how to redirect non-www to www in WordPress

Understanding Non-www to www Redirection in WordPress

Redirecting from non-www URLs to their www counterparts is a crucial SEO strategy for website owners. This ensures uniformity in your website’s URL structure, enhances search engine optimization, and maintains the integrity of your site authority.

Why Redirect Non-www to www?

1. Consistency: Uniformity in URLs helps users and search engines to recognize and trust a website.
2. Prevent Duplicate Content: Without redirection, search engines might index both non-www and www versions of your site, splitting your SEO rankings.
3. Cookie Management: www subdomains facilitate more scalable cookie management for larger websites.

Methods to Implement Redirection in WordPress

Method 1: Editing .htaccess File

For Apache servers, the .htaccess file is a powerful tool for URL redirection:

1. Access .htaccess File:
   Connect to your web hosting via an FTP client like FileZilla or use the cPanel’s File Manager. Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.

2. Modify .htaccess:
   You need to insert the following code at the beginning of the .htaccess file:

   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example.com [NC]
   RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.example.com/$1 [L,R=301]

   Replace example.com with your domain name. This code checks if the host is example.com and redirects it to www.example.com.

3. Save and Upload:
   After editing, save your changes and re-upload the file if you’re using FTP. Test your website to ensure the redirection works.

Method 2: Using WordPress Plugins

For those uncomfortable with code, several WordPress plugins can handle redirects:

1. Choose a Plugin:
   Plugins like ‘Redirection’ or ‘Simple 301 Redirects’ provide a user-friendly interface to manage www redirects.

2. Install and Activate:
   Navigate to ‘Plugins’ > ‘Add New’ in your WordPress dashboard. Search for your chosen plugin, install and activate it.

3. Configure Redirects:
   Once activated, go to the plugin’s settings page and set your preferred options to redirect from non-www to www URLs.

4. Test Your Settings:
   Verify by accessing your website with the non-www URL and checking if it redirects to the www version.

Method 3: Via Hosting Control Panel

Many web hosting providers offer redirection tools through their control panels, such as cPanel:

1. Log into cPanel:
   Access your hosting control panel and look for the ‘Redirects’ or ‘Domain’ section.

2. Setup the Redirect:
   Use the interface to choose your non-www domain and set it to redirect to your www domain. Ensure the redirection is marked as a ‘Permanent Redirect’ (301).

3. Save and Confirm:
   Save your configuration and test it by visiting your non-www URL to see if redirection to www works correctly.

Best Practices and Tips

• Perform Regular Checks: Periodically verify that your redirections are functioning as intended to avoid SEO pitfalls.
• Consult Hosting Support: If unsure about making changes in cPanel or .htaccess, consult your hosting provider’s support team.
• Backup Files: Always back up the .htaccess file or any other configuration files before making significant changes.
• Monitor SEO Impact: After implementing redirects, monitor your website’s SEO performance to ensure positive effects.

Conclusion

Redirecting non-www URLs to www in WordPress can significantly benefit your site’s SEO and usability. Whether through manual edits, plugins, or hosting services, these changes must be managed carefully and tested thoroughly. With the right approach, you ensure that your WordPress site maintains consistency and strength in its domain structure.