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    Index page showing as /index.html

    Hi,

    Just hoping someone can help out and shine a light on an issue I'm having.

    I've had a couple of SEO companies point out that our home page is showing in two ways, namely:

    http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/

    and

    http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/index.html.

    Now I know that the URL .co.uk is reading the index.html, but I'm being told that it is incorrect that the .co.uk/index.co.uk is showing up, in the browser.

    The SEO report states:

    Reverse IP Check
    In order to prevent issues associated with duplicate content further, we have performed a reverse IP check on your site to see if there are any additional URLs with duplicate content on the same server.

    # Duplicate Site URL
    1 http://thegardensuperstore.co.uk

    Issues and comments
    There is 1 duplicate site. This site should be permanently redirected to the core domain.

    I think it should have actually shown the .co.uk/index.html as the duplicate.

    I have gone onto a couple of other actinic/sellerdeck sites and when I try to type in the .co.uk/index.html URL they all fail to show the page. On our site the page loads.

    I'm guessing then that I have something wrong on our site. Wether I need to make a change in Sellerdeck or on the server I'm unsure. I have had conflicting information on this.

    Has anyone else had any experience of this? I'd be most grateful for a pointer or two!

    Many thanks,

    Dan
    The Garden Superstore - No1 for Plant Pots and Gardening Supplies.

    #2
    Hi Dan,

    You can alter what shows in the browser address bar by doing a redirect on whatever pages you like using a file called .htaccess in the web root of your shop

    You can create this file yourself if it doesn't already exist, or you can edit the contents to achieve the desired effect. You may also have options in your host Control Panel to help you do this

    I have seen Actinic sites in the past which display the full url with the 'index.html' extension - it all depends how the site is set up, and on the webmaster's preference. I don't think that's a major issue, although I stand to be corrected?

    I think the duplicate referred to in your own case may be as follows:

    http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/

    http://thegardensuperstore.co.uk/ (i.e. with www prefix omitted)

    You can again use an .htaccess file to redirect one to the other, which this time I feel would be beneficial

    Comment


      #3
      Hi Paul,

      Thanks very much for that.

      I think I may have had my head too close to the paper and over thought this, missing the obvious!

      I was aware that I can create a .htaccess file but was just concerned that other sites seemed to show naturally, probably without having a redirect on. However, it was good to hear that you've seen other sites with this.

      Thanks for also picking up the http:// duplicate. I completely missed the point there I think! Thank goodness for a fresh pair of eyes!

      I'll definately setup a redirect for that. Just don't know how that would have happened.

      Thanks again Paul, much appreciated.

      Dan
      The Garden Superstore - No1 for Plant Pots and Gardening Supplies.

      Comment


        #4
        You're more than welcome, Dan

        It's entirely your choice as to whether you use the www or non-www address for your site. The main thing is to stick with your selection, and ensure that all your links point back to the same prefix. This will optimise your ranking.

        Personally I feel the shorter version is the more modern approach. In the early days of the net it used to be more common to include the prefix, but now that everyone is more or less web savvy you don't tend to hear or see the www so much. Removing it makes your web address shorter and snappier.

        In fact, nowadays with modern browsers and servers you can access most sites without typing the prefix anyway... try it and see!

        Comment


          #5
          Hi Paul,

          Thanks for that. For the time being I'll think I'll stick with the www. version, one thing at a time I think!

          I've setup a 301 redirect with "redirect 301 http://thegardensuperstore.co.uk http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/", however this doesn't seem to work.

          The .htaccess file is sitting literally just above the index file, and has loads of other redirects, where I've changed web page names etc.

          I just can't seem to redirect this page. Do I need anything special from a non www page to a www page?

          Thanks again,

          Dan
          The Garden Superstore - No1 for Plant Pots and Gardening Supplies.

          Comment


            #6
            Did you switch the Rewrite Engine on first?

            Try the following... be very careful about punctuation, etc... best to just cut and paste!

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

            Also, clear your browser cache, or hold SHIFT or CTRL whilst you reload the page, to view your changes

            Comment


              #7
              Your redirect is working fine now Dan

              Comment


                #8
                Hi Paul,

                To be honest, I was streching the limits of my knowledge!

                I was defiantely clearing the cache previously, but this time I just copied and pasted your code into the .htaccess file and it worked a treat!

                Please accept my sincere thanks and have a pint on me!

                Thanks again Paul.

                Best regards,

                Dan
                The Garden Superstore - No1 for Plant Pots and Gardening Supplies.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Nice one... cheers, make it a Guinness... thanks mate!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Done...Cheers
                    The Garden Superstore - No1 for Plant Pots and Gardening Supplies.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Hi. I have a similar problem but I am struggling to apply the fix suggested above. I admit it is because I am being a bit dim. Any help would be gratefully received.

                      My site is www.secretgardenquilting.co.uk. I am getting 2 sets of duplicates for SEO. The first is the one indicated in earlier posts. Thats is : http://www.secretgardenquilting.co.uk vs. http://secretgardenquilting.co.uk. I would like one to point to the other. The second is index.html. Currently www.secretgardenquilting.co.uk and www.secretgardenquilting.co.uk/index.html are duplicates.

                      I am hosting on sellerdeck servers. I went to look for .htaccess but cannot find it.

                      Is it possible that a kind soul could give me the code i need to put the .htaccess file and where to create the file. I would be most grateful.
                      Tony
                      www.secretgardenquilting.co.uk

                      Comment

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