2 URLs for same site, no redirects, no mirrors

I run a website with my own domain, like my-domain.com. However, my web-host also has a URL path to my website, of the form my-host.com/my-account. I submitted my-domain.com to DMOZ, and originally was listed under it. Then, I changed categories and the editor listed me under my-host.com/my-account in the process. Now, after a year of unsuccessful attempts at getting the correct URL back into my listing, my-host.com/my-account has propagated to Google's directory, and now to the search results... and now I don't know what to do, because I want to change hosts and I can't because my-domain.com doesn't show up in Google anymore.

(NOTE: Somehow, Google realizes that my-domain.com and my-host/my-account are the same website: they have the same page rank and same set of backlinks. So, when DMOZ changed URLs on me, the only difference in Google search results was that the my-host.com/my-account URL started showing up instead. This means if I change hosts now, I'll suddenly be out of the Google's search results altogether, and I will have lost two extremely significant links: DMOZ and Google directory.)

I have read that redirects and mirrors are not allowed, and perhaps the editor thought he was reconciling something like that. However, my domain is not a redirect or a mirror. Simply, my host has linked two URLs to the same website, one mine and one theirs.

It's also possible the editor thought I was asking for help optimizing my listing just to list well in Google, but that isn't the case. I already list well under Google, just not under my-domain.com.

(A side issue is the brand recognition I've lost because no one sees my domain name anymore... also extremely frustrating)

I have submitted a change to my URL several times (about 6 weeks apart) over the last 9 months, explaining the situation, but with no affect. Until this is reconciled, I'm stuck with my current web-host. How can I get my URL changed back to my-domain.com?

I think we have to work out the terms. In ODPs eyes:

- a "mirror" is a different place where the same data can be found. (Creation: Files are copied, or at least it looks like this from the outside.)
- a "redirector" is a URL "A" when all the files actually are on Server "B". Where B could be a geocities account and the first one either a redirector or a front page or something similiar.

Since you said that the same content is available on both sites, I don't see another possibility apart from the two above. In the first case, it is rather randoim which URL we list. In the second case we list the URL B that points directly to the data.

Apart from the terms, there is just another thing to say: We don't care for anything except that the user has to be able to access the site. No caring for PR, keywords, ... Don't blame us for marketing issues.

>>I think we have to work out the terms. In ODPs eyes:

>> - a "mirror" is a different place where the same data
>> can be found. (Creation: Files are copied, or at least
>> it looks like this from the outside.)
In my case, each file of the website exists only one time (i.e., no copies). My host has simply set up two different URLs to point at my files (beyond my control). However, it does "look" like the files are copied. So, from that perspective, you would call it a mirror site.

>> - a "redirector" is a URL "A" when all the files
>> actually are on Server "B". Where B could be a geocities
>> account and the first one either a redirector or a front
>> page or something similiar.
My domain isn't a single page and doesn't redirect to my host's domain.

So, based the definitions above, you would treat my domain like a mirror. Understood.

>> Since you said that the same content is available on
>> both sites, I don't see another possibility apart from
>> the two above. In the first case, it is rather random
>> which URL we list.
Since I fit your definition of mirror (because it looks like one), the choice of domain should not be random, since I did not submit both domains. It seems then that the editor figured it out himself, thought it was a redirector, and acted accordingly.

>> In the second case we list the URL B that points
>> directly to the data.
I'll guess that the editor thought I was submitting a redirect. If he were right, then his judgement was correct. However, it is not a redirect.

>> Apart from the terms, there is just another thing to
>> say: We don't care for anything except that the user has
>> to be able to access the site.
If the site is considered a mirror, and only one instance has to date received reciprocal links and been submitted to the search engines, then I would expect the two perceived instanced to be considered different sites. In that case, the wrong "site" is being accessed. If the editor does care about that as you say, then I would like to know the best method of presenting the situation to him/her so I can see it resolved.

>> No caring for PR, keywords, ...
My PR and keywords are not the issue. As you are, I am concerned about access to my site.

>> Don't blame us for marketing issues.
I am not looking for a scape goat or anything like that. I just want the cause-and-effect understood. So, what you call "blame", I call an explanation of my situation. I am simply trying to correct an error in human judgement for which I am paying the consequences.

Any advice in reconciling this problem appropriately will be appreciated.

Any advice in reconciling this problem appropriately will be appreciated.

Click to expand...

Without the actual url's we only can speculate about this situation.

www.outdoor-patio-furniture.biz (the URL I originally listed)
www.storesonline.com/site/431061/ (the URL currently listed)

Still no luck

I am currently listed in DMOZ under http://www.storesonline.com/site/431061, but would prefer to be listed under http://www.outdoor-patio-furniture.biz. The reason I have two addresses is because storesonline is my host provider. However, I own the domain http://www.outdoor-patio-furniture.biz, and they host my website under that domain as well. My website is therefore located on the same server at two different locations... definition of a mirror if I'm not mistaken (though I suppose it could be mistaken for a redirector).

As you know from reading the thread, I was originally listed under my own domain, until my listing was unexpectedly changed over to the storesonline domain. I have surmised that the editor mistook my domain for a redirector, even though it is probably better described as a mirror. So, here is what I did...

I changed my web page at http://www.storesonline.com/site/431061 so that it redirects after a few seconds to http://www.outdoor-patio-furniture.biz. I then submitted a change to my listing, explaining that http://www.storesonline.com/site/431061 is a redirector, and requesting that the listing be updated to http://www.outdoor-patio-furniture.biz . This was in February. The page I am listed on was updated in April, and my listing was not changed.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

The storesonline URL doesn't redirect for me. It just happily shows content at that URL.

Redirected for me, but not fast enough. It took over 10 seconds - which is too slow.

You're right, bobrat: the site takes 15-20 seconds to download all those gratuitious graphic clips, one at a time, then sits around for another 10 seconds, then takes the dive.

Ugh. But yes, you can put in a request to change the URL. Mention in your "reason for change" that the current URL does a (very slow!) meta-tag redirection.

And after a month you can come back to the "submittal status" forum and ask about it

Actually, your update request is already in the appropriate category, awaiting review. The only thing I can suggest is now patience.

Thanks!

I want to thank everyone for the valuable input!

I will be patient, and see if the update occurs... I will also see what I can do to speed up the load and the redirect.

Thank you again!

Still no change

abound said:

I want to thank everyone for the valuable input!

I will be patient, and see if the update occurs... I will also see what I can do to speed up the load and the redirect.

Thank you again!

Click to expand...

It's been six months... still no change... ugghhhh!

You're about 11 days early for a status update if that what you're looking for. Come back after the 16th.