WWW vs Non-WWW: Picking One
Should your site be www.yourbrand.com or simply yourbrand.com? Both work, and visitors rarely notice, but it is important to choose one as the canonical version and consistently redirect to it.
Running both without a redirect can split your search authority and cause confusing duplicate-content issues, so the decision is worth making deliberately.
Why Consistency Matters
Search engines and analytics tools treat the two versions as different addresses unless you tell them otherwise. Picking one and redirecting keeps your data and rankings tidy.
Points to Weigh
Neither option is objectively better for most sites, but a few technical points can tip the balance.
- The
wwwversion can use a flexible CNAME and is handy with some content delivery networks. - The non-www version is shorter and arguably cleaner to share.
- Whatever you pick, redirect the other version to it permanently.
Our Recommendation
We are happy with either; what matters is that we set one as primary, redirect the other with a 301, and update your sitemap and analytics to match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will choosing one hurt my SEO?
No — the harm comes from running both without a redirect. Consolidating onto one actually strengthens your rankings.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.