'domain:example.com/' is this line with a '/' at the end of the domain valid in a disavow report file ?
-
Hi everyone
Just out of curiosity, what would happen if in my disavow report I have this line :
domain:example.com**/** instead of domain:example.com as recommended by google.
I was just wondering if adding a / at the end of a domain would automatically render the line invalid and ignored by Google's disavow backlinks tool.
Many thanks for your thoughts
-
Hi Rob !
Thank you very much for taking the time to write a really detailed and clear answer, I really appreciate it.
This was insightful and answered my question.
Cheers.
-
Hi Arnold,
It's all a matter of how your sitemap is set up. Generally speaking a trailing slash (example.com/) has been used for directory pages while open URL's (example.com) represent files. The answer to your question hinges on 2 factors:
- Which of these pathways exist on your site?
- If only 1 exists and you use the right version (slash or no slash) you're golden.
- If only 1 exists and you use the wrong version, the disavowal tool will identify an error and search for the alternative (aka you're golden)
Here's where it gets complicated...
- If both exist, do they feature the same content/link profile?
- If both feature the same content, you're fine.
- If there is different content on both options (slash and no slash), then you have a problem. The disavowal process will still roll out, but you will disavow one pathway and not the other. If you choose wrong, then you are effectively disavowing nothing.
As a general rule, if you are working with a current CMS (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.) you are fine since these platforms automate the pathway as a file (no slash) which is largely why Google suggests using no trailing slash. If you have a custom site or something based on HTML (example.com/category.html) then you have to be more aware during the disavowal process.
Hope that answers your question - let me know if you need clarification.
Cheers,
Rob
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Multiple CMS on one website / domain & SEO
For a client we would like to work with a content hub, but their website is build on a custom CMS so we are limited in our options and if we aks their web developers they ask crazy prices to help us. So now we have the idea to build the content hub with wordpress and implement it next to their current CMS. for example on www.website.com/contenthub/ . As far as i know this is technically possible and there are no negative effects regarding SEO as long as we link the two sitemaps together. Am i right or am i missing something here?
Technical SEO | | Siphoplait0 -
How to no index / no follow CAD files .dxf .dwg
Hi, I have a new Wordpress site with a number of CAD files (.dxf& .dwg) downloadable straight from the site. These have been flagged in MOZ as warnings with everying from No Title/Description to duplicate content. Does anybody now how I would no index these type of files? Many thanks.
Technical SEO | | Jon_Pearce0 -
Is it better to use XXX.com or XXX.com/index.html as canonical page
Is it better to use 301 redirects or canonical page? I suspect canonical is easier. The question is, which is the best canonical page, YYY.com or YYY.com/indexhtml? I assume YYY.com, since there will be many other pages such as YYY.com/info.html, YYY.com/services.html, etc.
Technical SEO | | Nanook10 -
I have a blog on a sub domain, would you move it to the rood domain in a directory?
I have a blog that preforms fairly well on a sub domain, but after reading a post that Rand made to the Q & A I am thinking about moving it to the main domain in a sub directory. What are your thoughts on this? Here are some stats on it. The blog currently gets about 5 x the traffic of the main domain. The domain is older, 2008 creation date. They pretty much register for the same keywords.
Technical SEO | | LesleyPaone0 -
Domains
My questions is what to do with old domains we own from a past business. Is it advantages to direct them to the new domain/company or is that going to cause a problem for the new company. They are not in the same industry.
Technical SEO | | KeylimeSocial0 -
I'm redesigning a website which will have a new URL format. What's the best way to redirect all the old URLs to the new ones? Is there an automated, fast way to do this?
For example, the new URL will be: https://oregonoptimalhealth.com/about_us.html while the old one's were like this: http://www.oregonoptimalhealth.com/home/ooh/smartlist_1/services.html I have redirect almost 100 old pages to the correct new page. What's the best and easiest way to do this?
Technical SEO | | PolarisMarketing0 -
Why do I get duplicate pages, website referencing the capital version of the url vs the lowercase www.agi-automation.com/Pneumatic-grippers.htm
Can I the rel=canonical tag this? http://www.agi-automation.com/Pneumatic-grippers.htm****http://www.agi-automation.com/pneumatic-grippers.htm
Technical SEO | | AGIAutomation0 -
Issue with .uk.com domain
hi i have rockshore.uk.com which is not indexing properly. the internal pages do not show up for the text they have on them, or the title tags. the site is on aekmps shops platform. I understand that a .uk.com is not a proper TLD but i think i have a subdomain of .uk.com Can anyone help? thanks
Technical SEO | | Turkey0