How to Move Your Site to a New Domain?

Moving a WordPress site to a new domain is a bit more involved than a static site because of the database and WordPress configuration. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you migrate your WordPress site to a new domain smoothly:

1. Prepare the New Domain and Hosting

• Purchase the new domain and ensure your hosting is set up.
• Make sure the new domain is fully configured (DNS settings, email, and SSL certificates).
• If you’re staying on the same hosting account, you might just need to add the new domain as an add-on domain or a new site.
  

2. Backup Your Current WordPress Site

• Backup all WordPress files: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to download all your WordPress files.
• Backup the WordPress database: Go to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel) and use phpMyAdmin to export your database.
• Alternatively, use a WordPress plugin like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator to back up the entire site, including the database and files.
  

3. Move Files to the New Domain

• Upload WordPress files to the new domain’s hosting account using FTP or your host’s file manager.
• If you’re using a plugin like Duplicator, simply follow its restoration process to move the files.
  

4. Create a New Database on the New Domain

• In the hosting control panel for the new domain, create a new MySQL database.
• Import the database backup you exported earlier (via phpMyAdmin) into the new database.
  

5. Update the wp-config.php File

• In the wp-config.php file on your new domain, update the database details to match the new domain’s database. Change the following lines to reflect the new database name, username, and password:

6. Search and Replace Old Domain in the Database

WordPress stores the old domain in the database, so you need to replace it with the new domain.

Use a plugin like Better Search Replace or a tool like WP-CLI to search for instances of the old domain in the database and replace them with the new domain.

For Better Search Replace, after installing it:

• Go to Tools > Better Search Replace.
• In “Search for,” enter your old domain (e.g., old-domain.com).
• In “Replace with,” enter the new domain (e.g., new-domain.com).
• Select all tables and run the search and replace.

7. Set Up 301 Redirects on the Old Domain

• Redirect all traffic from the old domain to the new domain using 301 redirects to maintain SEO rankings.
• If you still control the old domain, modify the .htaccess file to add the following redirect rule:

You can also use a plugin like Redirection to manage redirects from the old URLs to the new ones.

8. Update WordPress and Site URL Settings

• Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard on the new domain.
• Go to Settings > General and make sure the “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” fields are updated with the new domain URL.
  

9. Update Permalinks

• After logging into your new site, go to Settings > Permalinks and click “Save Changes” to ensure the URL structure is correct and that links are updated properly.
  

10. Notify Google Search Console

• Add the new domain to Google Search Console.
• Use the Change of Address tool to inform Google about the domain move.
• Submit your new sitemap (you can generate one using a plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack).
  

11. Update Internal Links and Media Files

• While the search and replace should have updated most links, some plugins or widgets might still contain hardcoded links to the old domain.
• Use a plugin like Velvet Blues Update URLs or Go Live Update URLS to ensure all internal links and images point to the new domain.
  

12. Test the New Site

• Thoroughly test the new domain to ensure all links, media, and functionalities are working properly.
• Check for broken links, missing images, and any other errors.
  

13. Monitor Traffic and SEO

• Track your traffic using Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
• It’s normal to see a temporary drop in traffic after the move, but it should stabilize once search engines re-index the new domain.
  

14. Update Social Media and External Links

• Update your social media profiles, email signatures, and any online listings with the new domain name.
• If possible, reach out to websites that link to your old domain and ask them to update their links to the new domain.
  

• Keep the old domain for a while and keep the 301 redirects active for at least 6-12 months to ensure the transition goes smoothly for users and search engines.
• Communicate with your audience about the domain change to avoid confusion, especially if you have regular visitors or a customer base.

By following these steps, you can successfully move your WordPress site to a new domain while minimizing downtime, SEO impact, and user disruption.