As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience helping sites switch domains, I‘ve seen it all. Domain migrations can be complex, but don‘t worry – you‘ve got this! Follow this comprehensive guide and you can change your WordPress site‘s domain like a pro.
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Why Do Sites Change Domains?
Domain changes are quite common – a recent survey showed 17% of sites migrate to a new domain every year. Some key reasons sites switch domains:
- Rebranding and getting a new business name
- Switching to a different TLD (e.g. .com to .net)
- Getting a shorter/catchier domain name
- Resolving trademark disputes
- Gaining greater credibility with certain domain extensions (like .edu or .gov)
The Risks of Changing Domains
Without careful planning, changing domains can negatively impact:
- SEO rankings and traffic. Google needs time to crawl the new domain and update search results.
- User experience. Links break, assets don‘t load properly, and confusion ensues.
- Brand recognition. Users need to get familiar with the new domain name.
Here are some common issues I‘ve seen after a WordPress domain change:
Yikes! Let‘s avoid this by following some best practices.
Step-by-Step: How to Change Domains Like a Ninja
Follow these steps to switch domains smoothly:
1. Research and Create a Project Plan
Plan ahead to avoid headaches! Your project plan should cover:
- Technical steps for migrating site and content
- Communications plan for informing users
- Rollback plan in case anything goes wrong
2. Backup Existing Site
Always backup before making changes! Use UpdraftPlus to:
- Backup files and database
- Download backup archives
- Store backups off-site
3. Purchase New Domain and Hosting
If switching hosts, get new accounts ready:
- Purchase new domain
- Get new hosting account
- Point domain to hosting
4. Set up Staging Environment
Clone your site to a staging area:
LIVE SITE (olddomain.com) <----- STAGING SITE (newdomain.com) This lets you test in a safe sandbox.
5. Migrate Site to New Domain
Time to make the switch!
- Install fresh WordPress on new domain
- Use All-in-One WP Migration to transfer site
- Update DB with new domain name
6. Redirect Old Domain to New Domain
This is crucial for SEO. Create 301 redirects in .htaccess:
Redirect 301 /oldpage.html https://newdomain.com/newpage 7. Resubmit Sitemaps
Let search engines know about the new domain:
- Generate XML sitemap for new domain
- Submit sitemap in Google Search Console
8. Inform Users
Tell visitors about the change:
- Post announcements on your site
- Email subscribers
- Update social media channels
Migration Complete!
With proper planning and these steps, you can successfully change WordPress domains without losing traffic or rankings. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hope this helps you migrate domains like a boss. Now go out there and conquer the web!
