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Today I’m going to dive into a topic that can seem intimidating for many small business owners—domain forwarding. If you've recently rebranded, moved to a new website, or even shifted your business focus, chances are you want visitors from your old website to be automatically directed to your new one. This guide will cover everything you need to know to make it happen easily, ensuring that you keep all that hard-earned traffic flowing to the right place.
Let’s get started with the basics!
What Is Domain Forwarding, and Why Does It Matter?
Domain forwarding, also known as domain redirection, is a feature that allows you to route visitors from one web address (your old domain) to another (your new domain). It's like setting up a change-of-address form at the post office—except instead of sending letters, you're redirecting internet traffic.
Imagine you have an established domain like www.oldbusinessname.com, but you’ve recently rebranded to www.newbusinessname.com. You don’t want visitors or clients searching for your old business to hit a dead end! With domain forwarding, anyone typing in the old domain will automatically end up on the new site.
Why is it so crucial?
Maintains Traffic: All those people who remember your old site can still reach you.
Preserves SEO Rankings: Google knows you’ve built up valuable SEO authority on the old domain. Forwarding lets that value pass over to your new site.
Prevents Confusion: Redirection helps avoid confusion and ensures visitors reach the right place.
Key Types of Domain Forwarding
There are a couple of different options to consider with domain forwarding, and each serves a unique purpose depending on your needs:
1. Permanent Forwarding (301 Redirect)
This type of forwarding permanently redirects traffic from your old domain to the new one and is a strong choice if you don’t plan to go back to the old domain.
It’s also preferred by search engines for SEO purposes since it tells them that the new site has replaced the old one.
2. Temporary Forwarding (302 Redirect)
A 302 redirect tells search engines that the redirect is temporary, meaning you plan to use the old domain again at some point.
This is a less common choice but might be useful if you’re just testing your new website or have other temporary needs.
For most small business owners who are rebranding or moving domains, a 301 redirect is the way to go.
Let’s Get Technical: Setting Up Domain Forwarding
Don't worry—this process doesn’t require you to be a tech wizard. In fact, if you follow these steps, you'll be set up in no time! I’ll walk you through the steps using two popular options: Wix (since that’s where Dreamworth and Company does a lot of our digital magic!) and GoDaddy (a popular domain registrar).
Option 1: Setting Up Domain Forwarding with Wix
If your website is hosted on Wix, setting up a redirect can be done quickly. Here’s how:
Log into Your Wix Account:
Head over to the Wix dashboard and log in to your account.
Go to Domains:
In your dashboard, select “Settings” > “Domains.”
Choose the Domain You Want to Forward:
Click on the old domain you want to set up for forwarding.
Set Up Domain Redirection:
Select the “Redirect to another domain” option. Enter the new domain you want visitors to be redirected to. Make sure you select “Permanent Redirect (301)” if this is your new official domain.
Save Your Settings:
Hit save, and you’re done! Wix takes care of the rest, and anyone typing in your old domain will land on your new site seamlessly.
Wix does an excellent job of simplifying this process, but if you’re hosting your domain elsewhere, the steps will look a bit different.
Option 2: Setting Up Domain Forwarding with GoDaddy
Log into Your GoDaddy Account:
Start by signing in to your GoDaddy account and navigate to “My Products.”
Find the Domain to Forward:
Under “My Domains,” choose the domain you want to set up for forwarding.
Select Manage DNS:
Go to “Manage DNS” for that domain. Here, you’ll see options related to the domain’s DNS settings.
Set Up Forwarding:
Scroll down to the “Forwarding” section and click “Add” under “Domain.”
Enter Your New Domain:
Add the new domain you want to forward to, and make sure to select “Permanent (301)” as the redirect type.
Choose Forward Settings:
For “Forward settings,” select “Forward only.” The “Forward with masking” option hides the destination domain name in the browser address bar, but it’s not generally recommended for SEO.
Save Your Changes:
Click Save, and GoDaddy will process the changes. Within a few minutes to an hour, your domain forwarding will be active.
Important Tips for a Smooth Domain Forwarding Transition
Setting up domain forwarding is half the battle. Here are some tips to make the process smoother and ensure your business benefits from the transition.
1. Update Your Online Listings and Social Media
Updating your domain means adjusting all the places where your URL is listed. Update your social media profiles, Google My Business, and other directories to reflect the new domain.
2. Let Your Customers Know About the Change
Send out an email or make an announcement on social media letting your audience know about your new website. Make it feel like a celebration and give them a heads-up about the change!
3. Monitor Traffic and SEO with Google Analytics and Google Search Console
After setting up the redirect, it’s a great idea to monitor your traffic using Google Analytics. Google Search Console also lets you keep track of how the redirect is affecting your search engine performance.
4. Set Up a Custom 404 Page
Occasionally, old links may lead to missing pages. A custom 404 page allows you to gently guide users to the right place if they hit a broken link.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Sometimes redirects don’t work right away, but don’t worry. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:
1. Wait for DNS Changes to Propagate
When you set up domain forwarding, it can take a few hours (or sometimes up to 48 hours) for the changes to take effect across the web.
2. Check SSL Certificates
If your new domain is set up with HTTPS but your old one wasn’t, you might run into issues with secure connections. Make sure both domains have SSL certificates if you want a secure connection.
3. Clear Your Cache
Cached versions of your old site may cause you to see old content. Clear your browser’s cache to view the redirect properly.
The Bottom Line
Domain forwarding might sound like a technical hurdle, but as we’ve seen, the process can be straightforward. It’s a small investment of time that pays off by ensuring your visitors find you easily and without interruption. And with that peace of mind, you can focus on what really matters—running and growing your business!
Need Help with Your Website Transition?
At Dreamworth and Company, we’re passionate about helping small business owners like you thrive online. From domain forwarding to a complete website redesign, we’ve got you covered on the Wix platform. If you’re looking to level up your digital presence or just have questions about getting your website to where it needs to be, feel free to reach out. We’re here to make the complex simple, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Here’s to smooth redirects and even smoother business growth!