Hi everyone! I'm currently helping a client rebrand and rebuild their website from scratch, changing the domain name in the process. The old site is applesandoranges.com, built on WordPress, and the new site will be berriesandbananas.com, which I've set up on Squarespace for now. On launch day, I'll switch berriesandbananas.com to a fully operational site. I've got all the 301 redirects ready to go, pointing from the old URLs to the new ones.
However, I'm quite confused by the advice I received from the web developer. They suggested I point the DNS for the old site to the new one right after uploading the redirects. It seems counterproductive to get rid of the old site immediately, especially since I thought it would help if the old site remained live until search engines register the redirects.
For clarity, should I keep the old site up for a while even after launching the new one, or is it fine to turn it off as soon as the redirects are in place? Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
4 Answers
I agree with the advice to keep the old site up if it's just redirecting. Having it live means you can monitor any potential traffic it still receives. If the new site is handling 301s, it's best to manage redirects that way because it reduces strain on the old hosting service.
Here's a tip: consider registering your old domain for an extended period, like 9 to 10 years. This way, you prevent someone else from claiming it and potentially causing confusion with your client's previous brand.
As long as your 301 redirects are properly set up, it doesn't matter where the DNS points because the redirects will handle traffic correctly. However, keeping the old site running can be beneficial for a short while, as it gives search engines time to adjust and register the new links. If you’re not planning on using the old site structure long-term, consider transitioning it smoothly instead of shutting it down right away.
Definitely keep those 301 redirects active! It's essential for making sure your old links dock correctly to the new domain. You should leave the old domain's DNS settings alone until they're fully established. It's generally safer to allow some time here rather than point everything to the new domain immediately.
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