At the risk of going into too much technical detail, which we always say at Cultrix, we won’t do (unless you want us to) we explain why we always recommend using the www version of the domain name for your website.
“www” is a bit of a mouthful, but still…
Yes, we know that “www” takes a few seconds to say, but most people don’t say “www” when they quote a domain name these days.
It seems rather old-fashioned to be referring to the abbreviation of World Wide Web and, anyway, whatever a user types in, they’ll be taken to your website whether it’s a www version or not. Even though Google will see the www version and non-www version as two different websites.
Choose one version, then redirect the other to it
Since the www and non-www versions are two different websites, it’s important that you choose the version you want and then redirect the other one to it.
Why?
Because you could otherwise have an issue with duplicate content. Although the SEO effects of this are thought to be minimal, any negative effect can easily be curtailed by setting up the redirect.
So, why choose the www version?
It’s to do with your future growth and the amount of traffic your website will be able to handle. It’s no accident that the likes of Facebook and Google all use www.
www hostnames support heavy traffic
www domains can send requests to multiple different hosts, because it’s a CNAME record. Requests can be handled by an unlimited number of servers – known as, ‘load balancing’, whereas the non-www can only post at one server.
Non-www versions would not be able to be ‘load balanced’ or use a CDN (Content Delivery Network).
Non-www hostnames cannot point at CDNs
If you choose the www host name, you won’t have any issues complying with DNS rules. A CNAME record can be created for the www hostname, mapping it to a CDN. But, if you tried to do the same with a non-www hostname, you would encounter unexpected errors and run the risk of your website not working properly.
Your website future-proofed for growth
While you may not see your website handling vast amounts of traffic at the moment, it may very well do so in the future.
We support businesses with their continuity and growth, and would always recommend the most beneficial technical solution to support that growth.
Better handling of users
Handling many users at once is vital to the quality of experience your website offers, which itself impacts on SEO, as well as the impression you give users, and business you generate as a result.
While it makes sense, in our view, to always opt for the www hostname version, we know it’s awkward to say, “www”. But there’s nothing to say that you ever have to say it out loud – if it makes you feel technically old-fashioned!
If you’d like more technical information on whether you should choose a www, or non-www, version hostname then get in touch.
We’d be delighted to talk technical with you about all-things hostnames, but for now, this is our quick and easy answer.
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