Launching a new Web site can be exciting, especially if you’re also changing your domain name. You’ve probably put a lot of time and effort into building your SEO rankings, and you don’t want to lose them. That’s why we’ve created a handy checklist to guide you through the migration process.
Why change your domain name?
While it is usually better to keep your existing domain name, there may be situations where a change is necessary:
- You have access to a better domain name, for example, because it has been released or you can buy a premium domain name.
- Your current domain name has received a Google penalty due to, for example, spammy SEO techniques.
- Your company is undergoing a name change, which necessitates a domain change.
Tips before you begin
- Back up your current website so you can always fall back on a secure version.
- Leave your old domain active and renew the registration. This will prevent your accumulated value from being lost or taken over by a competitor.
- Be prepared for a temporary drop in visitor numbers. This is normal during a migration, but can be minimized with a good plan.
1. Copy your website to the new domain
Move your entire website to the new domain. Use tools such as WP All-in-One Migration or perform a manual migration. After the migration, check that all internal links work and images load correctly.
2. Set up 301 redirects
Use a 301 redirect to redirect search engines and visitors from your old domain to your new domain. Add the redirects in your server’s .htaccess file. If your URL structure remains the same, use the following code: RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^olddomain.com
[NC,OR] RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.oudedomein.nl [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://nieuwedomein.nl/$1 [L,R=301,NC]
If your URL structure changes, set up a redirect for each page manually. After setting up, check that all redirects work correctly.
3. Inform Google about the domain change
Go to Google Search Console and submit a change of address. Make sure both your old and new domain are verified in Search Console.
4. Submit a new sitemap
Make sure your sitemap is up-to-date and submit it to Google Search Console. This will help Google index your new site faster and correctly.
5. Check and monitor
Regularly check Google Search Console for errors and indexing issues. Watch for notifications and crawl errors to make sure your website is being indexed correctly.
6. Update backlinks
Contact websites linking to your old domain and ask them to update the links to your new domain. Although a 301 redirect will pass on link value, a direct link to your new domain is always better.
7. Inform your customers
Communicate the domain change with your customers to avoid confusion. This can be done through email, social media and your website.
8. Analyze the results
Monitor the performance of your new domain and wait patiently for Google to fully process the migration. A temporary drop in rankings is normal, but with a well-executed plan, they will recover quickly.
Need help?
Want support migrating your website? Feel free to contact OnlineLabs. We will be happy to help you make a smooth transition and maintain your SEO rankings.
