Googlebot and .info domains (update)
Written by mbpage on July 9, 2008
In my earlier post Googlebot and .info names for build a niche store I discussed my challenges with getting indexed for one of my stores. After 8 weeks nothing. I’m pleased to say I found the solution. Many of you will be aware of this already but those who may have built many stores and think you’ve wasted your time the way out of the mess is as follows:
Buy a .com or .net domain, move the contents of the .info site to the new folder and then perform a permanent redirect on the .info name to help preserve any links you may have built.
Now this may sound technically complex but it is dead easy if you use HostGator (which is one of the many reasons I recommend them for Build a Niche Store users):
You make a copy the existing domain (.info) folder and rename it to whatever you called your new domain (.com) folder.
You delete the files under the old .info folder (but not the folder) and then go to cpanel add-on domains and redirect the .info to the .com. Don’t forget to back everything up first in case something goes wrong.
As a result of making this change my store was fully indexed in 5 days. Yes it’s going to cost $6.95 for a new .com but you should easily recover that in your first month if you’ve targeted a half decent niche.
Related Posts:
Related posts
Posted in: Obeservations
3 Responses to “Googlebot and .info domains (update)”
Hi - I am trying to redirect a com site to another named site on Hostgator - what is the 301 redirect process please ? Is that within Hostgator (I have the domain name at Godaddy) or at Godaddy ?
Thanks
Keith
By Keith Jones on Jul 21, 2008
@Keith
A 301 redirect is just as you describe it. It instructs a domain to redirect to another. For example, if own bluecherry.co.uk and want to forward it to redcherry.co.uk you would just set up a 301 redirect.
To do this in HostGator access cpanel, click on redirects and enter the relevant details. No need for any code.
It works great.
By mbpage on Jul 21, 2008
Thanks! I have been waiting for my .info domain to get reindexed with Google and finally follwed your advice and transfered the site to a .com.
How did you manage to get listed in Google in 6 days?
Also do you host multiple sites on hostgator? If so how do you do a permanent redirect for a domain hosted as a subdomain?
By priya on Sep 14, 2008