Redirect Question

cc976a · May 6, 2009

Haven't come across this issue so hope someone else may.

I want to install Wordpress on to the root directory of a hosting account. Unfortunately the hosting company only allow installation on to a sub-directory.

After emailing them their suggestion was to install Wordpress on to a sub directory and use a .htaccess file to redirect to the root (i.e. just the domain name www.example.com rather than www.example/wordpress)

I understand the correct redirection helps Google rather than a landing page or doorway page but how are .htaccess redirections dealt with in the search engines eyes - is this legite or possible penalisation?

Thanks,
Dean

May 6, 2009

Why will the host not allow Wordpress in the root? It seems a very strange restriction. :|

cc976a · May 6, 2009

No I agree. They didn't really offer an explanation.....their workaround was this redirect.

They use PowerPanel to offer an automatic install, perhaps a limitation of their software or control panel. I did try to install manually without much success.

OldWelshGuy · May 6, 2009

If you can't instal Wp then you need shooting

(joke).

You can safely use a 301 redirect, although it is the crappest workaround i could think of.

A better way is to have WP in the sub domain. but have a redirect on the root to the sub domain (far better).

But BESt of all is ask nice and get someone to manually install it, or pay someone $20 on a freelance site to get it done.

May 7, 2009

OldWelshGuy said:
If you can't instal Wp then you need shooting (joke).

You can safely use a 301 redirect, although it is the crappest workaround i could think of.

A better way is to have WP in the sub domain. but have a redirect on the root to the sub domain (far better).

But BESt of all is ask nice and get someone to manually install it, or pay someone $20 on a freelance site to get it done.

I often do 301 to a blog on a subdirectory - crappy it may be but it has never hurt rankings for me - and can be useful if for example you decide to add other parts to the site, like a forum, or an ecommerce site ...and want to keep it all structure.. Be careful of host based redirects though - not all are 301. Using your own short PHP file is better

OldWelshGuy · May 7, 2009

I said that 'crappy' was what the hosts suggested. they have suggested he installs in a sub directory and then redirects FROM the subdomain to the root. Doing this will prevent him using the root for anything else, which is why i called it the crappiest workaround

My second option is what you have done/are doing, and that is fine as it is redirecting from the root to the SD, allowing the root to be used at a later date.

digitali · May 7, 2009

Hi Dean,

Installing WordPress in a sub directory makes perfect sense - I have a few sites running WordPress and the root directory can get very messy as a site develops as all of the WordPress files are contained within. There is no need for a 301 redirect either - WordPress can handle the alteration.

I have just installed WordPress in a sub directory (folder called WP) and run WordPress in the root directory of a new site I am developing. The good people at WordPress provide full instructiions on how to do this. I am not sure how much knowledge you have of PHP/FTP/WP etc, but if you follow the instructions very carefully, you should be able to do this yourself.

I haven't made enough posts on this forum to include a url in this reply, but if you search for "wordpress install in sub directory" you should find the page I am referring to - it is part of Codex on WordPress.org

By the way - before you start amending files - make a backup of each one!

Hope this helps and good luck.

cc976a · May 7, 2009

Thanks everyone.

Actually I am extremely familiar with PHP/SQL and dveelopment (built websites, CMS, Control panels) but this bloody Wordpress has the better of me!

Perhaps it's because I installed Wordpress automatically first, then tried a manual install on the root and tried to piggyback on the automated SQL database and tables set up on the automated version......didn't want to spend too much time on something that should be so damn simple! (but you're speaking to someone who just can't get on with iTUNES either and think this is the worst user experience I have seen - perhaps I just like complexities

)

Think I will try a freelancer, just don't want to spend anylonger on this. I usually use the good people at Elance but they have a $50 limit on a project - anyone know any better places without limit, or someone they have used before?

Thanks,
Dean

digitali · May 7, 2009

Hi Dean,

The automatic install should have been ok, but the manual one over the top has probably messed things up a bit. When I first started using WP I had many a grey hair day!!

If I were in your position I would delete everything and start again. Taking into account the current status any freelancer would probably have to do the same and it could end up costing you more than you want to pay.

I reckon you could uninstall, reinstall and set up everything in about half an hour or so.

cc976a · May 7, 2009

digitali said:
Hi Dean,

The automatic install should have been ok, but the manual one over the top has probably messed things up a bit. When I first started using WP I had many a grey hair day!!

If I were in your position I would delete everything and start again. Taking into account the current status any freelancer would probably have to do the same and it could end up costing you more than you want to pay.

I reckon you could uninstall, reinstall and set up everything in about half an hour or so.

Thanks for that. You saved the pennies from my pocket.

I uninstalled the lot, tried again and had it all up and running in around 10mins.

Thanks again!

digitali · May 8, 2009

No problem - there is an added bonus too - you learnt something new!

Best of luck with your site.

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