Redirect Your Domain: How to Set Up Domain Forwarding

You have a domain name, but your website or online presence lives somewhere else. Domain forwarding lets you send visitors from your domain to a different web address. This is useful for many reasons, like pointing to a social media page, an online store, or even a temporary landing page.

What is Domain Forwarding?

Domain forwarding, also called domain redirection, is a service that automatically sends visitors from one domain name to another web address. When someone types your domain name into their browser, the forwarding service sends them to your target destination URL.

Think of it like mail forwarding. If you move, the post office can send mail addressed to your old address to your new one. Domain forwarding does the same for web traffic.

For example, if your domain is yourbusiness.com and your main online store is at anotherservice.com/yourbusiness, you can set up forwarding so that anyone visiting yourbusiness.com automatically lands on your store page.

Types of Domain Forwarding

There are a few ways domain forwarding can work. The main difference is whether the visitor's browser address bar changes to show the new destination.

Standard (301) Forwarding

This is the most common type. When a visitor goes to your domain, they are immediately sent to the destination URL. The address in their browser's address bar will change to show the destination URL.

This type of forwarding is generally preferred for search engine optimization (SEO). It tells search engines that your domain has permanently moved or points to the new address, passing along most of its search ranking value.

Masked (Frame) Forwarding

With masked forwarding, visitors are also sent to the destination URL. However, the address in their browser's address bar will not change. It will continue to show your original domain name. The destination website is displayed within a hidden frame on your domain.

While this keeps your original domain visible, it has some downsides:

• It can sometimes cause issues with how your forwarded website functions, especially with interactive elements or security certificates.
• Search engines generally treat masked forwarding less favorably than standard forwarding, as the content isn't directly associated with your domain.
• The URL in the address bar won't update as visitors navigate through the forwarded website, which can be confusing.

For most small businesses, standard (301) forwarding is the better choice.

When to Use Domain Forwarding

Domain forwarding is a flexible tool. Here are common scenarios where it's helpful:

• Pointing to a social media page: If your main online presence is a Facebook page, Instagram profile, or LinkedIn company page, you can forward your domain directly to it. This makes it easy for customers to remember and find you.
• Directing to an online store: Many small businesses use third-party platforms for their e-commerce. Forward your domain to your storefront on one of these services.
• Promoting a specific product or service: You might have a temporary landing page for a new offering. Forward a dedicated domain name to that page.
• Consolidating multiple domains: If you own several domain names (e.g., yourbusiness.com, yourbusiness.net, yourbusiness.org), you can forward all of them to your primary website. This catches visitors who might type in a different extension.
• Temporary website or "Coming Soon" page: Before your full website is ready, forward your domain to a simple "Coming Soon" page.

How to Set Up Domain Forwarding

Setting up domain forwarding is usually done through your domain registrar. The exact steps can vary slightly, but the general process is similar.

1. Log in to your domain registrar account: This is where you manage your domain names.
2. Find your domain management section: Look for a section like "My Domains," "Domain Management," or "DNS Management."
3. Select the domain you want to forward: Click on the specific domain name.
4. Locate the forwarding option: This might be under "DNS," "Forwarding," "Website," or "Redirect."
5. Enter the destination URL: Type in the complete web address you want your domain to point to (e.g., https://www.facebook.com/yourbusinesspage). Be sure to include http:// or https://.
6. Choose the forwarding type: Select "Standard" (301) or "Masked" (Frame). As noted, standard is usually best.
7. Save your changes: There's usually a button like "Save," "Add Forwarding," or "Update."

After you save, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for the changes to take effect across the internet. This is known as DNS propagation.

Takeaways

• Domain forwarding sends visitors from your domain to another web address.
• It's useful for social media profiles, online stores, or temporary pages.
• Standard (301) forwarding is usually best for SEO and avoids technical issues.
• You set up forwarding through your domain registrar.
• Changes can take a short while to become active.

Domain forwarding is a simple way to make sure customers can always find your current online presence. If you don't have a domain name yet, you can register one through a domain registrar. Many registrars also offer tools to easily set up forwarding as part of their domain management services.