Changing company URL

URL update

[Kashina]

We are changing our company URL and I need to identify the steps we need to take. Can anyone help point me in the right direction - I haven't a clue what needs to be done.

[jo1ene]

It's as simple as setting your DNS settings to that of your host. Call them and ask what their DNS servers are if need be. Let your host know of the change. If you're keeping the other domain also, your host can set up domain forwarding. That's it.

[pmkpmk]

If you think about changing the domain name - e.g. from www.company.com to www.mycompany.com, then the advice is DON'T DO IT!

btw. Welcome to Webmasterworld!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

DON'T DO IT.

[Kashina]

Right - I understand the reasons why NOT to do it. I could easily list them myself. But the company is rebranding and I need to identify everything that needs to be done and the URL change is being pushed from the top.

[pmkpmk]

1. Register the new domain name
   
2. Set up a second virtual webserver for the new domain
   
3. Set up "permanent redirects" on the old webserver. If it is Apache then I would recommend the httpd.conf (faster), or if you don't have access to it the .htaccess (slower). You need a permanent redirect for EVERY SINGLE PAGE because visitors don't all come through the front door.
   
4. Leave it like that for 2 weeks
   
5. Shut down the old server.
   
6. Write your resume and look for a job with another company which has more brains when it comes to web stuff.
   

May God have mercy on your soul.

[buckworks]

A few thoughts:

Make sure the company brass know to expect a bumpy ride in the search engines for a while, if the search engines have been a signficant source of traffic for you.

Have a plan for salvaging your existing link/bookmark equity. Identify everyone you can who is linking to any page on the existing site. When the new site is ready, contact them to request that they update their links. Some will, some won't, but do what you can.

Give some thought to what the user experience will be if someone happens to follow an old link or bookmark. Figure out how you'll guide them to the equivalent content on the new site if possible. Try to let users know what's happening rather than just redirecting them without explanation.

Offline: Have someone in the company list places where the existing URL appears in offline promotions, and make sure there's a plan for updating those too. There might even be places where you'd want to publish the new URL "early" and redirect type-ins to the old site if the new site wasn't fully ready yet. Phone book deadlines are one reason you might want to do that.