How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links

kaz larson · 10-15-2009, 06:29 AM

Hi everyone,
Please could anyone help me.
I am sorta new to all this. Currently I have a wordpress site hosted by godaddy and am thinking of changing the website name (URL) since it is not a good one.

But I am getting traffic and have a lot of articles pointing to it so wondered how I go about it.

Do I buy a new domain name then copy everything to it?
How will my links from the original site transfer
I do not want the original domain name to be used anymore

Please advise and let me know if you need any other information.

Thank you

Bex7175 · 10-15-2009, 07:09 AM

Hi there,

One possibility is to automatically redirect traffic from your old domain name. That means that when people follow a link to it they will automatically be taken to the original content but on the new site. There are two ways that you can do that, either coming up with a message saying 'this site has moved to newaddress.com' with an redirect within 5 seconds, or an immediate redirect resulting in their being transferred immediately without knowing it unless they look in the address bar.

It's quite easy to set up web forwarding using whatever service holds the original domain name. The only downside is that you will need to keep the old domain in order to forward traffic from it, at least for a while until the new address is more recognised.

The articles that are pointing at it you can't do a lot about unfortunately, short of editing every article that you've ever submitted to point at the new address (not even sure if that's possible with some article directories?). So a redirect is probably the best plan.

Hope that helps,

Bex

mpruben · 10-15-2009, 07:20 AM

The official advice from Google:

Moving your site - Webmasters/Site owners Help

Use the 301 they mention and your visitors will hardly notice and link benefit is retained.

fabcsaby · 10-15-2009, 07:24 AM

Use the 301 redirect, because Google will see your new website like a copy of your old, and will penalize your new domain for taking content from other websites.

kaz larson · 10-15-2009, 07:39 AM

Hi Bex,

Thank you so much for your answer. It seems like it will not be too hard.
Have I got this right:
So I am going to buy a new domain name and then get that all set up.
Then get Godaddy to redirect from the old to the new.

I will not worry about the articles since they will be redirected

Then I guess I have to just wait for google to see my new site and I will start promoting it. After awhile I could get rid of the first site.
Again thank you and please correct me if I am wrong.
Some times I seem to worry about something and then it is easier than I thought.
Thanks Karen

kaz larson · 10-15-2009, 07:41 AM

Wow more answers while I was typing - you are all great!

Ok I will find out about 301 redirect because it will be the same information on the new site and the last thing I want to do is lose what little rank I have with google.

again thanks everyone

Aronya · 10-15-2009, 01:26 PM

If the articles you mentioned are yours, I would start changing the links in them to your new URL, once you have it set up. Otherwise, when you take down your existing site, the links will no longer work.

Joshua.E1 · 10-15-2009, 10:02 PM

You may want to look at "Redirect Web Page URLs".

And by the way, try not to do this again, as it will indirectly hurt your ranking.

10-15-2009, 06:29 AM	#1
kaz larson Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links Hi everyone, Please could anyone help me. I am sorta new to all this. Currently I have a wordpress site hosted by godaddy and am thinking of changing the website name (URL) since it is not a good one. But I am getting traffic and have a lot of articles pointing to it so wondered how I go about it. Do I buy a new domain name then copy everything to it? How will my links from the original site transfer I do not want the original domain name to be used anymore Please advise and let me know if you need any other information. Thank you

10-15-2009, 07:09 AM	#2
Bex7175 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links Hi there, One possibility is to automatically redirect traffic from your old domain name. That means that when people follow a link to it they will automatically be taken to the original content but on the new site. There are two ways that you can do that, either coming up with a message saying 'this site has moved to newaddress.com' with an redirect within 5 seconds, or an immediate redirect resulting in their being transferred immediately without knowing it unless they look in the address bar. It's quite easy to set up web forwarding using whatever service holds the original domain name. The only downside is that you will need to keep the old domain in order to forward traffic from it, at least for a while until the new address is more recognised. The articles that are pointing at it you can't do a lot about unfortunately, short of editing every article that you've ever submitted to point at the new address (not even sure if that's possible with some article directories?). So a redirect is probably the best plan. Hope that helps, Bex
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10-15-2009, 07:20 AM	#3
mpruben HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London, UK. Posts: 143 Thanks: 0 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links The official advice from Google: Moving your site - Webmasters/Site owners Help Use the 301 they mention and your visitors will hardly notice and link benefit is retained.
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10-15-2009, 07:24 AM	#4
fabcsaby Joomla Expert Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 54 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links Use the 301 redirect, because Google will see your new website like a copy of your old, and will penalize your new domain for taking content from other websites.
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10-15-2009, 07:39 AM	#5
kaz larson Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links Hi Bex, Thank you so much for your answer. It seems like it will not be too hard. Have I got this right: So I am going to buy a new domain name and then get that all set up. Then get Godaddy to redirect from the old to the new. I will not worry about the articles since they will be redirected Then I guess I have to just wait for google to see my new site and I will start promoting it. After awhile I could get rid of the first site. Again thank you and please correct me if I am wrong. Some times I seem to worry about something and then it is easier than I thought. Thanks Karen

10-15-2009, 07:41 AM	#6
kaz larson Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links Wow more answers while I was typing - you are all great! Ok I will find out about 301 redirect because it will be the same information on the new site and the last thing I want to do is lose what little rank I have with google. again thanks everyone

10-15-2009, 01:26 PM	#7
Aronya Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Escondido, CA. Becase San Marcos just wasn't hot enough. Posts: 510 Thanks: 35 Thanked 56 Times in 55 Posts	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links If the articles you mentioned are yours, I would start changing the links in them to your new URL, once you have it set up. Otherwise, when you take down your existing site, the links will no longer work.

10-15-2009, 10:02 PM	#8
Joshua.E1 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 258 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: How do I change my URL to a new one and keep all my links You may want to look at "Redirect Web Page URLs". And by the way, try not to do this again, as it will indirectly hurt your ranking.
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