Changing the domain name of an established website like Everloved can seem daunting. Your domain name is not only your online identity but also directly impacts your search engine rankings, brand recognition, and visitor trust. However, changing your domain name can be a smooth process with proper planning and steps to avoid disruptions.
This guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully change Everloved domain name, from choosing a new domain to updating technical settings and ensuring a seamless transition.
Why change your everloved domain name?
Before we dive into the process, let’s discuss the reasons why you might want to change your domain name. First, rebranding may require a new domain to better reflect the company’s identity. Second, an SEO-optimized domain that’s short, memorable, and contains relevant keywords may improve user experience and search rankings. Expanding or changing business offerings is another reason, as the original domain may no longer represent the brand’s scope. Finally, a business that initially used a region-specific domain extension might switch to a global extension to appeal to a wider audience.
Step 1: Choose and secure your new everloved domain
The first step in changing your everloved domain name is selecting the right one. Your new domain should be relevant to your brand, memorable, and SEO-friendly. Once you’ve decided on the new domain name, secure it with a reputable domain registrar, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. It’s also essential to maintain ownership of the old domain to help redirect traffic.
Step 2: Prepare for the transition
Preparing for the transition minimizes disruptions and helps ensure a seamless user experience. First, back up your entire site, including all files, databases, and configurations, using tools like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy. Update your logo, social media profiles, and any other branding materials to reflect the new domain. It’s also a good idea to inform internal teams, partners, and customers about the change with email templates, press releases, or blog posts.
Step 3: Redirect old domain to the new everloved domain
Setting up 301 redirects ensures visitors and search engines are automatically directed to your new everloved domain. A 301 redirect is a permanent retargeting strategy that tells search engines the content has moved to a new location.
To set up 301 redirects, first access the .htaccess file, commonly used on Apache servers to manage redirects. Add the following code to redirect all traffic from the old domain to the new one:
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.old-domain\.com [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^old-domain\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://new-domain.com/$1 [L,R=301,NC]
This code will redirect all traffic from old-domain.com to new-domain.com, preserving your site structure. After setting up the redirects, visit a few pages from the old domain to ensure they correctly redirect to the new domain.
Step 4: Update Google Search Console and Analytics
Google needs to be informed about your domain change so it can index the new site properly without impacting rankings. In Google Search Console, access the property for your old domain, navigate to Settings > Change of Address, and follow the prompts to specify the new everloved domain. Then, add and verify your new domain in Google Search Console to track its performance.
In Google Analytics, go to Admin > Property Settings and update the default URL to the new domain. Add an annotation to mark the date of the change, which can help correlate any traffic changes with the transition.
Step 5: Update internal links and content
Review all internal links and references to the old domain within your website, updating them to the new domain to enhance user experience and reduce unnecessary redirects. Update navigation menus, blog post links, and any downloadable resources that link to the old domain. You can use tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider to locate and update instances of the old domain.
Step 6: Update external links and backlinks
To maintain SEO equity, contact websites linking to your old domain and request they update their links to the new one. Start with high-authority sites and directories, as these are more likely to impact SEO. Use backlink tracking tools like Ahrefs or Moz Link Explorer to identify sites linking to your domain and send a polite email request explaining the change and providing the updated link.
Step 7: Update social media profiles and marketing materials
Updating your digital presence ensures that followers and customers can find you at the new domain. Update the website URL in all social media bios, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Replace old links with the new domain in employee email signatures. Update any PPC, display, or social media ads with the new domain. Finally, update all email templates and any automated workflows to reflect the new domain in all social media trends.
Step 8: Monitor performance and SEO
After making the switch, monitor your website’s traffic, rankings, and overall performance. Check Google Analytics to ensure traffic levels remain stable after the change. Use Google Search Console to confirm that pages are being indexed at the new domain. Monitor 404 errors and fix any broken links that arise from the domain change. Google may take several weeks to fully reindex your site under the new domain, so be patient as rankings and traffic normalize.
Step 9: Reinforce branding and communicate the change
Communicate the domain change to your audience and emphasize the benefits. Publish an announcement blog post explaining the reasons for the change and how it aligns with your brand’s evolution. Notify email subscribers about the new domain and encourage them to explore the website. Post updates across your social media platforms to inform followers. Maintaining transparency can help reassure your audience and retain their trust during the transition.
Frequently asked questions
Will changing my domain affect SEO? Changing your domain can temporarily impact SEO as search engines reindex your site. However, with proper redirects, updated links, and effective communication, you can retain most of your SEO equity.
How long does it take for Google to update the new domain? It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for Google to fully reindex your site. The timeline depends on the size of your website, the quality of your redirects, and Google’s crawling frequency.
What should I do with the old domain after the change? Keep the old domain for at least a year and maintain 301 redirects to the new everloved domain. This helps capture traffic from users or websites that still reference the old domain.
Conclusion
Changing your domain name is a major step that can positively impact your brand, SEO, and customer engagement when done correctly. By following this guide, you’ll have the tools to ensure a smooth transition. Remember to communicate transparently with your audience, monitor your website’s performance, and maintain redirects to keep your website traffic intact. Whether it’s for rebranding, expansion, or SEO improvements, a well-planned domain change can help position your brand for long-term success.