Hi, I have a new website that I created on a new webhosts server. The new website has a new domain name. I will no longer need the old domain name but thought I would leave it up for a year or so to make sure people going to the old site get directed to the new one.
How do I direct guests of my old website to the new website on the new webhost? The new website is under a new domain name. So how long should I keep my old domain address.
I am guessing that if you Google the website, the old website will pop up. How do I change it for Google so when you search the website, it will bring up the new site instead of the old website pages?
Hi @sarahbarrick. Where your old domain name is hosted, there will be an option to redirect any traffic to a different domain name. It’s different for each domain host, but if you poke around you should find an option to set up a redirect. Then, any visits to the old domain will be redirected to the new one. The search engines will realize that traffic is being sent to a different domain and sooner or later will update their records.
I agree, just set up a 301 permanent redirect on your old domain. This will automatically send users and search engines to your new site. Regarding how long to keep the old domain, a year is generally sufficient, but you may want to maintain it longer if you have many backlinks. To update Google’s search results, submit your new site to Google Search Console and request the old site be removed from the index.
Hi there! It sounds like you’re doing a domain migration, which is pretty common when moving to a new website with a new domain name. Here’s how you can redirect visitors from your old domain to the new one:
Set up a 301 Redirect: The easiest way to make sure visitors to your old domain end up on your new site is to set up a 301 redirect. This tells browsers and search engines that the page has permanently moved to a new location. You can usually do this in your old domain’s control panel, or you might need to update the .htaccess file if you’re using an Apache server.
Update Google Search Console: Add your new domain to Google Search Console and set it as your preferred domain. This will help Google recognize your new site and start showing it in search results instead of the old one. Don’t forget to also verify your old domain in Search Console if you haven’t already, and submit the change of address.
Keep the Old Domain for a While: It’s smart to keep the old domain active for at least a year, just like you mentioned. This gives Google time to fully update its index and ensures that any users who have bookmarked your old site or linked to it can still find you at the new address.
Update Backlinks: If you can, try to reach out to anyone who’s linking to your old site and ask them to update their links to the new domain. This can help with SEO and make the transition smoother.
To point your old domain to a new domain, update the DNS settings of the old domain to redirect to the new domain. This typically involves setting up a 301 redirect in your web hosting control panel or updating the A record to the new domain’s IP address. Additionally, ensure any links and resources are updated to reflect the new domain.