In a previous article, I outlined some tips that can save your
traffic and rankings when you rename or move files on your current
web site - by implementing a
.htaccess 301 redirect.
The basic 301 redirect works very well in that scenario, but what
if you are changing your domain name? Writing out dozens, hundreds
or perhaps even thousands of basic 301 redirects would be very
time consuming and the potential for errors is huge.
If you've been using your current domain name for several years,
you have probably built up a great deal of brand awareness amongst
your visitors, some solid search engine rankings and other links
pointing to your site. It would be a shame to lose all that hard
work after you change your domain name - but there is a fairly
simple way and relatively safe option for a smooth and seamless
transition through the use of mod_rewrite and a .htaccess file.
What is mod_rewrite?
mod_rewrite is an Apache module which allows for the rewriting of
URLs. This "redirection" is transparent to the end-user and
requires no special software on the visitor's end. In the instance
of changing your domain name, when you use mod_rewrite; the
visitor who goes to your old domain will still see the old domain
name in their browser address bar on the first page they visit,
but will actually be viewing content under the new name. Using the
mod_rewrite strategy is also very search engine friendly.
What is a .htaccess file?
When a visitor/spider requests a web page via any means, your web
server checks for a .htaccess file if your hosting runs Apache -
which is a very common web server. The .htaccess file contains
specific Apache directives for certain requests, including
security, redirection issues and how to handle certain errors.
Before you do anything...
If you're also moving servers as well as the domain name change;
there's a variety of other issues you should consider first. Read
our
guide to moving servers before going ahead with the steps
below for some tips for a smoother transition. It also contains
some useful information regarding geotargeting issues.
Step 1 - check your web host.
If you're not sure of the server software used by your hosting
service, you'll need to check with them to ensure that they
support the mod_rewrite module, otherwise this will not work.
Step 2 - Activate your new domain name.
Once you know for sure your host supports mod_rewrite; upload all
your files to the account for the new domain name. Ensure that the
file base structure and naming is exactly the same as it was under
the old domain name.
Step 3 - create a .htaccess file
Creating a .htacess file can be done with a simple text editor
such as Notepad. Ensure when you name the file that you precede
htaccess with "." at the beginning of the file name. This file has
no tail extension, the name should be just:
.htaccess
Step 4 - insert the syntax
Simply copy these following lines into the file, replacing "new.com"
with the new domain name. If you have an existing .htaccess file;
keep a backup copy of it and then remove all other instructions
from the file; except for these:
Save the file, upload it back into your web (old domain) in the
root document directory. Test it out by typing in the old domain
name. You should be instantly and seamlessly transported to the
new domain; even if you have typed in a particular page address on
the old domain you should see exactly the same page under the new
domain.
The Rewrite rule simply re-maps from old domain to new. Be aware
that the old domain name will still appear in the browser window.
To check to make sure you are viewing the content on the new
domain, simply right-click over an image and select "properties"
to view the path.
Effects on search engine spiders
The mod_rewrite strategy is probably the safest way to preserve
your rankings. On the next spidering, the search engine spider
won't actually read the .htaccess file, it's the server that
generates the response based on the contents of .htaccess. The
search engine spider recognizes the response from the server as
valid. The "301" in the syntax means "moved permanently".
In the next update, the old domain name should disappear and be
replaced with the new one; but be aware this *could* take up to a
couple of months - your current domain name may still show in
listings; but anyone who clicks from the listing will still go to
the new domain.
If you do see some fluctuations in rankings initially during the
transition, don't panic - this is pretty normal while backlinks
are recalculated etc. - you could have a few nail-biting weeks.
Also bear in mind that search engines operate according to their
own rules and can change those rules and methods of operation at
any time. Any change to your pages or lack thereof can have
undesired effects. The mod_rewrite strategy is a case of "if you
have to do it, this is the best way to go".
It is very important though that you get your link partners to
update their links to you if you will be deactivating the old
domain name in the future. Once the domain name is de-activated,
and therefore the .htaccess file, all the links from other sites
will be useless and *that* could impact on your future rankings.
More on mod_rewrite
mod_rewrite is a very powerful tool; the above application is just
one example of what you can achieve. For further documentation on
mod_rewrite:
Michael Bloch
Taming the Beast
http://www.tamingthebeast.net
Tutorials, web content, tools and software.
Web Marketing, Internet Development & Ecommerce Resources
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