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Change name of site and url?

by CopyWhiz
7 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
I just started a new web site with a particular idea in mind so I got a url that worked well with that site. Now, as I am developing it, I am changing the focus of the site. The url that I have is no longer appropriate. I just started the website, but I already have a lot of files.

Should I get a new url that matches more closely to the new focus of my site and upload my files? What happens to all the files I have already uploaded with my current url? I would actually have two sets of identical files on the internet - one with the old url and one with a new url.

Can I just do a redirect from my current url to a new url? If so, what problems might this cause?

What is the best way to handle this problem?

Thanks!


Jeanne
#change #rename site #site #url
  • Profile picture of the author kenspohn
    Jeanne

    If it was me I would just do a redirect. But, I think it depends on your outcome.

    Anyway here are 2 ways to redirect

    for PHP
    <?php header("location: http : // www . newsite . com");?>
    for HTML
    goes in the header
    <meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="1; url=http : // www . newsite . com">

    Hope that helps...
    PS I had to put space in the url's so I could post this message
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    • Profile picture of the author CopyWhiz
      Thanks! One more question...

      If I do a redirect, can I just do a redirect from my cpanel?

      Thanks...
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  • Profile picture of the author NowIstheTime
    I see another option for you if you have abandoned the idea of using this domain for anything else, you can even PARK (domain forwarding in DNS) the new domain over the old one. This feature is simple to do, and supported by most domain resigstrars.

    Redirects will accomplish the same thing, but require the web browser to first find your old site, then get redirected the new site -- overalll a much slower process than above.

    Also, with the domain parking above, it would be very difficult to even know that the 'old' domain exists.

    And even if you haven't 'abandoned hope' in the old domain, you can still do this while you figure out what you want to do with the old one...
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  • Profile picture of the author dannykth8
    Jeanne, what you need to worried is how many page that already indexed by search engine. therefore, you need to redirect to exact location of your page. not only to home page.
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  • Profile picture of the author samjustin
    From Seo Point of View it is neccessary to retain crawled pages, I think should follow the method kenposhn, redirect your new old URL to new one.
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    • Profile picture of the author NowIstheTime
      I'm not sure if a php redirect would help you as much for SEO purposes, but I could be wrong.

      For SEO purposes, you may want to consider a 301 Redirect... as suggested by the Big G itself:
      * Moving your site - Webmasters/Site owners Help

      Here is a way to redirect the entire site to the new site with one command in your .htaccess file :
      * 301 Redirect - How to create Redirects

      Of course, for SEO purposes, you would still need to go to each of your backlinks and ask them to update to the new domain name.

      --------------

      You can and 'should' use this 301 redirect method to move visitors from your old site to your new site.

      But you should still consider the domain parking method to 'prevent' visitors from ever having to 'deal' with the old site. (i.e. the new site would reside on top of the old site, without them having to be 'redirected' to it.)

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  • Profile picture of the author cheapdeals
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author CopyWhiz
      Thanks everyone for all your great advice. You provided the info I was looking for - now I need to sort it all out and get busy! Thanks again!

      Jeanne
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