How to Move WordPress to a New Domain without Affecting SEO

Domains are thought of to be the equal of actual property within the Web world. It’s basically how your corporation is understood all through the Web, due to this fact choosing the right area title can usually be a difficult activity. Even after investing money and time into buying a website you imagine to be the perfect match. Which nonetheless doesn’t guarantee that you’ve got chosen a profitable area, basically leaving you again at sq. one.

For now lets Assume that you’ve got lastly managed to safe the area of your goals and need to change your web site handle, you could know that there are a number of issues to contemplate earlier than you possibly can transfer to your new internet handle, particularly if you happen to don’t need to compromise your search rankings. Try a easy tutorial beneath to know how one can transfer your WordPress web site to a brand new area with out affecting your search engine marketing.

Step 1: Utterly again up your previous area information and Configuration

The primary and most necessary step earlier than you can begin the area switch course of is to take a whole backup of your web site. Be sure to have a whole, working again up for all of your recordsdata and database. In a WordPress web site you need to use plugins like BackUpWordPress or BackUp Buddy to again up your web site.

Step 2: Area Migration (Essential for search engine marketing)

Now that you’ve got accomplished a complete backup of your previous web site, the subsequent step is to begin the area migration course of. Nonetheless, earlier than that, try the area title that you’ve got bought. Is it a brand new area title or has it already been in use earlier than? If it’s a brand new area title, then you possibly can go forward with the migration course of. However, if the area has been in use earlier than, completely verify if the area had been beforehand penalized by Google for any search engine marketing malpractices. Solely after you might have confirmed it, then proceed with getting the brand new area registered in Google Webmaster instrument.

Set up and activate the Duplicator plugin in your WordPress set up in your previous web site.

This plugin provides the Duplicator menu in your WordPress admin. Click on on Duplicator menu and you’ll get a display screen similiar to the one beneath. Click on on the create button to create a brand new bundle

When you click on on the create button, it can begin the duplication course of, and the plugin will ask you to provide your bundle a reputation. Should you don’t give the bundle a reputation, it can take the title of the web site with the date as a default title. Relying on the quantity of content material your web site has, this plugin might take a while to create the zip bundle.

As soon as this course of is accomplished, it can take you to the Duplicator packages display screen. Obtain bundle and installer recordsdata in your laptop.

Now, open your FTP program and connect with your new web site. Copy your web site to root listing (it ought to be utterly empty) or the listing the place you need to copy. Add installer.php file and bundle zip for to the brand new web site. After you end importing the recordsdata, launch the installer.php in an internet browser. You possibly can entry it by clicking:  http://www.newsite.com/installer.php

Present database info for the brand new web site and verify the field for ‘desk elimination’. Be sure that the database you’re utilizing is empty. Click on on verify field “I’ve learn warning and notices”. After which click on on the “Run deployment” button.

The duplicator installer script will extract the zip bundle and set up your database from previous web site and set up WordPress along with your themes and plugins. As soon as set up is accomplished, it can present the replace web page.

On this web page, you’ll want to replace your URLs. You possibly can enter URLs manually and click on on the Replace button. The plugin will substitute all situations of the previous websites area to new websites area title.

As soon as this course of is accomplished, then end the put up set up steps. Don’t neglect to save lots of your WordPress permalinks. Now login to the brand new web site’s WordPress admin by utilizing credentials which you had for the previous web site. Go to Settings–>Permalinks in WordPress admin of latest web site and save.

After this course of, delete installer.php, installer-data.sql and installer-log.txt recordsdata from root listing utilizing FTP.

Now, verify for damaged hyperlinks, lacking photos, posts and pages in your new web site. It’s simply to be sure that every thing is in place and dealing fantastic. This completes the method of transferring WordPress to your new area. The subsequent step is so as to add the correct 301 redirect plugin.

Step 3: Setup your 301 redirect for lacking pages (Vital for search engine marketing and consumer expertise)

 Embody a 301 redirect rule within the .htaccess file of the previous web site to redirect the guests to the brand new web page and hyperlink previous URLs to new URLs accurately.

Establishing a everlasting 301 redirect is essential for each search engine marketing and consumer expertise. This lets you redirect customers and search engines like google to your new web site. It means each time somebody lands on considered one of your previous posts or pages, then they are going to be robotically redirected to your new web site.

For setup, connect with your previous web site utilizing FTP and edit the .htaccess file. Open .htaccess file and paste the beneath code on the prime.

Observe: Substitute newsite.com along with your area within the above code.

After you might have utilized these adjustments, once you go to your previous web site it ought to robotically redirect to your new web site.

Step 4: Formally notify Google in regards to the change (You should use Google webmaster instruments)

You possibly can notify Google by submitting the change of handle in your Google Webmaster Instruments. Confirm that you’ve got added each previous and new area at Google webmaster instrument.

Navigate to previous area on Google internet grasp instrument, click on on settings, after which click on on change of handle hyperlink from the drop down.

Choose the new area and click on on submit button to tell Google in regards to the new URL of your area.

Step 5: Notify your customers in regards to the change

At all times notify customers earlier than, throughout and after the area replace. You possibly can notify customers by making a public announcement in regards to the migration. Write a weblog put up in your web site in regards to the migration to the brand new web site. By notifying customers, you possibly can then ask them to tell you in the event that they discover any bugs whereas visiting the brand new web site.

Hopefully, these steps will assist you to transfer your web site to a brand new area with out adversely affecting your search engine marketing.

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