014

• #7

Yes, keep it as non-www since your website URL needs to remain consistent. Also, www and non-www are considered "2 different domains", so it's best to avoid any issues that could arise from that (especially if your internal links are non-www).

 

Last edited: Dec 17, 2014

FBGuru

Supreme Member

Jr. VIP

Sep 22, 2013

1,209

1,670

• Dec 17, 2014

• #8

ionik said:

I am prepared I will lose some rank, but I don't know what to do... Does it even matter?

Click to expand...

I'd stay with the non-www but you can expect some dancing on your rankings after switching to the https as all the current backlinks will be pointing at the http version. But the benefits of https as a ranking signal will back you up once the shuffle settles down.

 

B

badseed

Newbie

Jan 20, 2011

41

27

• Dec 17, 2014

• #9

I'd also make sure you add the new https version to WM tools and make sure you're redirecting properly.

 

JamesHere

BANNED

Jan 24, 2013

792

703

• Dec 17, 2014

• #10

Keep it on whatever it was on before so it doesn't change.

 

linkchamp

Power Member

Mar 3, 2010

506

174

• Dec 18, 2014

• #11

Better stay without www and if not required don't change it to SSL. Why to take chsnces ?

Posted via Topify on Android

 

ionik

Registered Member

Dec 3, 2011

70

13

• Dec 18, 2014
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #12

I need ssl support for credit cards to work... and I could't redirect just checkout pages to ssl. Site is now on ssl for 2 days and everything is ok, for now. There is also minimal benefit in seo for sites on ssl... maybe within few months even greater...

 

ionik

Registered Member

Dec 3, 2011

70

13

• Dec 19, 2014
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #13

Update! 3 days after migration GWT is showing (on https version of my website) 0.5 spot improvement for my main keyword

 

FBGuru

Supreme Member

Jr. VIP

Sep 22, 2013

1,209

1,670

• Dec 19, 2014

• #14

ionik said:

Update! 3 days after migration GWT is showing (on https version of my website) 0.5 spot improvement for my main keyword

Click to expand...

That's a great news. Don't forget to submit the new sitemap in GWT, if you haven't yet.

 

ionik

Registered Member

Dec 3, 2011

70

13

• Dec 19, 2014
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #15

I never had sitemap for this online store because its on some weird CMS and there is no plugin for sitemap. Maybe someone knows free php sitemap script that will crawl website daily and update sitemap file? I found one script but it was old and didn't work.