How to Redirect Your Website from One Domain to Another: A Guide to Google Domains Redirect

Introduction to Domain Redirection

Domain Redirection, also known as URL forwarding, is essential when you change your website's address. It ensures visitors find your new site without issues.

Traffic from your old domain gets automatically rerouted to the new one, providing continuity for your users and maintaining SEO value. This can be used for various purposes, such as moving to a new website, consolidating multiple websites under one address, or shortening long URLs.

Example

The company is transitioning from its old domain, oldcompanywebsite.com, to a new domain, newcompanywebsite.com.

By implementing domain redirection, visitors searching for the old website will be automatically redirected to the new site, ensuring a seamless user experience and maintaining the business's online presence.

What is Google Domain Redirection

Functionality: Google Domain Redirection, specifically in the context of Google Domains (Google's domain registration service), refers to a specific feature provided by Google that allows domain owners to redirect their domain or subdomains to another URL.

Use Cases: Common applications include branding purposes, redirecting traffic from an old URL to a new URL, or setting up a forwarding address for simplified access to complex URLs. This is particularly useful for businesses undergoing a rebranding phase or seeking to enhance their web forwarding synthetic record.

Implementation: This is typically done through DNS records settings in your Google Domains account, where you set up a forwarding record.

Type of Domains That Can be Redirected

Here are Several types of domains that can be redirected

1. Primary (Apex) Domains:

• These are the root or naked domains without any subdomain prefix, like example.com.
• Google Domains allows you to redirect these primary domains to any other URL.

2. Subdomains:

• Subdomains are extensions of your primary domain, such as blog.example.com or shop.example.com.
• In Google Domains, you can set up redirection for each of these subdomains independently, allowing them to point to different URLs.

3. WWW Subdomains:

• Although www is technically a subdomain (like www.example.com), it’s often treated as a standard part of many web addresses.
• Redirects can be set up between www and non-www versions of your website to maintain consistency and improve SEO.

4. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs):

• If you own country-specific domains (like example.co.uk or example.de) through Google Domains, you can redirect these to your primary domain or any other destination.

5. Alternate Domain Extensions:

• Domains with different extensions (Top-Level Domains - TLDs), such as example.net, example.org, or example.biz, can also be redirected.
• This is particularly useful when Google Domains creates multiple TLD variants of your brand name.

6. Expired Domains:

• If you have domains that you previously used but no longer need, you can redirect them to your current website.

Types of Redirections That Can Be Done

Redirecting web traffic from one URL to another is a common practice in web management, and there are several types of redirections, each serving different purposes. Here are the primary types:

1. 301 Redirect (Permanent Redirect):

• Informs browsers and search engines that a page has permanently moved to a new location.
• Useful for SEO, as it transfers most of the link equity to the new URL.
• Typically used when a site or page is permanently moved or when consolidating multiple pages into one.

2. 302 Redirect (Temporary Redirect):

• Indicates a temporary move or redirection.
• The original URL retains its SEO value, as the redirect is not seen as permanent.
• Commonly used for temporary content, such as a promotional page or during website maintenance.

3. 307 Redirect (Temporary Redirect, HTTP 1.1):

• Similar to a 302 but strictly maintains the original HTTP method (GET or POST).
• Useful for temporary redirection while ensuring the method and body of the original request are not altered.

4. 308 Redirect (Permanent Redirect, HTTP 1.1):

• A newer version of the 301 redirect, also ensuring the method and body of the request are not changed.
• Best suited for permanent redirects, especially useful in API migrations or when changing hosting provider

5. Meta Refresh:

• A client-side redirect that happens within the HTML code of a page.
• Can specify a time delay before the redirect occurs.
• Not generally recommended for use due to slower performance and less favorable treatment by search engines.

6. JavaScript Redirects:

• Uses JavaScript to redirect a user from one page to another.
• Not ideal for SEO as some search engines may not follow or properly interpret JavaScript redirects.

7. URL Masking or Frame Redirects:

• The URL in the browser's address bar stays the same while displaying the content of another page.
• This method is not recommended due to potential SEO issues and user experience concerns.

Why Using HTTPS Instead of HTTP is Important for a Primary Domain

Using HTTPS instead of HTTP for a primary domain is crucial for several reasons, all of which contribute to the security, credibility, and overall performance of a website. Here's why it's so important:

1. Enhances Security: HTTPS encrypts the data exchanged between a user's browser and the website, safeguarding against data breaches and cyber-attacks. This encryption is vital for handling HTTPS requests securely
2. SEO Advantage: Search engines prioritize secure websites in their rankings. When forwarding Google domains from HTTP to HTTPS, you can gain an SEO advantage, making your site more visible and likely to be visited.
3. Building User Trust: Users are more security-conscious and tend to trust websites with a secure HTTPS connection. This is particularly important when Google domains create a new site or when existing domains are forwarded to new URLs.
4. Improves Performance: HTTPS allows the use of HTTP/2, which offers better loading speeds and performance. Additionally, many modern web features require HTTPS to function properly, an important consideration for sites managed through Google Domains.

Role of DNS Server in Redirecting a Website from One Domain to Another

The role of a DNS (Domain Name System) server in the process of redirecting a website from one domain to another, particularly through Google Domains Redirect, is both fundamental and critical. Here's how a DNS server fits into this process:

1. Domain Name Resolution: The primary role of a DNS server is to translate domain names, like 'www.example.com,' into IP addresses that computers use to identify and access websites. When you enter a URL in your browser, it's a DNS server that directs your request to the correct server where the website is hosted.
2. Updating DNS Records for Redirection: When you set up a redirect in Google Domains, the DNS records for your domain are updated. This typically involves adding or modifying certain types of records, such as 'A', 'AAAA', or 'CNAME' records, to point to the new destination URL.
3. Handling Redirect Types: The DNS server plays a role in handling different types of redirects. For example, a 301 (permanent) redirect might involve a DNS change where the old domain's DNS records are permanently pointed to the new domain's IP address. For a 302 (temporary) redirect, the change might be done in such a way that it can be easily reverted.
4. SSL/TLS Certificates and HTTPS: If your site is using HTTPS, the DNS server also plays a role in ensuring that users are directed to the correct secure server. This involves coordinating with SSL/TLS certificates to establish a secure connection.

How to Redirect Your Website from One Domain to Another with Google Domains

Google Domains offers a straightforward way to set up domain redirects through its "Forward Domain" functionality. Let's explore how to utilize this feature effectively.

1. Log in to your Domains page and click on Manage

2. From the left-hand menu, select Website

3. Click on Forward domain

4. Set your Destination URL

5. Click on Advanced Settings & Set Your Advanced Settings

Select Permanent Redirect (301) for Redirect type.

Under Path Forwarding, select Do not forward.

In Forwarding over SSL, select SSL On - if you want redirect to work for both HTTP and HTTPS requests.

6. Finish

Click on the "Forward" button to create your redirect.

Best Practices to Follow When Redirecting Your Website

• Avoid Using Too Many Redirect: Multiple redirects can slow down site loading times, negatively affecting user experience and SEO. Aim for direct redirects from the old page to the new page.

• Maintain URL Structure Where Possible: Keeping a similar URL structure eases the transition for users and search engines. If changes are necessary, ensure they are logical and user-friendly.

• Update Internal Links: Update all internal links to point to the new URLs. This reduces reliance on redirects and improves site performance.

• Implement Redirects Before Taking Down the Old Site: This ensures that users and search engines can find your new site immediately, without encountering 404 errors.

• Update Sitemap and Robots.txt: Submit an updated sitemap to search engines and update your robots.txt file if necessary. This helps search engines discover and index the new pages more efficiently.

• Notify Google About the Change of Address: Use Google Search Console’s Change of Address tool to inform Google about the move. This can help maintain your current search engine rankings.

• Monitor the Redirection: After implementing the redirects, monitor traffic and error logs. This helps you identify any issues quickly and resolve them.

• Communicate with Your Audience: Inform your users about the change in advance through emails, blog posts, or social media. This reduces confusion and ensures a smooth transition.

• Check and Update External Links: Where possible, update external links that point to your old domain. Contact webmasters of significant referring sites and ask them to update the links.

• Ensure HTTPS Configuration: If moving to a new domain, ensure it is HTTPS-configured for security and SEO benefits. Implement SSL certificates and redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.

• Keep the Old Domain Registered: Maintain registration of your old domain for a significant period after the move to ensure all redirects remain in place.

• Analyze SEO and Performance Post-Move: Regularly check your site’s performance and SEO rankings after the move to ensure everything is functioning correctly and to make any necessary adjustments.