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Change Domain Name

by dsulvett
11 replies
Question -
I have a domain that is just beginning to get indexed and make it to the first page of Google. I really need to change the name because it limits me to a local area. I thought i was going to be able to maintain a few different sites, but it will just be too much. SO - if i change my domain name, what will the cons be? is it like starting the site all over again? I'd like to hear suggestions before i do this.
Thank you!
#change #domain
  • Profile picture of the author Brendan Vraibel
    Originally Posted by dsulvett View Post

    is it like starting the site all over again?
    Short answer - yes. You could put a redirect on your current site so that all new visitors will be sent to your new site but it will take a while to build it back up to page 1.
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    • Profile picture of the author dsulvett
      how about technically speaking? what adjustments will i need to make? i knew about the redirect but everything will have to be re indexed?
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  • Profile picture of the author Nikolas
    I have done this and had no problem at all. The only thing you have to do is 301 redirect all the traffic to the new domain.
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    • Profile picture of the author dsulvett
      i just want to be certain - how about the indexing question..i mean will my rank drop considerably?
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      • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
        i just want to be certain - how about the indexing question..i mean will my rank drop considerably?
        Depends on your definition of 'considerably'.

        If it's a newer site, it may not be that long before your new name ranks. But if the old site has a lot of links pointing to it that's a different story.

        Redirects are ok, but having your visitors click on a link for one site and a different site shows up can give them the heeby geebies. I personally hate it and hit the back button if things don't look right.

        The trade off is 'are you willing to get better future results with the new name by suffering a little bit in the present'. So ask yourself, "Where do I want to be in a year from now?"

        ~Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill_Z
    If you are ranking on the first page for a domain and it just got indexed, I'm going to venture to say that it's ranking for a keyword that does not get any traffic. If you want to change the domain name, I would again venture to say that you should go ahead and get a different domain and don't even worry about the old one.

    To answer your question, yes you would have to get the new domain indexed again. But I mean if you are ranking first page for old domain, is that keyword really worth worrying about?
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  • Profile picture of the author dsulvett
    Thanks for the replies everyone - Bill -i do alot of blogging for real estate so i will need to redirect because there are links out there. will it effect the backlinks that have been created. I usually have back links pointed to deep in the site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill_Z
    Yes it will, but if you 301 the old domain to the new one you will be OK. The juice from the links will carry over to the new domain. It won't carry over 100%, but most of it will carry over.
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  • Profile picture of the author dsulvett
    The site wont change its look, just the domain name and banner. so, essentially this is an SEO type question... I just read a little about REDIRECTS. seems that may be a good solution so i dont have to change my backlinks. (i only have less than 100 right now).

    The site btw, is CamdenCountyNJHomesforSale.com and it is just too local. i was going to build another site for the next county over, but my thinking is put all my time into the one site. so, change the name to a more generic name.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill_Z
    Yes I think you are doing the right thing getting them both into one domain as opposed to two. Also, I personally wouldn't worry about getting the keywords in the name and go for a more brandable domain name or something more general. You will be able to rank those keywords with the right content and the right links. And if it's less than 100 backlinks and you are not getting that much traffic now I would go ahead and make the domain change.
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    • Profile picture of the author dsulvett
      Thank you all for your help! i hope it is not hard to do a redirect.
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