Domain Mapping, Webmaster Tools Verification

  • Unknown's avatar

    I have started a blog ( kantoos.wordpress.com ) a while ago and now bought a new domain & mapping at WP.com, the easy way for beginners like me (by the way, I love how easy that is, thanks for that!). The new location is http://kantooseconomics.com.

    My question is this (I am sorry if that was answered before, I could not find anything): I did the webmaster tool verification for my old kantoos.wordpress.com location when I started (for all three of them. Again, I love how easy you have made that). Do I need to do this again for my new location?

    And is there any way I can see in the Stats whether the incoming people came directly via the new address or whether they were redirected? And does it matter?

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar

    Maybe I should add one remark: in the Tools section, under Webmaster Tools Verification, there is only one space for each search engine. So in order to put a new meta tag in there, I need to delete the old one. Or am I completely on the wrong track here?

  • In this case, add the new domain to your Webmaster Tools account, then add that domain’s meta tag to your blog.

    Then, in Webmaster Tools, select the old address, choose Site configuration -> Change of address, and select the new domain.

  • Unknown's avatar

    Macmanx,

    thanks for your answer.

    I have done that now, and it seems to work fine for Google, the verification seems to have gone through.

    For Bing, there was no new verification necessary, it seems. I just added the new site and that went through. Is that possible?

    For Yahoo, it doesn’t work, the verfication fails (I tried the new meta tag several times, I rechecked spelling etc.). Does it just take time?

    You write “in Webmaster Tools, select the old address, choose Site configuration -> Change of address, and select the new domain.” I am not sure what you mean. Where can I find “Site configuration -> Change of address”?

    Thanks again!

  • “Site configuration -> Change of address” are in the left sidebar in Google’s Webmaster Tools when you click on the old domain.

    Google took about 15 minutes to verify for me, so maybe Yahoo takes time too. Keep in mind that if this is a new domain, it could take up to 72 hours for them to even realize that it exists.

    Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the webmaster tools at Bing and Yahoo, so you mind want to ask over there for help.

  • Unknown's avatar

    Thanks again.

    Regarding Yahoo, I check “View Source” in my browser of my new site and the meta tag is there and is correct. So I hope Yahoo will find it soon.

    The Google “change of address” says (I am translating here): can only be done for websites at the root level. I guess that a xxx.wordpress.com does not qualify?!

  • In that case, I suppose not, but since domain mapping issues a 301 (permanent) redirect from the old blog URL to your new domain, Google should catch on pretty quick.

  • Unknown's avatar

    Thanks so much for your help!

  • Unknown's avatar

    Just FYI: after a few hours, also Yahoo verified the new site successfully.

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