How to fix the Google W.T. 'preferred domain' bug
An annoying bug in Google Webmaster Tools prevents you from setting your preferred domain as the www version. This frustrating bug is also known as the "Part of the process of setting a preferred domain is to verify that you own ...." bug.
You can spend hours trying to find a solution to this - or just give up in frustration, as most site owners do. This bug was introduced in a change to the layout / procedures in GWT and has frustrated hundreds of thousands of site owners since its introduction. It prevents you setting the preferred domain version, and is doubly annoying since the entire purpose of the setting in the first place is to allow you to set your preferred domain format, and eliminate duplicate URLs for the site. In other words Google provide a facility to select the correct, canonical URL for the site - then stop you doing so.
When you try to set the correct URL, an error message appears, "Part of the process of setting a preferred domain is to verify that you own.......". Eventually, this can drive you crazy, trying to find a fix. It's very difficult to see the solution, as it is so illogical.
And here is the fix:
- You need to submit and verify TWO websites (even though only one exists)
- You must submit both versions of the site's domain / URL - the www and the non-www domains are seen as separate sites for some reason
- You must also verify the non-existent domain as well
- Just use the same verification file or verify-code
- Then select your preferred version, eg www.a3webtech.com
- This will now complete successfully
- Then DELETE the nonexistent other site from your site list
So: first, submit a new site. If (as 99.9999999% of site owners will) you wish to use the canonical version like, for example, www.a3webtech.com, ensure it is in your site list. Then click 'Add A Site' and add a new, nonexistent other site - the http://a3webtech.com version. You will now see that you own two sites. Now verify the nonexistent site using the normal procedure - it's probably exactly the same verification code.
Then go to the Settings area and select the correct preferred www version. This now completes satisfactorily. Go back to Home, and your site list. Simply delete the nonexistent http://..... site.
All is now well.
Why does this exist? Who knows. It's possible though that someone might redirect traffic to the alternative site domain (a type of pagejacking). In any case an explanation of how to fix the bug should be given on the page, within GWT.
It's yet another example of the fact - obvious to all except those responsible, developers - that usability and documentation are not a developer's strong points :)
Come back Vanessa F, all is forgiven, even the naked blogging...
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Fix the GWT Bug
