As your business grows, you might find the need to move your website to a fresh domain, in order to better your brand representation online. For this, it is necessary to know the proper domain redirection process, so that you can achieve the desired results. 

What is a URL redirect?

In simple terms, URL redirect means just forwarding a requested old URL to another address on the same or new domain you configured. 

How to create a domain redirect?

Edit the .htaccess file

The editing of the .htaccess file can be easy for a technical guy. The .htaccess file is stored in a directory. It includes directives loaded by the server. These directives allow changing server configuration files. You can edit the .htaccess in the File Manager applying Code Edit or using a Text editor on your local computer. 

Install redirect plugin

Many seek to create redirects without touching the .htaccessfile. It can be intimidating but they can install redirect WordPress plugin to create 301 or 302 status codes. 301 WP redirects can be done from the control panel on the host’s server.

• Visit cPanel and under the domain, category opts for redirects menu. 
• A section called ‘Create a redirect’ is visible along with where you desire to ‘redirect to’. Ensure your details are accurate and opt for the right protocol connection – HTTP/HTTPS.
• Now click create and check ‘Redirects List’ to make sure the details are correct.
• Soon you will see the destination URL while requesting the original URL. 
• The new redirect will go live in a few minutes.

Use the 301 WP redirect plugin tool because modification of .htaccess file can cause issues like breaking your whole website. If you seek for a reliable plugin, then WP 301 Redirect is great for eliminating the 404 error issues. 

What are the types of domain redirects?

Unmasked 301 redirects

It is a permanent status code used when you have no plans of using the original URL. Unmasked redirect means your visitors will even see URL changes in their browsers. In terms of SEO, 301 redirects are good as you get to maintain the old domain’s search ranking. It even conveys to search engines that both domains are the same but operation is transferred to a new one.

Unmasked 302 redirects

Temporary stats code and URL changes will be noticed by the targeted visitors. A 302 direct can be employed during A/B testing or while performing routine maintenance.

Masked URL frames

Masked means the same URL is seen, which is not good for SEO. If the same content is identified on two separate pages the search bots will choose a URL that you may not prefer. 

Meta refresh

Redirects occurring in the browser reveal a specific message and countdown timer before redirecting.                      

A URL redirect is great to avoid problems triggered due to duplicate content, multiple domains, migrate to a new domain, and avoid 404 errors. If things get too complicated, or if many poorly optimized pages are hurting the site rankings, then you can consider using a WordPress reset plugin to restore it to the original state.

Paul Petersen