If you want to change your domain name, it can have a major effect on the traffic you receive to your website. It can significantly change the amount of traffic you receive, traffic can either Rise or fall depending on your domain name choice.
There are many reasons to change domain names. Perhaps you were rebranding or maybe you want to change from a com domain to a .ie domain to show your connection with Ireland.
Whether you’re rebranding, merging with another company, or simply want a more memorable URL, a successful transition requires careful planning and execution. In this guide, we’ll break down the essential steps to ensure that your domain name change is smooth and doesn’t result in lost traffic or diminished search engine rankings.
Why Change Your Domain Name?
Before diving into the how-tos, it’s essential to understand why you might want to change your domain name. Here are some common motivations:
- Rebranding your business or website.
- Changing From .com to .ie Domains
- To better reflect your products or services.
- Improving SEO by incorporating keywords into the domain.
- To gain a more memorable or shorter domain name.
Preparing for the Change
Assess the Potential Impact
Before you commit to a domain change, it’s crucial to assess the potential impact on your current traffic, brand recognition, and SEO strategies.
- Analyse current traffic levels and sources. Use tools like Google Analytics to know where your visitors are coming from.
- Consider the branding implications: is your current name well-known and used across platforms?
- Review any link building strategies that depend on your current domain.
Choosing the Right New Domain Name
When selecting a new domain name, consider the following:
- Relevance: Make sure the name reflects your brand.
- Length: Shorter is usually better for memorability.
- It’s easy to spell and pronounce: Avoid unusual spellings or difficult-to-pronounce words.
- Domain extension: Consider whether a .com, .ie or another extension fits your brand. If you are targetting customers in Ireland, we recommend you use a .ie domain name.
Planning the Transition
Set Up the New Domain
Once you’ve chosen your new domain name, it’s time to set it up properly:
- Register the new domain: When you use us to register your domain, you can register your domain name free of charge if you order it with web hosting.
- Create a new website or set up redirects: Depending on your needs, either build a new site or set up 301 redirects from your old domain to the new one.
Ensure SEO Best Practices
To maintain your search engine rankings during this transition, follow these SEO best practices:
- Implement 301 redirects: Redirect traffic from your old URLs to the new ones. This tells search engines that the content has permanently moved.
- Update internal links: Make sure all internal links on your new site are updated to the new domain.
- Notify search engines: Use Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools to inform them of the change, so they can update their records.
- Monitor your traffic: Keep an eye on your stats after the switch to be sure everything is functioning as expected.
Inform Your Audience
Communicate the Change
Communication is key during this process. Here’s how to inform your audience:
- Announce the change on your existing website: Use banners or pop-ups to notify visitors of the new domain.
- Use social media: Create posts to inform your followers and drive home the importance of the change.
- Send newsletters: If you have an email list, let your subscribers know about the transition.
Provide a Transition Period
Maintain both domains during a transition period, ideally between 6-12 months, to give users time to familiarize themselves with the new domain. During this time:
- Keep your old site live with a notice informing visitors of the new domain.
- Monitor for any broken links and fix them as necessary.
- Continue to optimize your new site for search engines.
Post-Change Checklist
After you’ve successfully moved to your new domain name, don’t forget to:
- Review your SEO metrics: Monitor rankings and traffic from Google Analytics to see how they respond over time.
- Update social media profiles: Ensure that your social profiles reflect your new domain.
- Contact any relevant partners or affiliates: Inform them of the change so they can update their links as well.
Changing your domain name can be a difficult task, but with thorough planning and the right strategies in place, you can mitigate the risks and successfully transition to your new online identity. By following these essential steps and keeping your audience informed, you’ll set yourself up for ongoing success with your website. Remember, the key to a successful domain change lies not just in the technical aspects, but also in effective communication and monitoring your performance post-transition.
If you would like help changing your domain name, please contact us
