Preferred domain (www or non-www)

thenewoc · 4 May 2012 at 20:44

Hi, I just wondered what peoples thoughts were on setting up a domain name in terms of it being indexed by search engines.

i.e. does one of the following seem more acceptable to people?

example.com

www.example.com

SoapSurgeon · 4 May 2012 at 20:51

I point the root domain to the www subdomain - I just prefer it as www.mydomain.com

Longbow · 4 May 2012 at 21:07

Search engine wise it doesn't matter which one you use, as long as you only use one and redirect the other.

I prefer just http://example.com. The www subdomain is pointless.

thenewoc · 4 May 2012 at 21:17

So 1 for each so far.

I know they both achieve the same thing, just wondered whether one would seem more acceptable to you if you saw it listed in search engine results or written on a business card etc. I know the naked version is more modern, lifehacker.com uses that version but wasn't sure if it was too modernist, the www version has been in use longer and the more natural expectation.

AGD · 4 May 2012 at 22:16

www is deprecated - I wouldn't bother with it personally.

m4rkw7 · 5 May 2012 at 12:55

AGD said:
www is deprecated - I wouldn't bother with it personally.

Only people that can't use computers type the www's in! All browsers enter them for you if needed.

GravyMonster · 5 May 2012 at 14:41

All browsers enter them for you if needed.

Not quite true, the non www URL will redirect to www.site.com. The browser doesn't do this.

Personally I prefer http://site.com, and redirect the www's. It's completely pointless convention.