Google has got the wrong homepage...

thomase · 08-17-2009, 02:29 PM

Okay, so I got a really nice keyword domain for my site and it got listed on the first page for the search term I want as soon as they got around to viewing the site.

Problem is, at first I just had a static html site, then changed my mind to use wordpress. Now Google obviously got there quicker than I thought as they know the old pages exist. I've 301 redirected the others, but I cannot do this with the index.htm page - this causes a redirection loop error.

I tried to do some rename thing for the index file but couldn't get this to work (willing to try again).

Now, at the moment it displays a "cannot be found" page by wordpress.

I am a bit worried google will think the site has gone funny and just remove it from the index, rather than making domain.co.uk/ the homepage and not domain.co.uk/index.htm
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/search-engines/603959-google-has-got-the-wrong-homepage.html

I have resubmitted new sitemaps again with the homepage as domain.co.uk, but is there anything I can do to make google realise they need to remove the index.htm bit for the home page to display properly?

I'm hoping over the next week it will realise and naturally change it...but I'm worried that I might get penalised a bit - as well as it just looking rubbish for website visitors.

**enlytend** · 08-17-2009, 04:09 PM

If I understand your situation correctly, go on Google Webmaster Tools and submit a removal request for index.htm.

thomase · 08-18-2009, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by enlytend

If I understand your situation correctly, go on Google Webmaster Tools and submit a removal request for index.htm.

Where is it in it? I've had a look throughout and cannot find it.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=603959

Found a preferred domain thing, but google won't let me change it (the site is verifed, but they're saying it isn't).

Gs-Liam · 08-18-2009, 01:57 AM

It should auto change next time there bot scans your site, did for my site anyhow

**enlytend** · 08-18-2009, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Where is it in it? I've had a look throughout and cannot find it.

On the left: Site Configuration -> Crawler Access, then select "Remove URL" from the top tabs.

angilina · 08-21-2009, 01:05 PM

"Problem is, at first I just had a static html site, then changed my mind to use wordpress. Now Google obviously got there quicker than I thought as they know the old pages exist. I've 301 redirected the others, but I cannot do this with the index.htm page - this causes a redirection loop error."
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=603959

I do remember that I had the same problem with wordpress when I tried to 301 redirect index.php and index.html to the home URL. But after trying for sometime, I finally managed to do the redirect in wordpress.

I will check my .htaccess code to see how I did that 1+ years back. Will update again.

You can check my site[a1newspapers] in my signature. Its a wordpress blog and both index.html and index.php redirect to the main URL

08-17-2009, 02:29 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
thomase NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Centre of the Universe Posts: 519	Google has got the wrong homepage... Okay, so I got a really nice keyword domain for my site and it got listed on the first page for the search term I want as soon as they got around to viewing the site. Problem is, at first I just had a static html site, then changed my mind to use wordpress. Now Google obviously got there quicker than I thought as they know the old pages exist. I've 301 redirected the others, but I cannot do this with the index.htm page - this causes a redirection loop error. I tried to do some rename thing for the index file but couldn't get this to work (willing to try again). Now, at the moment it displays a "cannot be found" page by wordpress. I am a bit worried google will think the site has gone funny and just remove it from the index, rather than making domain.co.uk/ the homepage and not domain.co.uk/index.htm ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/search-engines/603959-google-has-got-the-wrong-homepage.html I have resubmitted new sitemaps again with the homepage as domain.co.uk, but is there anything I can do to make google realise they need to remove the index.htm bit for the home page to display properly? I'm hoping over the next week it will realise and naturally change it...but I'm worried that I might get penalised a bit - as well as it just looking rubbish for website visitors.

08-17-2009, 04:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
enlytend Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,152 Follow @enlytend	If I understand your situation correctly, go on Google Webmaster Tools and submit a removal request for index.htm. __________________ Enlytend Solutions - Internet marketing and web development Was my advice helpful? Please consider a small donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation - a tax deductible 501(c)(3)that directly funds cancer research

08-18-2009, 01:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gs-Liam NamePros Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 136	It should auto change next time there bot scans your site, did for my site anyhow __________________ Thanks, Regards Liam Bishop Owner/Founder Of Gaming-Solutions UK & USA Hosting - Dedicated Servers - Game Servers - Voice Servers - Web Hosting

08-21-2009, 01:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
angilina NamePros Regular Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 467	"Problem is, at first I just had a static html site, then changed my mind to use wordpress. Now Google obviously got there quicker than I thought as they know the old pages exist. I've 301 redirected the others, but I cannot do this with the index.htm page - this causes a redirection loop error." ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=603959 I do remember that I had the same problem with wordpress when I tried to 301 redirect index.php and index.html to the home URL. But after trying for sometime, I finally managed to do the redirect in wordpress. I will check my .htaccess code to see how I did that 1+ years back. Will update again. You can check my site[a1newspapers] in my signature. Its a wordpress blog and both index.html and index.php redirect to the main URL

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