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For many new website owners, domain redirection can be daunting. Initially, things seem straightforward – you have a few basic pages, so navigation is a breeze. Plus, you don’t have to worry about complicated backend URL routing.
However, as your website grows and evolves, things can get more complex. As you add new categories, subpages, and content, the number of URLs multiplies. Some of these URLs may not be as clean and user-friendly as you’d like. Or an audit might reveal underperforming pages that need tweaking. Before you know it, you’ve gathered a bunch of outdated URLs that clutter things up.
So, what can you do? It’s simple – redirect old URLs! This ensures that all previous website links still direct web traffic to the correct destination pages. In some cases, you might also need to redirect one domain to another. This can be necessary when you merge to websites, upgrade your domain (from one TLD to another, for example), or rename your business.
Now, I know the idea of setting up redirects might sound complicated, but don’t worry! It’s quite simple. Today, we’ll walk you through:
- how domain redirection works
- types of domain redirects
- how to redirect one URL to another on a single domain
- How to redirect one domain to another
And you won’t need a computer science degree to understand the process!
Alright, let’s dive right in, shall we?
What is a Domain Redirect?
Every website has a primary domain name that users visit often. For instance, ours is Atom.com.
However, Atom’s online presence extends beyond just this main domain. We have other related web addresses that users may have come across through links. Every visitor needs to end up in the right place, regardless of which URL they use, which is where redirects come in.
A redirect takes anyone visiting an old or alternate web address and guides them to the primary domain. It all happens behind the scenes, so visitors don’t even know they’re being “redirected”. Redirects can be used when merging two sites, getting rid of old pages that are linked elsewhere on the web, making sure users end up on the homepage when they may otherwise have encountered an error, and much more.
When you use a redirect, the address bar will simply update to reflect the destination site URL, even if accessed indirectly.
In a nutshell, redirects make sure that all roads lead to Rome, so to speak. They ensure a unified user experience by mapping outdated links to your intended landing pages.
Types of Domain Redirect
There are several options to choose from when redirecting a domain or redirecting from one URL to another within your domain. Here are the main ones:
- 301 Redirects – This permanent redirect passes along the same page rank and link equity from the old URL to the new one. It’s best suited for redirects after a long-term or definitive URL structure change. Permanent redirects are recognized by Google as such, and the old URL is removed from the search engine’s index. This has a small negative effect on SEO but is clearer and easier to manage in the long term if a redirect is permanent.
- 302 Redirects – 302 Redirects indicate a temporary change, while 301 signals a permanent one. Use 302 redirects only when it’s a shorter redirect, like testing a new domain when redesigning a site. Google views 302 redirects as temporary and keeps the original URL listed. Your browser also won’t cache sites with 301 redirects.
- Meta Refresh – This is an older redirect method that implements code in the HTML <head> to redirect after a delay. However, this can negatively impact the user experience compared to other options.
- JavaScript Redirects – Using JS code for a redirect works, but many consider it bad for accessibility and security.
- HTACCESS Redirects – For Apache servers, .htaccess files allow easy redirect setup right from your FTP folder. It is perfect for most basic domain redirects
301s are usually the way to go unless you need a temporary 302. There are also 303, 307, and 308 redirects but these are a little more complicated and not usually necessary for webpage redirects.
Of course, before you create a domain redirect, you need to make sure everything else is in order.
Preparing For Domain Redirection
- Back up your site files. Also, document any custom configs like DNS or email addresses. You’ll need them in case the domain redirection process goes wrong.
- Update internal links pointing to pages with the old domain name.
- Reach out to sites linking to you externally to point them right.
- Watch for conflicts like clashing email addresses on the new domain.
How to Redirect One Domain to Another
Redirecting your domain to another domain – for example, redirecting MyNamePhotography.com to MyName.com is simple if your domain registrar is also your host. The easiest way to redirect a domain is through your domain registrar.
To redirect a domain…
- Log into your domain registrar. This is where you’ll manage your DNS settings.
- Once logged in, find the section for managing redirects, usually within a sidebar menu or settings tabs.
- Enter the redirect details.
- The incoming or source domain or URL path you want to redirect
- The outgoing or destination domain or URL the traffic will be directed to
- Choose your preferred redirect type (usually 301 permanent)
- Check that any pages, images, or files on the old domain get redirected, too.
- Give it some time, usually under an hour, but it can take 24-48 hours max.
- Test it out and make any needed adjustments. Type in the old domain and check you get bounced to the new one.
What if you have purchased a domain but don’t yet have hosting set up? Not to worry! You can still redirect a domain to another through your domain registrar.
Redirecting a Domain Without Hosting
- Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel and go to the domain redirection management area.
- Locate the option to set up forwarding or redirects for the domain, then select “Forward Domain”.
- Next, enter your destination URL. For security, HTTPS is best. Then, choose between a permanent redirect (best for long-term links) or a temporary one if things change.
- Once that’s filled out, hit “create”, and voila – visitors to your domain will automatically be redirected to the specified destination.
Over to You!
Whether you need to redirect a single page or migrate an entire site after purchasing a new domain name, following best practices will serve you well. Some key things to remember: Always back up your site first, update links, and notify users of the upcoming change. Also, pay attention to any domain-specific settings that need modifying, and of course, monitor things post-launch.
