Directing Traffic: How to Forward a Website to another Domain
Published: 12 Dec, 2024

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How to Forward a Website to Another Domain

Need to redirect traffic from one domain to another? Whether you’re rebranding, consolidating websites, or simply changing your primary domain, forwarding a website to another domain is a straightforward process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to forward a website to another domain efficiently and effectively.

  1. Choose a Web Hosting Provider That Supports Forwarding: Before setting up the forward, ensure that your web hosting provider offers domain forwarding. Reliable options include GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Domain.com.
  2. Log In to Your Hosting Account and Access Domain Management: After confirming your hosting provider supports redirection, log in to your account. Navigate to the Domain Management or DNS Management section where you can control settings for your domain.
  3. Select the Domain You Want to Forward: Within the domain management dashboard, choose the domain you want to redirect. This is the original domain where traffic is currently landing.
  4. Configure Forwarding Settings: In the domain settings, look for an option like "Forwarding" or "Redirect." Here, you’ll enter the destination domain—the domain to which you want the traffic redirected. Ensure the new domain is active and configured correctly.
  5. Choose the Type of Redirect: There are typically two types of redirection to choose from:
    • 301 Redirect: A permanent redirect that tells search engines the original domain has permanently moved to a new location.
    • 302 Redirect: A temporary redirect used for short-term changes.
    For long-term changes like rebranding, the 301 redirect is the recommended choice.
  6. Save and Apply the Changes: Once you’ve configured the forwarding settings and chosen the redirect type, save your changes. Depending on your hosting provider, it may take a few minutes to a few hours for the redirect to take effect.
  7. Update Internal and External Links: After setting up the redirect, make sure to update all internal links, backlinks, and external references pointing to your old domain. This ensures visitors and search engines are consistently directed to the new domain.

Key Notes When Forwarding a Website

  • Website forwarding does not alter the DNS settings of the original domain. It simply redirects traffic to the specified destination domain.
  • Choose a 301 redirect for permanent changes to maintain SEO benefits and avoid confusion for visitors.
  • Double-check the configuration to avoid broken links or redirection loops.

Forwarding a website to another domain is an efficient way to manage traffic when changing domains, consolidating websites, or rebranding. By choosing the right hosting provider, configuring the redirect settings, and updating your links, you can seamlessly direct visitors to your new domain without losing traffic or SEO value.

Take action today and ensure your website forwarding is set up properly to keep your online presence strong and consistent!

Also Check: How to Get a Domain Name Back: A Quick Guide