{"id":34216,"date":"2022-02-01T15:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=34216"},"modified":"2022-01-31T17:32:11","modified_gmt":"2022-01-31T16:32:11","slug":"how-to-move-wordpress-site-to-new-domain-without-affecting-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-move-wordpress-site-to-new-domain-without-affecting-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Move Your WordPress Site to a New Domain Without Affecting Your SEO"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WordPress is a content management system built around the idea that websites change over time. Sure, it\u2019s possible to use WordPress to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-wordpress-static-site\/\">create a static website<\/a>, too, but the idea of core WordPress is one of change. You can update the content of any page or post. You can add new pages or posts, change the structure of your website, change the theme you use, and repurpose the website completely. Everything about a website is subject to change \u2013 including the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-a-domain-name\/\">website\u2019s domain name<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Some changes are more usual and frequent than others and moving your WordPress website to a whole new domain name isn\u2019t something you\u2019ll do a lot, maybe even ever. But for one reason or another, you might find yourself in a situation where you have to make that switch. Don\u2019t worry, though \u2013 it\u2019s not as hard as it looks, as there are tools that can help you, as well as ways to minimize the damage to your website search engine rankings.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In this article, the topics we\u2019ll cover include:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#why-move-your-website-to-new-domain\">Why Move Your Website to a New Domain?<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-to-move-website-to-new-domain\">How to Move a Website to a New Domain<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#possible-effects-on-seo-and-how-to-minimize-them\">Possible Effects on SEO and How to Minimize Them<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"why-move-your-website-to-new-domain\"><\/a>Why Move Your Website to a New Domain?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Why-Move-Your-Website-to-a-New-Domain.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Why Move Your Website to a New Domain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Why-Move-Your-Website-to-a-New-Domain.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Why-Move-Your-Website-to-a-New-Domain-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Why-Move-Your-Website-to-a-New-Domain-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Why-Move-Your-Website-to-a-New-Domain-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Your website\u2019s domain name is, as far as people who visit it are concerned, its address. But it\u2019s much more than that \u2013<strong> it can be a part of your brand, an indicator of the type of website, as well as something that carries value \u2013 or penalties \u2013 with search engines.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Whatever your domain means to you and your website, you probably understand that buying a domain is easy, but coming up with a good domain name isn\u2019t.<\/strong> So why would you want to change yours? For several possible reasons.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]First of all, remember how getting the exact domain name you wanted isn\u2019t always easy? It might happen that you had to compromise and choose a domain name with a root domain that was your third choice, or a domain extension you didn\u2019t want.<strong> But if your first pick becomes available, you might pounce at the opportunity to have your dream domain name.<\/strong> Keep in mind, however, that domain names might come with baggage. The previous owner might have associated the name with some nefarious activities, or received some sort of penalty. Make sure you check the new domain\u2019s history.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Another good reason to move your WordPress website to a new domain name is rebranding.<\/strong> Choosing a different name for your business, affiliate blog, or message board can be followed by a change of the domain name, even though it\u2019s not something you do on a whim and without planning out a strategy.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>On the other hand, trying to ditch a penalty from search engines might not require as much planning, and it\u2019s one reason to move to a different domain name.<\/strong> Just make sure that jettisoning the old domain name is worth the benefit, and that it\u2019s a good course of action for your website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-to-move-website-to-new-domain\"><\/a>How to Move a Website to a New Domain<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>Before you get started, you should first make sure that you\u2019ve backed up your WordPress website.<\/strong> You can use plugins such as <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-backup-with-updraftplus-plugin\/\">UpdraftPlus to back up the website<\/a>, or you can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-manually-backup-wordpress-website\/\">create a backup manually<\/a>. Whenever you are doing something with the most important parts of your website, you want to make sure you have a backup in case something goes wrong.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When you\u2019ve created the backup, you can move on to the next step. Be advised, however, that besides knowing how to install a plugin, you\u2019ll also need to know the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-database-management-guide\/\">basics of database management<\/a>. Let\u2019s get started.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Creating a Duplicator Package<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Duplicator\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The plugin we\u2019ll use to move the website to a new domain is called <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/duplicator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Duplicator<\/a>.<strong> It\u2019s a plugin with over a million active installations, great ratings, and stellar reviews, making it a good choice for the project.<\/strong> So, the first step should be to download, install, and activate Duplicator at the website you want to move.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-Add-Plugin.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Duplicator Add Plugin\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-Add-Plugin.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-Add-Plugin-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-Add-Plugin-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Duplicator-Add-Plugin-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]After the plugin is activated, you navigate to <em><strong>Duplicator &gt; Packages<\/strong><\/em> from your website\u2019s dashboard. <strong>This is where you\u2019ll be able to find all of the packages you\u2019ve created with Duplicator, and it\u2019s also the place where you\u2019ll be able to create new ones.<\/strong> We want to create new ones now, so press the Create New button in the upper right-hand side corner to get started.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-Create-New.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Packages Create New\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-Create-New.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-Create-New-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-Create-New-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-Create-New-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The first step of the process is the setup. <strong>In it, you\u2019ll be able to choose the name of your package, the place where you want to store it, archiving options for the files as well as the database, and installer options that are not required to be filled in.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-New.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Packages New\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-New.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-New-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-New-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Packages-New-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The next step is a website scan. The plugin will complete it automatically and present you with the results. <strong>Each item that\u2019s checked comes with an explanation for what the plugin is checking and what might be some common problems.<\/strong> When all of the items are marked as \u201cgood,\u201d you can proceed to the next step.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Scan-Complete.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Scan Complete\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Scan-Complete.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Scan-Complete-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Scan-Complete-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Scan-Complete-620x445.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The final step is building the package. The plugin will do this on its own and present you with the results \u2013 two package files. <strong>Download both, and if you want, follow one of the links to documents that describe different installation methods \u2013 it won\u2019t hurt to have those handy while using the package to move to a new domain.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Download-Both.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Download Both\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Download-Both.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Download-Both-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Download-Both-768x474.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Download-Both-620x383.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]With that, you\u2019ve finished with the plugin for now, and we can move on to the next steps.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Create a New MySQL Database<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Databases.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Databases\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Databases.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Databases-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Databases-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Databases-620x327.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You might be moving your website to a new host or an existing one, but either way, you\u2019ll need to have a database to use for the move. Duplicator gives you two options \u2013 to create a new one or to overwrite an existing one. <strong>Choose the one that\u2019s better suited for your situation, of course, but to be extra sure you don\u2019t overwrite something you might need, it could be best to create a new one.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>You can create a new database from your cPanel, or another hosting panel you\u2019re using to access your hosting options.<\/strong> The creation itself is a fairly straightforward process \u2013 you create the database, a database user, and then add that user to the database with all the privileges. It\u2019s as simple as that.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Create-New-Datsbase.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Create New Database\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Create-New-Datsbase.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Create-New-Datsbase-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Create-New-Datsbase-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Create-New-Datsbase-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Still, make sure to note down the exact name you gave to the database, as well as the username and password for the user.<\/strong> You\u2019ll need this information soon, and you want to be sure that you\u2019re not making any mistakes.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Moving the Site to a New Home<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]To move WordPress site to a new domain, you\u2019ll need to connect to it using FTP or cPanel\u2019s File Manager. <strong>You want to make sure that you access a directory under your host\u2019s webroot accessible via a URL, and that the directory is empty.<\/strong> You don\u2019t need to have WordPress in there, as it comes with the package that you\u2019ll use to migrate your website. Upload both of the files from the package to the directory.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/New-Folder.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"New Folder\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/New-Folder.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/New-Folder-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/New-Folder-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/New-Folder-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Your next step would be to open up your web browser of choice and enter the address to the installer.php file.<\/strong> The address should be the address of the directory, followed by \/installer.php. If you\u2019re not sure what the address of the directory is, contact your host and ask them about it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]From there, the installer will lead you through the process. <strong>It will extract the files and perform checks, install the database \u2013 after you\u2019ve pointed to the one you created and provided the credentials, update the internal and image links to your new website, and test the site for you.<\/strong> Don\u2019t forget to save the permalinks when Duplicator gives you a choice, and you\u2019ll be done.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"possible-effects-on-seo-and-how-to-minimize-them\"><\/a>Possible Effects on SEO and How to Minimize Them<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Possible-Effects-on-SEO-and-How-to-Minimize-Them.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Possible Effects on SEO and How to Minimize Them\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Possible-Effects-on-SEO-and-How-to-Minimize-Them.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Possible-Effects-on-SEO-and-How-to-Minimize-Them-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Possible-Effects-on-SEO-and-How-to-Minimize-Them-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Possible-Effects-on-SEO-and-How-to-Minimize-Them-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If everything\u2019s gone smoothly, you should have your website migrated to your new domain and ready to accept new visitors. <strong>You might notice some dips in the analytics following the migration \u2013 that\u2019s completely expected.<\/strong> Still, you shouldn\u2019t leave it at that &#8211; there are some things you could do to make sure the effects of the domain change to your website\u2019s SEO are kept to the minimum.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Researching the New Domain Name Before Choosing It<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We mentioned earlier that domain names come with a baggage and that you should always check the new domain\u2019s history before buying it. <strong>If there were any websites using that domain name that hosted low-quality content, for example, your new website might inherit a bad rap.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>There are a couple of ways you could check the history of a domain name.<\/strong> You could head over to the <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Internet Archive<\/a> and check whether there\u2019s any historical record of a website using your new domain name.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re willing to invest some money into the search, you could also run a Whois history search to find out who owned the domain name in the past. <strong>Another option would be to use an SEO tool and check for the backlinks that lead to your new domain name.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Setting up 301 Redirects<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]After you\u2019ve moved your website to another domain, you should <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-301-redirects-in-wordpress\/\">set up 301 redirects<\/a>. <strong>These redirects will make sure that people looking for your website using the old domain name land on the website you have with your new domain name.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>To make sure the change goes as planned and that the search engines catch up, you should keep the old domain name up and running for a while.<\/strong> Just how long it needs to be up is hard to determine, so make sure to do it at least for three months. If you can afford to keep it up for over a year, even better.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Letting the Search Engines Know<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Keeping up the redirects is awesome for your new website\u2019s SEO, but so is letting the search engines know that you\u2019ve made the change. <strong>This is a mandatory step when moving your website to a new domain name.<\/strong> Smaller moves, such as the ones where you move a couple of pages around the website, can be handled by updating the sitemap.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>With a bigger move like the one you make when you move your website to a new domain, you should use search engine\u2019s propratory tools.<\/strong> For example, Google has its own Change of Address tool. Bing\u2019s site move tool is called, appropriately, the Site Move tool. Each tool will do its best to guide you through the process, so you should be in good hands[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Updating Listings and Profiles<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>When you have a website, you tend to leave its address in various places.<\/strong> It might be in your email signature, on your social media accounts and profiles, or even in your Google My Business page or other business listing websites.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It goes without saying that you should update your website\u2019s address in all these places to reflect the current one. <strong>Even if the SEO benefit from it might be small or even nonexistent, you should still make sure that every mention of your website\u2019s domain shows the new domain.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Let\u2019s Wrap It Up!<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Moving your WordPress site to a new domain is a project that probably sounds harder than it actually is. Thanks to the helpful Duplicator plugin, you can move your website to a new domain without having any advanced web admin knowledge. With a trick or two, you might also ensure minimum effect to your website\u2019s search rankings, too.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to move your WordPress website to a new domain and avoid SEO issues? We&#8217;ll show you what you need to do!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9295,"featured_media":34234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[201,107,25],"class_list":["post-34216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing","tag-domain","tag-migration","tag-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34216\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}