Moving a WordPress site from one domain to another can be a crucial step when rebranding your business, improving SEO, or consolidating sites. However, transferring your site without breaking links, losing traffic, or confusing your visitors requires smart handling of redirection strategies. In this article, we’ll explain the hows and whys of transferring your WordPress site and ensuring every visitor (and search engine) ends up at the right place after the move.
TLDR:
Transferring your WordPress site to a new domain involves copying files and databases, updating URLs, and most importantly, setting up proper redirections to preserve your SEO and user experience. Implementing 301 redirects is essential to let search engines know about the permanent move. You should also update internal links, test redirect rules, and notify Google about the change. Done right, you can make the switch without losing traffic or visibility.
Why Migrate to a New Domain?
There are several common reasons for moving a WordPress site to a new domain:
- Branding changes – Often websites are moved due to company rebranding or product repositioning.
- Domain name improvements – A better, shorter, or more memorable domain becomes available.
- SEO strategy – Aligning domains for consolidation or targeting international markets with country-specific domains.
- Legal reasons – Existing domain names may be required to change due to trademarks or other legal conflicts.
Preparing for the Transfer
The first rule in any kind of Website migration is preparation. Before making any live updates, make sure to:
- Backup your site – Include all files, themes, plugins, media, and databases. Tools like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator can do this easily.
- Check hosting requirements – Ensure the new domain and host (if changing) support WordPress and PHP/MySQL requirements.
- Make a staging version – Set up your site on the new domain in a sandbox environment and test functionality before going live.
Once you’re confident you have a working copy of your site on the new domain, you can prepare for redirection.
Understanding Redirection and Its Importance
Redirects are like street signs that inform browsers and search engines the page has moved—permanently or temporarily. When done properly, they:
- Preserve SEO rankings
- Prevent 404 errors
- Maintain a good user experience
The best type of redirect for a WordPress domain move is the 301 redirect, which indicates a permanent move. This ensures that search engines transfer the SEO weight from the old URL to the new one.
Ways to Set Up Redirection
There are a few reliable ways to implement 301 redirects after transferring your site to the new domain:
1. Update the .htaccess File (for Apache Servers)
If your hosting provider uses Apache, this is one of the most effective methods. Open the .htaccess file in the root directory of your old domain and add:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^oldsite\.com [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.oldsite\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newsite.com/$1 [L,R=301,NC]
This redirects everything from oldsite.com to newsite.com while preserving all URL paths.
2. Redirection Plugins in WordPress
If you’re not comfortable editing server files, a plugin like Redirection can make things easier. It lets you set redirection rules from within the WordPress dashboard, and even monitor 404 hits.
3. Server-Side Redirects on Nginx
For users on Nginx-hosted servers, add this to your server block configuration:
server {
listen 80;
server_name oldsite.com www.oldsite.com;
return 301 https://newsite.com$request_uri;
}
This achieves the same seamless redirection for all traffic to the new domain.
Post-Transfer Checklist
Once your site is running on the new domain and redirection is in place, there’s still some work to be done:
- Update internal links and media URLs – Even though external visitors are redirected, internal links might still point to the old domain, hampering performance. Use a plugin like Better Search Replace.
- Configure the new domain in Google Search Console – Add and verify the new site; use the “Change of Address” tool to inform Google of the move.
- Submit new sitemap – Update your sitemap and submit it to search engines to speed up indexing.
- Monitor indexing status and 404 errors – Use Google Search Console to ensure there are no major issues in performance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Moves
Will I lose my SEO rankings after moving domains?
Not if you do it right. With 301 redirects and updated backlinks, much of your SEO value can be preserved. Expect temporary fluctuations, but rankings often stabilize and recover within weeks.
How long should the redirection stay in place?
Keep 301 redirects active indefinitely. Removing them can cause traffic to drop suddenly, especially for links that haven’t been updated externally.
Do I need to notify users of the domain change?
It’s a good idea to share an announcement via blog or newsletter. While most users will be redirected automatically, transparency builds trust.
Bonus Tips for a Seamless Transition
- Update your website branding – Reflect the new domain in your logo, footer, contact pages, and email signatures.
- Check email deliverability – If you use a domain-based email (like info@oldsite.com), make sure to set up forwarding or update email settings accordingly.
- Inspect backlinks – Where possible, reach out to important sites linking to you and ask them to update their URLs.
Conclusion
Transferring a WordPress site to a new domain is a big step, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or damaging to your visibility. With careful planning, the right tools, and strategic redirection, your new domain can continue from where the old one left off, providing a smooth transition for users and search engines alike.
As with any major site operation, take the time to test thoroughly, monitor performance, and be proactive about resolving issues during the first few weeks post-migration. Done right, this change can give your website a fresh start without sacrificing its SEO backbone or core audience.
Start small, plan big, and redirect wisely!
