2 URLs, 1 site

[dw1973]

I've built a website for someone but the name has a number in it, so to avoid traffic loss they have 2 domain names ie

mysite1.co.uk
mysiteone.co.uk

In my hosting's cpanel both domains point to the same directory.

I've submitted both to google, plus added a sitemap for mysite1 to webmaster tools and it's currently sitting at #1 for the exact search term.

mysiteone currently isn't indexed but if I add a sitemap for it, is google going to recognise duplicate content and bin both sites?

Is there a better way to redirect such as using a 301, but still get indexed for the content?

 

[Systreg]

Make one a microsite leading to the other site, and that way both will get indexed, better than a 301.

 

[dw1973]

Thanks but it's a commercial site in a small niche and a microsite isn't really appropriate.

Both domains need to arrive at the same content, but need to be indexed separately due to the type-in issue over the name.

 

[bensd]

Why do you want them both to be indexed?

 

[dw1973]

Most traffic will be generated via a radio advert and people will probably google it to find the site. As it has 1 (or one) in the name I need google to index both but drive both to one site.

 

[Jeewhizz]

Use a 301 redirect on the secondary domain to the primary

 

[dw1973]

Thanks Jeewhizz, google will be happy with that and index both then?

 

[Jeewhizz]

What google will do is index just hte one site. You do not want it indexing the same site on two domains, because of duplicate content.

Any links google finds that uses the second domain, google will pass the 'juice' over to the primary one

 

[ddwebguru]

I think Google is going to ban the new site for duplicate content issue. I do not get why you have created two different websites for dealing with this trivial issue.

 

[dw1973]

It's not a trivial issue if you read what I have written. You're obviously not getting the point.

I asked for advice not opinion, so if you have a better way of dealing with the issue then please feel free to let me know 'guru'.

Also there is only 1 website but 2 domains.

 

[dashu1]

There is a much better way to do it than a 301 that will have a better result for the domain with the website on it.

 

[dw1973]

Great, care to share it?

 

[ddwebguru]

Thanks for the info.
The simple fact is that you can redirect mysite1.com to mysiteone.com. This will not do any harm to mysiteone.com. There will be no issue of duplicate content. But you should not use same content and same design in both the sites (known as mirror sites) otherwise, Google may penalize your website for duplicate content issue.

 

[kkkrisss]

I think the best way is to use 301 redirect. No penalties, no drawbacks...

 

[rottensoundz]

I think the best way is to use 301 redirect. No penalties, no drawbacks...

the redirect issue got dealt with earlier in this thread

if he redirects it it will work but will only display one site in the SERPS

as two sites is a advantage

i would be inclined towards ddwebguru's last advice

you should not use same content and same design in both the sites (known as mirror sites)

what about keep the logo so people can identify with brand
but rewrite the content until its clean ( see copyscape )

and change a bit of the template and css ect

the added advantage of this is you can optimise the second site for different keyphrases

if i was being over cautious i would consider different owner detials and a different C Block Ip address
( advice for someone trying to overcome being picked up for heavy interlinking of sites owned by same webmaster )
and if following this advice avoid putting both sites on the same webmaster tools and analytics's account.

but i dont think you need to worry much about that.
The main thing would be the content and other onpage data that the robots pick up from your site to determine if its the same or similar to others.

 

[dashu1]

All that you need to do is use a frame and frame the content of the site you want to be the main site on the 2nd one.

You can see how I've framed my leather handbags site on the domain clutchbags.org.uk


This has definite SEO benefits that surpass both 301 redirects & links from site 1 to site 2.

 

[dw1973]

I ended up creating a near duplicate of the site with slightly different logos and wording and hosting it on a different server.

They are on the same webmaster account, but I use statcounter rather than G Analytics so will see how things go.

Only changed the nameservers and added the sitemap to webmaster tools yesterday so early days at the moment.

Will check content on copyscape though, thanks for the tip rottensoundz.