by EmilyHow to Move a WordPress Site to a New Domain Without Losing SEO
Moving a WordPress site to a new domain can be a smart business move — whether you're rebranding, upgrading your web presence, or merging websites. But for freelancers and online business owners, one mistake during this process can destroy your existing SEO rankings and traffic. That’s why it’s crucial to handle domain migration with a clear strategy.
At freelancerbridge, we simplify complex digital tasks for freelancers and small business owners. In this guide, you'll learn how to move a WordPress site to a new domain without losing your hard-earned SEO — with step-by-step points, no code, and no confusion.
📋 Long Description (Approx. 1000 Words)
🔹 Why Move a WordPress Site to a New Domain?
There are several reasons why freelancers or businesses may need to change a site’s domain:
Rebranding your name or services
Switching from a non-SEO-friendly domain to a better one
Moving from a subdomain to a main domain (e.g., blog.yoursite.com → yoursite.com/blog)
Business mergers or expansion
But no matter the reason, the most important thing is to protect your SEO during the migration.
🔹 What Are the SEO Risks During Domain Change?
Changing a domain without proper steps can cause:
Drop in search engine rankings
Loss of backlinks
Broken internal links
Loss of site authority
Duplicate content issues
To avoid all this, follow the process below.
✅ Step-by-Step Guide to Move WordPress Site Without Losing SEO
Here’s a complete, beginner-friendly plan to migrate your WordPress site to a new domain safely and keep your SEO intact:
✅ 1. Backup Your Entire Website
Before doing anything:
Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or your hosting panel
Save a full backup of your files and database
Store it on your computer or cloud storage
Why it's important:
If anything goes wrong, you can restore your site instantly.
✅ 2. Choose the Right Time to Move
Avoid high-traffic seasons or busy campaign periods
Pick a time when traffic is generally low
Inform your team and clients in advance
Why it's important:
You want minimum disruption and easy recovery if needed.
✅ 3. Move the Site to the New Domain
Use a migration plugin like All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator, or ask your hosting provider to help.
Make sure to:
Import the site on the new domain
Ensure all content loads properly
Double-check images, menus, and internal links
Why it's important:
Everything should look and work the same on the new domain before going live.
✅ 4. Set Up 301 Redirects From Old to New Domain
This is the most critical step for SEO.
Use your hosting panel or an SEO plugin like Rank Math or Yoast
Add 301 redirects from each old URL to the matching new one
(e.g., oldsite.com/about → newsite.com/about)
Why it's important:
301 redirects tell Google your content has moved permanently, so you keep your rankings and link juice.
✅ 5. Update Internal Links
Once the new domain is live:
Update all internal links (in posts, menus, sidebars) to the new domain
Use a plugin like Better Search Replace to do it faster
Also check for hardcoded URLs in widgets or footers
Why it's important:
This improves site performance and avoids broken links.
✅ 6. Update Google Search Console and Analytics
Go to Google Search Console → Add your new domain as a new property
Use the "Change of Address" tool to notify Google
Add the new site to Google Analytics or update the tracking ID
Why it's important:
Google needs to know about your new domain to index it correctly and track performance.
✅ 7. Create and Submit a New Sitemap
Use an SEO plugin to generate a fresh sitemap for the new domain
Submit this new sitemap to Google Search Console
Why it's important:
It speeds up crawling and indexing of your new URLs.
✅ 8. Check Broken Links
Use free tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog
Fix any broken or incorrect links
Why it's important:
Broken links harm SEO and user experience.
✅ 9. Monitor Your SEO Performance
For the next 4–8 weeks:
Keep an eye on rankings, traffic, and bounce rates
Use tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest
Why it's important:
You can catch issues early and take action if any traffic drops.
✅ 10. Inform Your Audience
Don’t forget the human side of SEO!
Update your email signature, business cards, and social media profiles
Inform subscribers or clients about the new domain
Create a blog post announcing the new brand/domain
Why it's important:
Your users stay connected, and Google sees engagement with your new domain.
🔹 Bonus Tips for Freelancers & Site Owners
Keep your old domain active for at least 6–12 months to support redirects
Avoid deleting old content — just redirect it
If you rebrand, try to keep URLs similar to the original (slug consistency helps)
🏁 Conclusion
Migrating a WordPress website to a new domain is a big step — and one that can benefit your brand, traffic, and SEO long-term when done correctly. By following the step-by-step approach above, you can ensure a smooth transition without sacrificing your hard-earned Google rankings.
At freelancerbridge, we’re committed to helping freelancers and digital professionals make smart web decisions. With a solid migration plan, careful redirects, and proactive monitoring, you’ll move your WordPress site to a new domain like a pro — without losing SEO or users.
