A 301 Re-Direct for WordPress Blog- Moving Your WordPress Blog To a New Domain
If you are looking to KEEP the same domain name for your blog and just want to change hosts, read instructions for moving WordPress blog to different hosting plan. If you want to change domain name and will be using same host, see below. If you are changing domain AND changing host do both. You only need to change namservers if you are changing hosting plans. You only need a 301 redirect if you are changing domain name and keeping blog the same.
Moving Your WordPress Blog to New Domain
I am in the middle of re-directing from an old WordPress blog with a domain I hate to one that is more palatable. There are two parts to this, 2st setting up new domain and importing all the post from the old domain- making a duplicate of the site, then redirecting from old domain to new.
Step 1: set up new domain with name I can live with. (note to self- the “cuteness” factor of a domain name is directly proportional to how much you will hate it in 3 years.)
I use 1and1.com and Dreamhost as my hosts.. My preference by far is 1and1.com. I may set up reseller account in New Year.
2. Backup and install old blog into new domain/new server. I am in the middle of this now. I am using the info here as guide:Moving your WordPress weblog to a new domain name. The information here is clear, precise and easy to understand.
HOURS or DAYS later when your “new” old blog is set up. Go to the 301 redirect. Easiest part of the whole process.
Set Up 301 Redirection
3. This is the most SEO “friendly” redirection. You are telling the server to redirect a visitor from the OLD page to the new page and giving it the message that this page has permanently moved to the new location.
In most cases the easiest and best way to do it is by by using the htaccess file. You will see this in root file of wordpress directory on your (old) server when connected with ftp client.
To redirect from an old domain to a new one
Edit your htaccess file by adding this to
Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mynewdomain.com/$1 [R=301,L]
Where to place the 301 redirect code in htaccess file?
Put this code just UNDER where is says # END WordPress
4. If you are able- make it a priority to contact sites that have your old domain address and have them update your backlinks with new domain. Get some new links to your “new” domain ASAP. Leave them both up for about 6 months then take old blog down.
Possible Problems You Might Come Across When Moving your WordPress Blog To New Domain
How do I uncompress .gz file?
Power Archiver , which is freeware . I actually back up my database manually ( as opposed to using backup plugin). You will need to uncompress to change URL to new domain in your database and I seem to have difficulties with gz files. If your database is large you will have to compress or may hang up your PC. Note: MAKE COPIES OF THESE backups! I even go so far as to email them to my laptop or another computer.
Blank pages/not working, etc double check your passwords/user/database name, etc in config.php file. Chances are you have made a typo or left a space where there shouldn’t be.
