Re-directing a domain name

[allsquare]

I have been re-directing an unused, yet previously used, domain name to one of my 'active' websites.

If I took off this re-direct, and started using the re-directed domain in it's own right, is there any chance I could do either site harm in the eyes of search engines? :|

[IBiz]

Hi allsquare,

I don't think it will cause an issue, as long as the redirected domain is not being indexed for your original site and you haven't got any links pointing at the redirected domain.

[allsquare]

as long as the redirected domain is not being indexed for your original site

How on earth would I find that out?

[sean.browne]

you were probably doing more harm in the first place by having two domains pointing to the same content. This is not good SEO practice as it looks like duplicate content and 'both' sites could be penalised for it.

Good luck,
Sean Browne

[IBiz]

How on earth would I find that out?

Simply type the following into Google "site:yourforwardeddomain.com". If any results appear, then Google has indexed it.

No harm will have been done if you have a 301 redirect in place. You will not get penalised for duplicate content because of this.

[allsquare]

Great, nothing appeared on a google search :)

[Webtistic]

you were probably doing more harm in the first place by having two domains pointing to the same content. This is not good SEO practice as it looks like duplicate content and 'both' sites could be penalised for it.

Good luck,
Sean Browne

Indeed, so to anybody else reading this who has umpteen domains pointing at the same websites, use a 301 redirect instead to avoid possible problems.

[sean.browne]

Simply type the following into Google "site:yourforwardeddomain.com". If any results appear, then Google has indexed it.

No harm will have been done if you have a 301 redirect in place. You will not get penalised for duplicate content because of this.

Agreed no harm would be done if there was a 301 redirect in place (obviously google will not have indexed any content under the 'spare' domain name if this is the case).

However, harm can be done and content indexed if spare domain was simply pointed at the existing domain/site which in my opinion is more likely as OP never mentioned 301.

[allsquare]

I used non-framed web forwarding via the 123-reg control panel where both domains were registered.

[sean.browne]

ok, no 301 then. So 'un-forwarding' it will do no harm other than to stop any traffic that is coming as a result of search engines having indexed the 'spare domain' which as stated earlier can be checked by searching google for site:sparedomain.com.

On the upside it will resolve any problem coming from seemingly duplicate content under two different sites - which may or may not be affecting you right now.

[allsquare]

Ok, i shall get rid of the web forwarding straight away.

[IBiz]

Let us know if you see any changes in a month or so!

[Hillary Dale]

I have been re-directing an unused, yet previously used, domain name to one of my 'active' websites.

If I took off this re-direct, and started using the re-directed domain in it's own right, is there any chance I could do either site harm in the eyes of search engines? :|

Hi,

As far as I know it will somehow have a negative effect on search engines.

[sands1967]

Hi,

As far as I know it will somehow have a negative effect on search engines.

How so?

Unless he uses the same content for both sites!