Changing domain name

is this one good way to do it?

[snowfox121]

My current site all about widgets is titled "blahblah" so i have purchased a new domain called "allaboutwidgets." i do not have the option to do redirects, as i am hosted, not on my own server.

What i am thinking of doing is posting all my new material on the new domain in such a way that the interface is invisible to the user. If they click on the link for "article one" they stay at the current domain, but if they click on "article two" they move to the new domain. Over the coming 6 - 8 months, i plan to slowly shift my existing articles to the new domain in the same way, always being sure not to have duplicate material on both sites.

It's my theory that by cross-linking the two domains this way, but never having the same material on them, Google will pick up the new site and the new pages and i will not drop too far in my SERP placements.

Keeping in mind that i do not have the option to do redirects, does this seem like a safe and effective way to change domains without incurring penalties?

[hurlimann]

>not have the option to do redirects, as i am hosted, not on my own server.

Are you sure: You can usually do a redirect from any server.

[snowfox121]

Is the redirect a script i place on my previous domain? Like a javascript or something? Can you direct me to some sort of tutorial on this?

I know i am not permitted CGI scripts and active server pages are also impossible, so i assumed a server-level redirect was also impossible.

[tosho]

snowfox121, if your webserver is apache, try using an .htaccess file. If the server supports mod_rewrite, then the whole thing will require one line in the .htaccess file. Everything will be redirected to the new domain, and you can make the redirect permanent, so the bot will know the site has moved. See the httpd.apache.org documentation for more info. Also try the site search here, there is more than enough info on how to do it.
t.

[hetzeld]

Snowfox,

If your site is on an Apache server and mod_alias is in effect, add this single line in the .htaccess file at the root domain level:

Redirect 301 / h**p://www.your_new_domain_name.tld

The 301 code means "permanent redirect", so the bots will (or should) update their index.

Dan