Proper www/non-www and HTTP/HTTPS configuration is crucial for SEO. Search engines treat www and non-www versions as separate sites unless redirects are properly configured. HTTPS is now a ranking factor and essential for user trust.
Why This Matters for SEO
- Duplicate Content: Multiple accessible versions can split your SEO authority
- HTTPS Ranking Signal: Google gives preference to HTTPS sites
- Link Equity: Backlinks to different versions won't consolidate without proper redirects
- User Trust: HTTPS shows the padlock icon and "Secure" label in browsers
- Data Security: HTTPS encrypts data between server and browser
Best Practices
- Choose One Canonical Version: Either www or non-www, but be consistent
- Always Use HTTPS: Install SSL certificate and enforce HTTPS
- Redirect All Variants: Set up 301 redirects from all other versions to your canonical version
- Update Internal Links: Link to your canonical version throughout your site
- Set Preferred Version: Configure this in Google Search Console
Common Configurations
Option 1: HTTPS + www
All traffic → https://www.example.com
Option 2: HTTPS + non-www
All traffic → https://example.com