Should a company worry about how many domains it maps to the same home page?
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I seem to be at logger heads with developers regarding domain mapping.
The scenario: I have a company with one site on a primary domain name, but all the other domains they own are mapped using a tool provided by their hosting vendor. But. what I see is a keyword loaded domain that shows it has been 'mapped' to the primary domain, but you can type into the browser this keyword loaded domain and it will serve up in your browser that same home page you see on the PRIMARY DOMAIN. So, picture this - you are looking at the home page on wwww.keyworddomain.com and see the same home page as www.primarycompanydomain.com - but if you select anything from the menu at www.keyworddomain.com you will be taken immediately to www.primarycompanydomain.com/page-you-selected
I just get a feeling this is not right as I can search Google for www.keyworddomain.com and Google lists the site home page on that domain. But when I click through from the listed result, I am taken to www.primarycompanydomain.com which is ideally where I want to be and I would want Google to focus on this domain, and I have told it to do so within the feature included within Google Webmaster Tools.
The developers say there is nothing wrong. There argument - why would a hosting company provide this domain mapping feature if it was not best practice. My argument - but Google is listing that domain URL (www.keyworddomain.com) despite the fact it takes me through to www.primarycompanydomain.com - will Google not think this strange despite me telling it via GWMT that www.primarycompanydomain.com is the one and only domain I am working on.
Tell me if I am going mad or not, and who is right and who is wrong. Appreciate all your answers.
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Many thanks to both Hans and Moosa I have written again to the web developer that has its hosting account with their preferred vendor to look at this issue again, taking into account your valued responses. Really appreciate the input from both of you.
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Hi Brian,
This seems to be the same problem I am facing with one of my clients. Maybe the answer to my question helps a little: http://moz.com/community/q/cname-vs-301-redirect
Your situation most likely will lead to duplicate content too. A 301-redirect seems to be the best solution here. Hopefully your hoster is willing to cooperate (and if not, maybe you should look for another one).
Hans
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In my personal opinion redirecting keyword rich domain to the main domain is not a bad idea but if you are going to flood it on home page and all the targeted pages then you will be in the sure trouble because Google does not like the idea of using this for ranking boost!
This might end up getting a penalty from Google!
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