Step-by-Step Guide to Moving Your WordPress Site to a New Domain

Transferring a WordPress site to a new domain involves several detailed steps to ensure that the transition is smooth and that you don’t lose any SEO rankings or data. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to successfully carry out this process:

Step 1: Prepare for the Transfer

1. Backup Your Website
   • Use a reliable WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator to create a complete backup of your website. Ensure that you have backups of all your files and databases.
2. Choose the New Domain
   • Ensure that your new domain is registered and ready. Configure your hosting to accept the new domain and set up your DNS settings to point to your web hosting provider.

Step 2: Duplicate Your Website

1. Install the Duplicator Plugin
   • On your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New and search for the “Duplicator” plugin. Install and activate it.
2. Create a New Package
   • Go to Duplicator > Packages and click on “Create New.”
   • Follow the on-screen prompts. The plugin will scan your site and check for compatibility.
3. Download Your Package
   • Once the package is built, download both the Installer and Archive files to your computer.

Step 3: Upload the Site Files to the New Domain

1. Connect to the New Domain with FTP
   • Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your new domain’s hosting account.
2. Upload Installer and Archive Files
   • Upload the downloaded Installer (installer.php) and Archive files from Duplicator to the root directory of your new domain.

Step 4: Create a New Database

1. Access your Hosting Control Panel
   • Log in to your new domain’s hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel).
2. Create a New Database and User
   • Go to the MySQL Databases section.
   • Create a new database and add a new user with all privileges to this database. Save the database name, username, and password.

Step 5: Run the Duplicator Installer

1. Launch the Installer
   • Open a web browser and go to http://your-new-domain.com/installer.php.
2. Database Configuration
   • The Duplicator installer will ask you to input your new database details. Enter the information you saved in Step 4.
3. Start the Installation
   • Proceed with the installation process and ensure all steps pass until completion.
4. Test the New Site
   • Once the installation is complete, visit your new domain to ensure the site is functioning correctly.

Step 6: Update Domain References

1. Log in to the WordPress Dashboard
   • Log in to your WordPress dashboard at your new domain.
2. Update URLs
   • Go to Settings > General and make sure the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are set to the new domain.
3. Update Permalinks
   • Go to Settings > Permalinks. Set the permalinks to the current setting. This step refreshes the permalink structure and clears up any issues.
4. Update Links within Content
   • Use a plugin like Better Search Replace to update the domain name within the site content.

Step 7: Redirect from Old Domain

1. Set Up Redirection
   • To retain SEO rankings, set up 301 redirects from your old domain to your new domain. This can be done through the .htaccess file on your old domain.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^olddomain\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301,NC]

Submit the Change of Address to Google

• Go to Google Search Console, add and verify both domains, and submit a Change of Address request from your old domain to your new domain.

Step 8: Final Checks

1. Check for Broken Links
   • Use tools like Broken Link Checker to ensure that there are no broken links on your new site.
   Update Third-Party Services
   • Update your domain name with any third-party services connected to your site, such as analytics, social media accounts, and advertising networks.

By following these steps, you can ensure a seamless transition of your WordPress site to a new domain, minimizing downtime and maintaining your SEO performance.