Multiple domain names pointed to a single website?

[Grappler]

I am not a techie and need advice.

Can multiple domain names be pointed at a single website or landing page?

Are there any limitations, constraints, pros and cons of doing this?

If anyone is aware of an info source that would enable me to educate myself on this topic, please point me to it!

Thanks for your help!

[InfoGuy]

Yes, multiple domain names be pointed at a single website or landing page. The best way is using 301 redirects with .htaccess (note the filename starts with a period). .htaccess can be a very powerful tool. Make sure you (or your tech guy) know what you are doing.

[Sprocketwheel]

If code in .htaccess file is set correctly, multiple names can even be redirect to a single subpage of a site.

Make sure it’s explicitly: 301: Moved permanently
Goggle will set you aside on: 302: Moved temporarily

A bit more comprehensive:

http://kb.mediatemple.net/questions/....htaccess+file

But never less; mind Apache directives.

[Sprocketwheel]

…….and in all fairness, if you have operational domain names (pages), inform your back links on the redirect.

[Grappler]

THANK YOU!

[trader]

Agree about making it a 301 vs 302. However, the issue with both 301 and 302's is the question about traffic and subsequent clicks coming from the redirect being counted as valid by ppc firms including Adsense?

I have spent lots of time for years trying to figure that out and believe it does *not" count based on my evidence (though never able to confirm it with the firms who often do not reply, do not understand the issue, or simply do not really know the answer).

[Sprocketwheel]

On the Question, what are the evidence?

[HarveyJ]

Don't forget, you can set the A-record for a site if you've got the IP of it.
Works better than a 30x.

A word of warning though, this doesn't always work if you're doing this for affiliate marketing stuff. You're going to have to make sure that the network has a script that can read where the traffic is coming from an attribute your tracking code to that traffic.

[zoot]

Ok ... silly question. What are the pitfalls of just for instance using the redirect feature at say Fabulous.com?

[trader]

Originally posted by Sprocketwheel On the Question, what are the evidence?

It's simple but not easy.

Have both parked page A and website B online for say 30 days each (30 is said to be the minimum number for good statistical validity).

Say A gets 100 visits parked with a 25% CTR or 25 clicks/mo.

Say B gets 100 visits to the site with 5% CTR or 5 clicks/mo.

Next month forward A to site B for 30 days and look at site B stats. Adsense or YPN should report roughly 200 visits and 10 clicks/mo if the forwarded traffic is counted. Much less and it likely means the forwarded traffic was not considered valid (even though it is valid, imo). Hope this makes sense.

P.S. I added this on edit: Made a math change and noted that you are giving up about 20 clicks/mo by doing this which can be significant depending on the EPC.

[trader]

Just curious if anyone has a different opinion on my method above or does it make sense?

[microvps]

That is used to save seo efforts as usual. That helps to save PR of the sites etc.

[thoran]

yes, you can have. But, as an techie I will not advise you to go for this option. Always, having an single domain name for the single website will be an good option to have.

[Rob]

Originally posted by thoran
yes, you can have. But, as an techie I will not advise you to go for this option. Always, having an single domain name for the single website will be an good option to have.

Wise words there......

[Kyric]

Originally posted by zoot
Ok ... silly question. What are the pitfalls of just for instance using the redirect feature at say Fabulous.com?

Most people used to just use redirect at the registrar to point domains to a single site, however I believe that this can be misconstrued by SEs as duplicated content or may otherwise be misunderstood by search engines such as google as being some other form of mischief.

I am not 100% sure about this but I know a lot of people share this view and those who are not prepared to take the risk are graduating towards a greater usage of 301 redirect.

A 301 redirect basically tells the search engine where to send the link-ins and therefore the PR so it does make things very clear to the SE and should not raise any issues.

I concur that the best way to do a 301 redirect is using htaccess. Its a lot easier than I thought, once youve made the file.