How to Change a Website Domain Name?

Are you thinking of changing your website’s domain name? Whether it’s because of a rebranding effort, global expansion, or a strategic shift in business, transitioning to a new domain name requires more than just a simple switch. While major brands like Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) have successfully accomplished this transition, there are essential steps you must follow to maintain your hard-earned digital reputation.

Here, we will discuss why businesses make this change and provide a comprehensive, step-by-step plan to help you transition without risking your website’s standing or alienating your audience.

Why Change a Website Domain?

Today’s digital business demands constant development and expansion. A stagnant approach can be disastrous as competitors lure customers away.

A successful business is constantly adapting to its environment, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium.

This gives us many reasons to change domain:

1. Rebranding: Originally registered as BackRub and Quantum Computer Services, Google and AOL changed their names for better branding and reputation management.
2. Geographic expansion: Companies often simplify their name and remove regional ties when entering new markets. Sony is an excellent example, initially named Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation).
3. Changing the approach to business: Companies often expand their range of products and services, change their internal structure, target different audiences, or shift their price category. Consequently, their old name may no longer reflect the essence of the rebranded company, making it necessary to change their domain name. Examples of such transformations include Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spice becoming Starbucks and Facebook transitioning to Meta.

How to Maintain Website Success When Changing the Domain?

If you have a basic understanding of SEO, you know that it’s a complex process from a business perspective. Domain authority plays a crucial role in a modern approach to site promotion. If you create a new domain name, you must start from scratch.

Fortunately, changing your domain doesn’t have to be a disaster for your rankings. With a detailed plan and careful execution, you can minimize the impact on your site’s rankings.

SEO analysis is essential here. To track the initial loss of rankings and their subsequent recovery, a search engine position tool, or rank tracker can be helpful.

A detailed transition plan is necessary for any website, from a one-page landing site to an international online store. We will guide you on what to prepare for and what aspects to consider.

A Step-By-Step Plan For Changing a Website Domain Name

The key advice is to avoid rushing through your plan and ensure each step is correct before moving on.

1. Create a Backup So That You Don’t Lose Data

You can set up a website backup in the following ways:

• With the help of plugins. For example, UpdraftPlus or EasyWP plugins on WordPress.
• FileZilla is an FTP client that provides access to your website files. You can store backups on the cloud or your computer’s hard drive.
• In the administrator panel of your hosting service, you can easily enable automatic backups with just one click (usually free).

2. Choose a New Domain Name

We have previously discussed how to select a domain name for your website. TL;DR:

• When choosing a name, ensure it aligns with your business’s values, products, structure, pricing, and marketing.
• If you want people to remember your website’s domain name, keep it short and memorable.
• Consider multiple options and weigh the pros and cons using brainstorming.
• Before choosing a name, check its availability on both registrars and social networks. If it’s already taken, consider alternatives.

3. Acquire the New Domain Name

You can use a registrar like GoDaddy or Google Domain to check the domain availability.

Acquiring a good domain name can be difficult and expensive. You may need to use a broker and transfer the newly acquired domain to your chosen registrar, updating its DNS settings as necessary.

4. Redirect the Old URLs to the New Ones

This step is the most important! You must create redirects to make sure search engines and your users can find the new site and update the old URLs to the new ones.

For this purpose, it’s best to contact your hosting provider to help you with redirect settings or ask a developer. 

If you’re confident, you can do it by yourself. Open the “.htaccess” file and add the following lines of code to it:

#Redirect the old domain name

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(?:www\.)?domainold\.com [NC]

RewriteRule ^/?(.*) https://www.domainnew.com/$1 [L,R=301]

Replace “domainold” with the previous address and “domainnew” with the current address. Note that a single mistake can break the website.

5. Notify Search Engines About the Change of Address

Update search engines with new links. In Google Search Console, select “Change of address” from the menu. This will initiate the migration process and notify you upon completion. The process is similar in Bing Webmaster Tools and Yahoo! Site Explorer. 

6. Conduct an Audit After Migration

After migrating your website, it’s crucial to check for small technical errors. Use a tool like Screaming Frog to crawl your site and identify any links directing to 404 error pages.

Also, while you created 301 redirects, it’s best to update internal links on your top business pages.

7. Keep Your Audience in the Loop with Your Brand Evolution

Rebranding is a monumental step in any business’s journey, and changing your domain name is a crucial part of that transformation. It’s essential that your loyal audience is kept informed and feels involved in this change:

• Email Outreach: Send a well-crafted email to your subscribers, detailing the reasons behind the change, what it means for them, and what they can expect moving forward. Personal touches in these communications can make a big difference.
• Visual Branding: Refresh your logo across all platforms to reflect the new name. This not only signals the change but also ensures brand consistency, reinforcing the new identity in the minds of your consumers.
• Social Media Updates: Ensure every touchpoint, especially your social media profiles, displays the updated brand information. Engage with your followers, perhaps through a Q&A session or an interactive post, to address any questions or feedback they might have about the rebranding.

Navigating the Domain Transition Waters with Confidence

Embarking on the journey of changing your website’s domain isn’t just about making a choice; it’s about making the right choice. While this transition can momentarily shake your site’s traffic, the long-term benefits of improved brand reputation and reaching a broader audience can make it all worthwhile.

For a smooth transition, remember the essentials:

• Begin with a thorough backup of your site.
• Dive into the brainstorming process, and once you’ve settled on the perfect name, ensure its availability.
• Register your chosen domain.
• Promptly update the new address in your site’s admin console.
• Make sure search engines are informed about your new digital address.
• Do a comprehensive audit of the revamped site to ensure everything’s in order.
• And, don’t forget about your external links and audience; keep them updated every step of the way.

Venturing into new domain territory might seem daunting, but with the right tools and guidance, you can safeguard your website’s position. Consider integrating a rank-tracking service to keep a close eye on your site’s ranking dynamics and gain valuable insights for constant improvement.