Should I remove redundant hostnames?

[#1]

I received a message from Google

"Redundant Hostnames

Property http://www.interpoint.com is receiving data from redundant hostnames. Consider setting up a 301 redirect on your website, or make a search and replace filter that strips "www." from hostnames. Examples of redundant hostnames: interpoint.com, www.interpoint.com."

Do I need to fix this? I couldn't find any subjects in Google help. Our site is relatively small, under 5000 visits a month. I don't think it's really affecting my stats.

Note: My Google AdWords and Analytics are linked.

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Hi Techmom,

You should consider setting up 301 redirects, which will help Google to recognize that www.interpoint.com and interpoint.com are the same site. You should probably check out the webmaster forum for more details and specific instructions. They will be able to help you out https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/webmasters

[#3]

I am getting the same message and have also had a 45% jump in traffic in the last month. does this redundant data mean false counts on the traffic?

[#4]

Thank you for your reply. I tried the link in your answer and could not find any discussion that related. I did not accept your answer as the solution, someone else did that.
Most sites seem to have both www and no www. Can't Google resolve that within the data analyzing?

[#5 · Accepted solution]

Hi Techmom,

Any time someone owns a domain, they own both the www. and the no www version. it isn't a question of your ownership, it's a matter of preference and organic optimization. It's like when someone is named William, they can choose to be known as William, Will, Bill, etc.

You can choose to be known as www.interpoint.com or interpoint.com. Once you choose, then you would set up a 301 redirect to ensure that if someone types in the other option, they are delivered to the correct place. I know this doesn't seem important because the content on both pages is the same but consider this:

• 75 people link to your page through blog posts and share it on social media using this web address: interpoint.com
• Another 75 share it and link to it using this web address: www.interpoint.com 
• When Google crawls your site, it sees these as two different pages and it has to choose which one to rank in the SERP. If you used a 301 redirect to give preference, you could pass along your "linkjuice" from one page to the other (preferred) page. Instead of Google crawling your site to find two separate mediocre pages, you could basically marry them together to have one strong page, which should improve your rank.

I say all of this with the major caveat that I am not an SEO specialist.  You should really get a second opinion and more detail from someone who does this as a profession.  I highly suggest that you post your question in the Webmaster forum.  They are well versed in SEO in that community. This community is about paid advertising.

Here is a link that might be worth reading: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/139066?hl=en

Choosing a Preferred Domain: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/44231

[#6]

Hi Paul,

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to this question but I'm pretty sure the answer is no. This shouldn't have anything to do with traffic counts. I'd suggest that you consider visiting the webmaster forum,, as well, as they are the SEO experts.

Sorry I couldn't be more help!

[#7]

Thank you sooo much! That explains the issue. Will implement your work around.

[#8]

Happy to help

[#9]

 I am also recieveing the same messege (redundant hostnames) for my site as i have both www.dubailocksmiths.com and dubailocksmiths.com in my ownership.I don't really know how to resolve it so please let me give a quick guide how to resolve it please. It will be really helpful for if you give me a link to any guide.

[#10]

Oh i am sorry to ask this question again. I got the link to guide. by the way thanks