5 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
5 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Old domain versus new domain - keep or dump the old?

by nicheminer
4 replies
I've been running a membership site for the last 18 months or so.

The site is due a make over because it only has a lowly PR1 and is on something like page 5 for the main keyword.

The 'old' domain name is not easy to remember or type. I chose it when I knew bugger all about domain names, other than using keywords in the name.

I now have a new domain name which is much shorter and easy to remember. A big plus is that it has only both the main keywords in it.

My question is:

Do I just dump the old domain and transfer everything to the new one? Or, keep the old and do a redirect to the new. Maybe use the old for a blog and the new for the membership site?

With only a PR1 and low keyword ranking in Google, I want to find the best way of using the old domain name by keeping it linked to the new one.

Now that I know a lot more about research and keyword ranking I think that I could bump up the old domain (but the name sucks). I'd rather use the new domain name but get what little PR the old one has to help it get indexed and grow.

So what do you think is the best way to do this?

Graham
#domain #dump #versus
  • Profile picture of the author cadillac48
    I don't see the benefit of using the old with a redirect to the new. I think if there is a night and day difference between the domains, YOU SHOULD START FRESH and go with the new one.
    Signature

    SIGNATURE EDITED - please read sig file rules

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[211968].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Eric Engel
    I would start working on the new one...fresh. But keep your old one there, at least until your new one is getting traffic.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[211970].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tommygadget
    Keep the traffic. Link to the new site from the old one. Don't do a redirect until the old site is totally shut down.

    TomG.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[211983].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ItsMoneytime
      Out with the Old and in with the New. I would only suggest that you keep the old one if it's effectively working. In that case you go with what works. Besides you stated that the name wasn't memorable. And people like anything catchy, anything different. Don't be afraid of change, it could be for the best.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[212141].message }}

Trending Topics