You may be wondering how to change domain because this can impact your site’s visibility, user experience, and search engine rankings. But doing it is a rare occurrence. In most cases, you will stick with your domain forever, as it is most likely fundamental to your brand.
At Cronuts Digital, we walk you through the process of changing your website’s domain name effectively. From planning and preparation to technical adjustments and post-migration checks, we’ll cover each step to ensure a smooth transition. By following these best practices, you can minimize potential pitfalls and set your site up for continued success with its new domain.
What are the main reasons for chainging your domain?
For a rebranding
Sometimes, a complete brand overhaul necessitates a new domain name to align with your updated branding. Whether you’re dissatisfied with your current domain or have selected an unsuitable top-level domain (TLD) like .com or .net, changing your domain name can be a smooth process. The transition not only allows you to retain your existing content but also helps avoid confusing your regular visitors. By following a straightforward step-by-step process, you can seamlessly switch to a new domain without encountering significant issues.
As a result of the installation of an SSL security certificate
When an SSL certificate is installed, the main domain is changed from “http://yourweb.com” to “https://yourweb.com” and that is why all the URLs of your website will be affected.
The process explained below is exactly the same for changing your domain completely as it is for changing to a secure domain with an SSL certificate. In this case, you can go directly to step 3.
How to change the domain name of a website correctly (in 5 steps)
The process of changing a domain name is simple, although the “right way” involves more than just buying a new domain. It is also important to make the process as simple as possible for your visitors, so let’s take a look at how to do it.
Step 1: choosing a new domain name and assigning it to your website
Choosing a new domain name is a very personal decision, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
When you are ready, you can register your new domain name through any domain and hosting platform. However, you will have to search each provider’s knowledge base to find the correct process.
Step 2: work on rebranding and web design
Depending on your choice of domain, you may need to update aspects of your site design to reflect this. For example, your logo is likely to need an update, but the same goes for any other elements that allude to your previous domain name.
For example:
- “The about” page if you have one.
- The footer, which often includes copyright information.
- The website tagline, which is the text that normally appears in a browser tab when you open it.
- Any references within your content.
Fortunately, making these changes is relatively straightforward, although you will need to make sure that you have removed all references to your previous domain on your website before moving forward.
You’ll also need to inform visitors about these changes so that they’re not left in the dark. We’ll talk about that shortly, but before that, let’s talk about redirects.
Step 3: redirect traffic to your new domain name
When changing domains, it’s crucial to approach the process in an SEO-friendly manner to preserve your website’s search engine rankings. While some loss of ranking is possible due to the delicate nature of this transition, following the right steps can significantly minimize potential issues.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that the domain change process is not instantaneous. Although you can switch to a new domain relatively quickly, it may take some time for Google to reflect these changes in search results. Patience is essential as you monitor the transition to ensure everything is functioning as expected.
Before initiating the domain change, it is highly advisable to create a backup of your website. This precautionary step ensures that if any problems arise during the transition, you can easily restore your site to its previous state.
The first practical step in changing your domain is to configure the new domain to point to your current hosting. This means directing your new domain to the hosting server where your website is located. If your new domain is registered with a different provider than your hosting service, you will need to update the DNS servers to match those of your old domain. Conversely, if the new domain is registered with the same provider as your hosting, you can typically manage the domain change directly through your hosting control panel. Keep in mind that DNS propagation may take between 24 to 48 hours, although it often occurs more quickly.
What are 301 redirects?
The most critical aspect of preserving your SEO positioning is setting up 301 redirects. This can usually be accomplished through your hosting control panel under the “Domains/Redirections” section or by manually editing the .htaccess file. If the .htaccess file does not exist, you will need to create one. On the redirections page, select the option for Permanent (301) redirects and specify the old domain that should redirect to the new one. Once you save these settings, visitors to your old domain will be automatically redirected to the new domain, ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining your site’s SEO value.
It is critical to consider that if we have changed the URL structure of the website to try to make it more SEO friendly, we must add a 301 redirect for each URL we have changed as follows.
- Old URL
- New URL
- redirect 301 /blog/21-change-domain-2018 https://www.tudominio.es/como-cambiar-dominio/
- We recommend that you keep them active until all traffic from your old domain is lost.
Step 4: requesting a change of address in Search Console
Once the redirections have been completed, we will have to access Google Search Console and add 4 properties of the new domain, in order to request the domain change from Google.
Then we will have to go to the old version of Search Console and choose the property of the old domain, and then we will have to request the change of address.
Basically, we have to choose the new domain and then submit the domain change request.
Step 5: inform your users about your domain change
At this point, you should already have a new domain name up and running. All that is left now is to notify your users about the changes to your website, such as your new URL, and the rebranding process when necessary. This step is important because without it, you will have many confused repeat customers.
Here are the three best ways to break the news to your user base:
- Add an explanatory post on your website as soon as you rebrand.
- Use social media to inform your followers by sharing the post.
- Send an email marketing campaign explaining the changes on your website.
Is it really worth it?
Changing your domain name is a significant step that, when done correctly, can enhance your brand’s alignment and online presence without jeopardizing your SEO efforts. By following the outlined steps—configuring your new domain, updating DNS settings, setting up 301 redirects, and ensuring a backup of your site—you can facilitate a smooth transition and minimize potential disruptions. Patience is key as search engines adjust to the new domain, but with careful execution and ongoing monitoring, you can preserve your site’s search engine rankings and continue to provide a seamless experience for your visitors.
At Cronuts Digital, we recommend that you embrace the process as an opportunity to refresh your brand and stay confident that these strategic steps will support a successful domain transition.
