Switch Your App Domain on Hostinger
TL;DR:
- Hostinger makes changing your app's domain straightforward during rebrands or restructures
- Set up 301 redirects properly to keep your traffic flowing to the new domain
- Update SEO elements carefully to protect your search rankings
- Time the switch during low-traffic periods to reduce user disruption
- Keep the old domain running with redirects for several months during transition
Switching your app's domain on Hostinger doesn't have to be stressful. With the right preparation, you can move to a new domain while keeping your users happy and your search rankings intact.
The key is getting your redirects right, timing the switch well, and staying on top of your SEO during the transition.
Understanding Redirects
Redirects send your users from the old domain to the new one without them noticing the change happening behind the scenes. Here's what you need to get right:
Map out all your URLs first. Create a complete list of every page that needs redirecting. Missing even a few important pages can frustrate users and hurt your SEO.
Use 301 redirects everywhere. These permanent redirects pass most of your SEO value from old URLs to new ones. Other redirect types won't give you the same protection for your search rankings.
Test everything before going live. Check that redirects work properly across different devices and browsers. A redirect that fails on mobile can lose you users immediately.
Don't rush this bit. A redirect that goes to the wrong page or doesn't work at all creates a poor experience that's hard to recover from.
SEO Considerations
Protecting your search rankings during a domain change requires attention to detail. Here's what matters most:
Update your internal links. Go through your site content and change links to point directly to your new domain rather than relying on redirects.
Fix your meta tags and structured data. Any references to your old domain in these elements need updating to match your new one.
Contact sites linking to you. Reach out to websites with valuable backlinks and ask them to update their links to your new domain. This isn't always possible, but it's worth trying for your most important links.
Monitor your search performance closely. Watch Google Search Console for crawl errors, ranking drops, or traffic changes. The sooner you spot problems, the easier they are to fix.
Keep your old domain running with redirects for at least three to six months. This gives search engines time to understand the change and update their indexes properly.
Choosing the Right Timing
When you make the switch can make a huge difference to how smoothly it goes:
Pick your quietest hours. Schedule the domain change when your app gets the least traffic. Check your analytics to find these low-traffic windows.
Tell your users what's happening. Give them advance notice about the change. A simple announcement can prevent confusion and support tickets.
Plan for weekends or holidays. Fewer people use most apps during these times, so any hiccups affect fewer users.
Stay available to monitor. Don't make big changes and then disappear. Keep an eye on your site's performance immediately after switching.
FAQs
Can I switch domains without any downtime?
Yes, with proper planning you can switch domains with minimal or no downtime. The key is having all redirects and DNS changes ready before you flip the switch.
How often should I change my domain?
As rarely as possible. Each domain change risks confusing users and impacting SEO, so only do it when you have a compelling business reason.
What if my rankings drop after switching?
Check your redirects are working correctly and all SEO elements are updated properly. Rankings often dip temporarily during domain changes but should recover if everything is set up right.
Jargon Buster
301 Redirects – Permanent redirects that tell search engines a page has moved forever and pass most SEO value to the new location
Meta Tags – HTML code that describes your web page to search engines, invisible to regular visitors but crucial for SEO
Google Search Console – Free tool from Google that shows how your site performs in search results and alerts you to problems
Wrap-up
Switching your app's domain on Hostinger goes smoothly when you plan properly. Focus on getting your redirects right, protecting your SEO, and timing the change for minimum disruption.
The most important thing is preparation. Map out what needs changing, test everything thoroughly, and keep monitoring after you make the switch. Most domain changes succeed when you take care of the details upfront.
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