Skip to content
    Moz logo Menu open Menu close
    • Products
      • Moz Pro
      • Moz Pro Home
      • Moz Local
      • Moz Local Home
      • STAT
      • Moz API
      • Moz API Home
      • Compare SEO Products
      • Moz Data
    • Free SEO Tools
      • Domain Analysis
      • Keyword Explorer
      • Link Explorer
      • Competitive Research
      • MozBar
      • More Free SEO Tools
    • Learn SEO
      • Beginner's Guide to SEO
      • SEO Learning Center
      • Moz Academy
      • MozCon
      • Webinars, Whitepapers, & Guides
    • Blog
    • Why Moz
      • Digital Marketers
      • Agency Solutions
      • Enterprise Solutions
      • Small Business Solutions
      • The Moz Story
      • New Releases
    • Log in
    • Log out
    • Products
      • Moz Pro

        Your all-in-one suite of SEO essentials.

      • Moz Local

        Raise your local SEO visibility with complete local SEO management.

      • STAT

        SERP tracking and analytics for enterprise SEO experts.

      • Moz API

        Power your SEO with our index of over 44 trillion links.

      • Compare SEO Products

        See which Moz SEO solution best meets your business needs.

      • Moz Data

        Power your SEO strategy & AI models with custom data solutions.

      Track AI Overviews in Keyword Research
      Moz Pro

      Track AI Overviews in Keyword Research

      Try it free!
    • Free SEO Tools
      • Domain Analysis

        Get top competitive SEO metrics like DA, top pages and more.

      • Keyword Explorer

        Find traffic-driving keywords with our 1.25 billion+ keyword index.

      • Link Explorer

        Explore over 40 trillion links for powerful backlink data.

      • Competitive Research

        Uncover valuable insights on your organic search competitors.

      • MozBar

        See top SEO metrics for free as you browse the web.

      • More Free SEO Tools

        Explore all the free SEO tools Moz has to offer.

      NEW Keyword Suggestions by Topic
      Moz Pro

      NEW Keyword Suggestions by Topic

      Learn more
    • Learn SEO
      • Beginner's Guide to SEO

        The #1 most popular introduction to SEO, trusted by millions.

      • SEO Learning Center

        Broaden your knowledge with SEO resources for all skill levels.

      • On-Demand Webinars

        Learn modern SEO best practices from industry experts.

      • How-To Guides

        Step-by-step guides to search success from the authority on SEO.

      • Moz Academy

        Upskill and get certified with on-demand courses & certifications.

      • MozCon

        Save on Early Bird tickets and join us in London or New York City

      Access 20 years of data with flexible pricing
      Moz API

      Access 20 years of data with flexible pricing

      Find your plan
    • Blog
    • Why Moz
      • Digital Marketers

        Simplify SEO tasks to save time and grow your traffic.

      • Small Business Solutions

        Uncover insights to make smarter marketing decisions in less time.

      • Agency Solutions

        Earn & keep valuable clients with unparalleled data & insights.

      • Enterprise Solutions

        Gain a competitive edge in the ever-changing world of search.

      • The Moz Story

        Moz was the first & remains the most trusted SEO company.

      • New Releases

        Get the scoop on the latest and greatest from Moz.

      Surface actionable competitive intel
      New Feature

      Surface actionable competitive intel

      Learn More
    • Log in
      • Moz Pro
      • Moz Local
      • Moz Local Dashboard
      • Moz API
      • Moz API Dashboard
      • Moz Academy
    • Avatar
      • Moz Home
      • Notifications
      • Account & Billing
      • Manage Users
      • Community Profile
      • My Q&A
      • My Videos
      • Log Out

    The Moz Q&A Forum

    • Forum
    • Questions
    • Users
    • Ask the Community

    Welcome to the Q&A Forum

    Browse the forum for helpful insights and fresh discussions about all things SEO.

    1. Home
    2. SEO Tactics
    3. On-Page Optimization
    4. I have lost SEO Ranking while removing www from domain

    Moz Q&A is closed.

    After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.

    Unsolved I have lost SEO Ranking while removing www from domain

    On-Page Optimization
    seo search visibility audit
    6
    7
    1657
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as question
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with question management privileges can see it.
    • velomate
      velomate last edited by

      I have lost search SEO ranking for 4-6 core keywords while removing www from domain switch.
      Referring domain: https://cashforscrapcarsydney.com.au/

      Earlier the domain was in the format: https://www.cashforscrapcarsydney.com.au/

      But when I checked the search result, search engines had not yet crawled to the new format. Let me know if the server change or any algorithm hit might cause it.

      Also please share the feedback on - does removing www from the domain losses keyword ranking.

      Helpful replies are needed.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • hammadkhan555
        hammadkhan555 last edited by

        Because the URL structure changed when you removed the "www" from your domain it might have affected your SEO rating. A sitemap should be updated to reflect the new URLs and appropriate redirects should be in place. Keep an eye on and improve your website for search engines to make up for dropped rankings. You can contact any on Page SEO expert or SEO Agency to get this sorted.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • velomate
          velomate last edited by

          I didnt got a correct reply.. currenly, i have mapped one of the keyword 'cash for cars sydney' from inner page to homepage. can i get help, does that helps ranking, if move to homepage and can anybody check and let me know, the onpage done correctly.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Afnanbro
            Afnanbro last edited by

            I have same topic bro beacuse iam working on a site named Water Bill Online/Water Bill Payment but same as you i face this challange.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • ezkrt
              ezkrt last edited by

              Changing from a "www" subdomain to a non-www domain (or vice versa) can impact your SEO rankings if not done correctly. The "www" subdomain is essentially a technical aspect of domain configuration, and any changes to it need to be managed properly to minimize negative SEO effects. Here are some steps you should have taken or should consider taking to mitigate the impact:

              301 Redirects: When you change from "www" to a non-www domain (or vice versa), you need to set up 301 redirects from the old version to the new version of your domain. This ensures that both users and search engines are properly directed to the new domain. Failure to implement these redirects can lead to a loss in rankings.

              Google Search Console Update: If you haven't already, update your Google Search Console settings to reflect the new domain version. This helps Google recognize the change and maintain your site's indexing and ranking.

              Update Internal Links: Make sure that all internal links on your website are updated to point to the new domain version. Broken links can negatively impact user experience and SEO.

              Backlink Update: If possible, update any external backlinks pointing to the old version of your domain to the new version. If that's not possible, the 301 redirects should handle this aspect.

              XML Sitemap Update: Update your XML sitemap with the new domain version and submit it to search engines through Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.

              Canonical Tags: Ensure that canonical tags on your pages point to the correct version of your domain to avoid duplicate content issues.

              Monitor Closely: After making these changes, closely monitor your website's performance, rankings, and traffic. It might take some time for search engines to fully process the changes and update their indexes.

              Submit Updated Sitemap: Submit your updated XML sitemap to Google and other search engines to help them discover and index your new URLs.

              Monitor Google Analytics: Keep an eye on Google Analytics to track any significant changes in traffic patterns or user behavior after the domain change.

              Patience: SEO changes can take time to show their full impact. Give search engines time to process the changes and reassess your site's rankings.

              If you've already made the switch and are experiencing a loss in rankings, it's not too late to take these steps to mitigate the impact. If you're unsure about any technical aspect of this process, it might be a good idea to consult with an SEO professional who can guide you through the proper steps to recover your rankings.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • fara-it12
                fara-it12 last edited by

                Losing SEO ranking after removing "www" from your domain is a common issue, but it can be managed if handled correctly. Here are some steps you can take to address this problem:

                301 Redirects: Ensure that you have set up 301 redirects from the "www" version of your domain to the non-" www" version. This tells search engines that your content has permanently moved, and they should transfer the ranking signals accordingly.

                Update Google Search Console: If you haven't already, add both versions of your domain (with and without "www") to Google Search Console. This will help Google understand the changes and monitor how your site is performing.

                Update Sitemaps: Update your sitemap to reflect the new URL structure without "www." Submit this updated sitemap to Google through Google Search Console.

                Check Internal Links: Ensure that all internal links within your website point to the non-www" version. This helps in maintaining a consistent structure.

                Update External Links: If possible, reach out to websites that have linked to your site and ask them to update their links to the non-www" version. This can help preserve link equity.

                Monitor and Wait: SEO changes can take some time to reflect in search engine rankings. Monitor your rankings regularly and be patient while the search engines update their indexes.

                Content Quality: Continue to focus on providing high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. This is a fundamental aspect of SEO.

                Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly, as Google gives preference to mobile-responsive sites in its ranking algorithm.

                Page Load Speed: Page load speed is also a crucial factor in SEO. Optimize your site's performance to improve user experience and rankings.

                Backlink Strategy: Develop a backlink strategy to acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable websites in your niche. Quality backlinks can boost your rankings.

                Keyword Research: Regularly update your keyword research and optimize your content based on relevant keywords to attract organic traffic.

                User Experience (UX): Prioritize user experience by making sure your website is easy to navigate and provides a good user experience. This indirectly impacts SEO.

                HTTPS: Ensure that your website is using HTTPS. Google considers this a ranking factor, and it also enhances security.

                Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and it can take time to recover lost rankings. Consistency, high-quality content, and technical optimization are key elements in maintaining and improving your website's SEO performance.
                Click here: web Development company in Bangladesh

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Suvidit-Academy
                  Suvidit-Academy last edited by

                  It is possible that you lost search engine ranking for 4-6 core keywords after removing the www prefix from your domain name. This is because search engines may not have yet crawled and indexed your website in the new format. It can take some time for search engines to update their index, so it is not uncommon to see a temporary drop in rankings after making a major change to your website.

                  In addition, server changes or algorithm updates can also cause temporary ranking fluctuations. If you have recently made any changes to your website or server, it is possible that this is the cause of your ranking drop.

                  It is important to note that removing the www prefix from your domain name is not likely to have a negative impact on your long-term SEO ranking. In fact, many experts believe that it can actually improve your rankings. This is because the www prefix is no longer considered to be a ranking factor by most search engines.

                  If you are concerned about your SEO ranking, I recommend that you wait a few weeks to see if your rankings recover. If they do not, you can then start to investigate other possible causes, such as technical errors on your website or changes to your content.

                  Here are some additional things you can do to help improve your SEO ranking after removing the www prefix from your domain name:

                  • Make sure that all of your internal links and redirects point to the new domain name format.
                  • Submit your website to search engines again.
                  • Generate new backlinks to your website.
                  • Create high-quality content on your website.

                  By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your SEO ranking does not suffer after removing the www prefix from your domain name.

                  Warm Regards
                  Rahul Gupta
                  Suvidit Academy

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • 1 / 1
                  • First post
                    Last post

                  Got a burning SEO question?

                  Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.


                  Start my free trial


                  Browse Questions

                  Explore more categories

                  • Moz Tools

                    Chat with the community about the Moz tools.

                  • SEO Tactics

                    Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers

                  • Community

                    Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!

                  • Digital Marketing

                    Chat about tactics outside of SEO

                  • Research & Trends

                    Dive into research and trends in the search industry.

                  • Support

                    Connect on product support and feature requests.

                  • See all categories

                  Related Questions

                  • Roycd

                    Google not listing website correctly

                    google listing seo website submission

                    have a domain that was unused for a while and displayed the "parked by Gandi" domain message. Recently, I decided to set up a fully working website on that domain, but I'm struggling to get it to rank correctly on Google. Google isn't updating the http://domain.com to the correct https://www.domain.com, and I have tried everything. The http://domain.com redirects to https://www.domain.com if you click on it. I managed to get the correct version, https://www.domain.com, to show up, but after a couple of days, it reverted to the old version and has stayed that way. This has been going on for a few weeks now. Additionally, I had an old version of the site using .com, and I forwarded that to the .co.uk, but the old .com will not be removed from Google. it was just one page without much content. At the moment, Google's search results look very messy and out of date. I have submitted the URL in the Google Search Console using the URL inspection tool and requested indexing and reindexing. I have also submitted sitemaps, but nothing is really working. Any ideas?

                    SEO Tactics | | Roycd
                    0
                  • zlbvasgabc

                    improve my da

                    seo domain authority page authority

                    hello
                    i work on my site fore 2 mounth and i still cant increase my DA
                    how can i increase that?
                    its my site:
                    https://bandolini.ir/

                    SEO Tactics | | zlbvasgabc
                    0
                  • Ravi_Rana

                    Why Product pages are throwing Missing field "image" and Missing field "price" in Wordpress Woocommerce

                    technical seo structured data woocommerce wordpress seo

                    I have a wordpress wocommerce website where I have uploaded 100s of products but it's giving me error in GSC under merchant listing tab. When I tested it show missing field image and missing field price. I have done everything according to https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/product#merchant-listing-experiences and applied fixed i.e. images are 800x800 and price range is also there. What else can be done here?!merchant listing.jpg

                    Technical SEO | | Ravi_Rana
                    0
                  • LukeRow

                    Breadcrumbs and multiple parent categories on Shopify site - what's the answer?

                    navigation breadcrumb trail breadcrumbs ux seo

                    Hi Mozzers... I'm working on a Shopify site - it is polyhierarchical with multiple parent categories for each product. Not uncommon with Shopify because of issues with faceted nav on that platform. The problem is that defining ONE breadcrumb trail back to the homepage, it works against UX, as people will be wanting to go back to the previous search results, primarily, to revisit the parent category specific search (this is an ecommerce site with a huge number of products). So heaven knows what to do. I could do: (1) Home / Product to avoid the issue. Not very good for UX though as where is the previous category page (where more than likely a product search was carried out). (2) Home / Specific Previous Search Page - Parent Category / Product (if that is possible without upsetting SEO performance - I don't think it is - but any advice is welcome) (3) or I could define one specific path and also include: Return to Previous Page / Search as a separate clickback link outside of but adjacent to the breadcrumb trail (I think Macy's used to do that): https://baymard.com/blog/ecommerce-breadcrumbs The problem with defining a specific path is it flys in the face of UX in the context of this site! Although of course defining one path seems to be best practice for SEO. Any help would be gratefully received! Thanks a million, Luke

                    Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | LukeRow
                    0
                  • PostAlmostAnything

                    Are Wildcard Subdomain Hurting my SEO?

                    I have some sites with a lot of categories (category, sub-category, sub-subcategory) and locations (country, state/territory, city). To avoid listing pages really deep in my hierarchy I used wildcard subdomains for the locations, but lately I have been told that might be hurting my overall SEO efforts. I have a lot of URLs like https://city-state-country.example.com on one side of the domain and example.com/category/subcategory/subsubcategory on the other. In the middle you see stuff like city-state-country.example.com/category/subcategory/subsubcategory and everything in between. Would I be better off moving the locations to the right side of the domain name? Then you might find stuff like example.com/country/state/city/category/subcategory/subsubcategory and everything in between. I think I could do the new rewrite rules fairly easily since every country slug is just two characters long.

                    On-Page Optimization | | PostAlmostAnything
                    0
                  • CostumeD

                    Harms of hidden categories on SEO

                    On our website we have some invisible/hidden categories on our site. Can anyone advise whether these are harmful in terms of SEO?

                    On-Page Optimization | | CostumeD
                    0
                  • TheWebMastercom

                    Less Tags better for SEO?

                    I am currently reviewing my strategy when it comes to categories and tags on my site.  Having been no-indexed for some time, and having many tags with just one entry I am thinking that this is not optimal for SEO purposes. This is what I am planning: Categories - Change these to Index, but only after adding a hundred words or so by way of introduction (see this example - https://www.besthostnews.com/news/hosting/a-small-orange-news/).  With the categories I am thinking of highlighting key articles as well to improve link juice distribution to older articles that are important. Tags - About half my tags have only 1 entry, with a few more just having 2 entries.  I am thinking of deleting all tags with just one entry, and trying to merge those with just two or 3 entries where it makes sense to do so.  I will keep these as no-index, but I think this will mean more optimal distribution of link juice within the site. I would appreciate your thoughts \ suggestions on the best practices here.

                    On-Page Optimization | | TheWebMastercom
                    0
                  • vibelingo

                    Www1 and www domain

                    hi, I have a client who has an e-commerce business. My client does not want to fill the pages with too much content and has set up a www1 version with the same domain-name as the www. The plan is to create a lot of content and push www1 in ranking and then sending users (via links) to the www for ordering. Although there will be no duplicate content published on www and www1 this seems like an odd strategy, especially since the www already has a good page rank, and I'm not sure about how engines view a www.domain.com and www1domain.com situation even with unique content in each. Any thoughts?

                    On-Page Optimization | | vibelingo
                    0

                  Get started with Moz Pro!

                  Unlock the power of advanced SEO tools and data-driven insights.

                  Start my free trial
                  Products
                  • Moz Pro
                  • Moz Local
                  • Moz API
                  • Moz Data
                  • STAT
                  • Product Updates
                  Moz Solutions
                  • SMB Solutions
                  • Agency Solutions
                  • Enterprise Solutions
                  • Digital Marketers
                  Free SEO Tools
                  • Domain Authority Checker
                  • Link Explorer
                  • Keyword Explorer
                  • Competitive Research
                  • Brand Authority Checker
                  • Local Citation Checker
                  • MozBar Extension
                  • MozCast
                  Resources
                  • Blog
                  • SEO Learning Center
                  • Help Hub
                  • Beginner's Guide to SEO
                  • How-to Guides
                  • Moz Academy
                  • API Docs
                  About Moz
                  • About
                  • Team
                  • Careers
                  • Contact
                  Why Moz
                  • Case Studies
                  • Testimonials
                  Get Involved
                  • Become an Affiliate
                  • MozCon
                  • Webinars
                  • Practical Marketer Series
                  • MozPod
                  Connect with us

                  Contact the Help team

                  Join our newsletter
                  Moz logo
                  © 2021 - 2025 SEOMoz, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. All rights reserved. Moz is a registered trademark of SEOMoz, Inc.
                  • Accessibility
                  • Terms of Use
                  • Privacy

                  Looks like your connection to Moz was lost, please wait while we try to reconnect.