Search Engine Optimisation

[-Z-]

Hi chaps, helping the FiL set up a new dental practice and have a small question regarding websites;

We want the website to be accessible via 2 different web addresses, one because we're told it's good for Google ranking (e.g. www.dentistessex.co.uk, not ours! ) and the other, which because it's the name of the practice, looks good on the shop front and literature (eg www.smileclinic.co.uk).

Is this possible? Because the company designing the website have indicated that it isn't easily do-able and may effect the SEO which I feel may be BS.

[Zeek]

Very simple to have multiple domains on the same site.
The SEO issue they mention is valid, although they just need to make the appropriate content adjustments. Google canonical links.

[miniman]

Zeek said:

Very simple to have multiple domains on the same site.
The SEO issue they mention is valid, although they just need to make the appropriate content adjustments. Google canonical links.

Good advice indeed.

Now then, as to the SEO advantage that the "dentistessex" URL gives... that would be rather dubious IMHO.

[-Z-]

miniman said:

Zeek said:

Very simple to have multiple domains on the same site.
The SEO issue they mention is valid, although they just need to make the appropriate content adjustments. Google canonical links.

Good advice indeed.

Now then, as to the SEO advantage that the "dentistessex" URL gives... that would be rather dubious IMHO.

Well he sold it as, people would type in "dentist in essex" and it would increase our relevance to that search.

ps this is a website they've done for another client http://www.knightdentaldesign.co.uk

Any comments good/bad in terms of how it works?

[ymwoods]

Well in terms of that design (in my personal opinion)

Obviously you will have the links at the top and some space to make it look pretty but the big white bar just looks so out of place and takes up waaaay to much room on that page.

They have taken up nearly half the page just to tell me what links I can click on and that the Dental Practice has won FIVE!!! awards for their work on smiles.

Also...no offence to that practice but click on the discouloured teeth link, the before is of her with no make-up and looking like she has just got out of bed after a very boozy night up the clubs. The after shots (although very good in terms of her teeth colour) look like a professional photoshoot and suddenly she has loads of make-up and stuff on...talk about not a fair test!

Also, for me (on works browser, IE6) I get script errors on every page.

[siscar]

I'd say that's an OK site, the thing you don't know is what their brief was and how much input the client had. I agree about the before and after photos, those are a bit daft.

Having the same site under two domains is easy, the only question is whether one just redirects to the other or whether you operate the complete site under both domains.

[Dick Dastardly]

Without knowing the specifics of your situation...in general, having the keywords in the domain is one of the strongest ranking factors. If search engine traffic is something you believe would make a difference to the business then having www.essexdentists.co.uk (or similar) as the main URL and then 301 redirecting the business URL into this should see you rise to the top of Google without the need for many links.

I would be a little concerned with this website developer advising you on URLs and redirection. That other dentist site is showing some pretty bad canonical issues which could harm the ranking of the site with a duplicate content penalty.

http://knightdentaldesign.co.uk/
http://knightdentaldesign.co.uk/index.php
http://www.knightdentaldesign.co.uk/
http://www.knightdentaldesign.co.uk/index.php

The above are all URLs that the search engines can see and index, but three of these should redirect into the other one.

Edited by Dick Dastardly on Saturday 24th April 14:58