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Change My Domain Name On Existing Site?

by blogideas
11 replies
I hope this is the right forum as I wasn't sure which one would've fit it better.

I am thinking about switching one of my domain names, but I'm not sure of the process and how it will affect my existing blog, posts, and pages.

Can someone explain how this is done or what the pros and cons are?

Also, what happens to all of my existing pages? Do they somehow get a new url with the new domain name or do they keep the old url and forward to my the new site?

Is there an easy Wordpress plugin that will assist me with this transition if I choose to move forward with the change?
#change #domain #existing #site
  • Profile picture of the author Frankleclerc
    I changed the domain name of my blog and I got my database corrupted,
    iPage is my host and they worked it out for me. I'd open a ticket with your host if I were you.
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    • Profile picture of the author blathe
      Hi. Could you please explain a little more of what you may want to accomplish? For example, one option you may have is simply registering a new domain name and pointing it to your existing domain name. Feel free to ask any questions.

      Brian Lathe
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Moving to a different domain name is very easy. But if you have back links to the existing domain, you'll lose them all, unless you redirect every linked page.

    To move to a new domain, I suggest using a plugin called BackupBuddy. It will back up EVERYTHING on your site including databases, plugins, pages, posts, everything. Then you simply upload the backup file to the new domain and run the restore script that comes with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Always-A-Warrior
    Simple. In the same hosting of the site, add the domain name you want to use to the root. Then copy and move the files from the old domain name to the new domain name. Thats it.
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    FOR SALE: WebDesignInNewYork.com
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    If it's the same hosting, just go into your cpanel and first use Add on domain to add your new domain and make sure the nameservers are pointing to your host.

    Then go to File Manager and go to the old domain and click Select All
    Then click Move or Copy would be safer
    Then in the box, tell it where you want to copy the files, i.e., if your new domain is
    a folder like basketball with no extension, type in basketball. If you're new domain is in a folder like basketball.com with the extension, type in that and your files will be copied to the new domain.

    If it's wordpress, then go into the database for the site and change the domain name in wp-options. The user name and password to log into the new site will be the same as the old one. Once you login to the new Wordpress admin panel successfully, you can delete the old site and remove the domain from Add On domains.

    After you log into Wordpress go to Settings > General and make sure the url in the two boxes are the new url.

    Then download Search and Replace Wordpress plugin and install it.
    Then activate it and go to Tools > Search and Replace
    Select all the boxes and then type in the Search for box
    old domain name.com (without http://)
    and in Replace with box, type in
    new domain name without http://

    Rebuild the sitemap if you use an xml sitemap plugin and you should be good to go.

    Forgot to mention ... instead of removing the old domain from your cpanel, just go into Domains > Redirect and redirect it to the new domain. That'll take care of any traffic and backlinks going to the old domain name.
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    • Profile picture of the author lemiya
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      If it's the same hosting, just go into your cpanel and first use Add on domain to add your new domain and make sure the nameservers are pointing to your host.

      Then go to File Manager and go to the old domain and click Select All
      Then click Move or Copy would be safer
      Then in the box, tell it where you want to copy the files, i.e., if your new domain is
      a folder like basketball with no extension, type in basketball. If you're new domain is in a folder like basketball.com with the extension, type in that and your files will be copied to the new domain.

      If it's wordpress, then go into the database for the site and change the domain name in wp-options. The user name and password to log into the new site will be the same as the old one. Once you login to the new Wordpress admin panel successfully, you can delete the old site and remove the domain from Add On domains.

      After you log into Wordpress go to Settings > General and make sure the url in the two boxes are the new url.

      Then download Search and Replace Wordpress plugin and install it.
      Then activate it and go to Tools > Search and Replace
      Select all the boxes and then type in the Search for box
      old domain name.com (without http://)
      and in Replace with box, type in
      new domain name without http://

      Rebuild the sitemap if you use an xml sitemap plugin and you should be good to go.

      Forgot to mention ... instead of removing the old domain from your cpanel, just go into Domains > Redirect and redirect it to the new domain. That'll take care of any traffic and backlinks going to the old domain name.
      I also want to change my domain name. So, if I need to add a new domain name I will have to buy it right? Even if I want to just exchange the new domain with the old one. Could you please clarify?
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by lemiya View Post

        I also want to change my domain name. So, if I need to add a new domain name I will have to buy it right? Even if I want to just exchange the new domain with the old one. Could you please clarify?
        You can't exchange domain names, so yes, you have to buy the new domain name.
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  • Profile picture of the author zoomsixx
    Make sure you do a 301 redirect for your old domain to your new domain. This updated Google and lets them know where your new site is while retaining all of your backlinks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Hogni
    What will happen to the SERP rankings?

    Say I've got an exact match domain ranked for "How To Build a House" (just an example). I now want to move the site to a new - more brandable - domain name. Let's say I want to grab the domain BuildYourHouse dot com. I move all the content to the new domain and do a 301 redirect.

    Will the new domain get any extra juice (for lack of a better term) for that particular search query? Or do I have to start the SEO process from scratch?

    Will the old domain continue to rank and simply redirect the visitors?

    Does anyone know? Or would I just have to take a leap of faith? :p

    Best regards,
    Hogni
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Hogni View Post

      What will happen to the SERP rankings?

      Best regards,
      Hogni
      Nothing, if you do a 301 redirect from the old domain to the new domain
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Falzone
    When you do a 301 redirect everything will be working in place
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