How to redirect domain names with URL forwarding

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With the arrival of hundreds of new domain extensions it's an excellent time to remind you how to enable domain name redirection (URL forwarding). With this feature you can redirect domain names to your existing website, pretty cool. Let’s take a look at its benefits, and how to set it up.

Domain name redirection is the way to go

  • Having registered a new domain name, you now want to use it with your existing website. Alternatively, you want to forward your new domain name to your old website.
  • You've registered multiple domain names similar to your primary address. They're to cover misspells, plurals, fat fingers, and different extensions, and they need redirecting.
  • You want a short, memorable and relevant URL to use on social media.

Domain Management Guide

Three ways to redirect a domain name

Framed forwarding (with masking)– after typing domain name A, a user will see the content of domain name B displayed in an IFRAME (Inline Frame is an HTML document inserted into another HTML document with its own scroll bar). This method keeps domain name A in the URL bar.

Permanent 301 direct – having typed domain name A, a user is automatically redirected to domain name B, with domain name B shown in the URL bar. The 301 direct also tells search engines, "domain name A has permanently moved to domain name B, please update your indexes".

Temporary 302 direct – similar to 301 direct but the message to search engines is, "please DON'T update your indexes as this is a temporary move".

Setting up URL/domain forwarding

To set up URL/domain forwarding, please follow the instructions below. This option is only available if the domain name is using EuroDNS name servers.

1. Log in to your EuroDNS account and click DOMAIN NAMES > ACTIVE.

2. Move the cursor over the domain names you'd like to configure and click on Manage on the right.

3. Click on MANAGE ZONE.

4. Click on NEW RECORD.

5. Select URL Forward in the Type dropdown menu.

6. In the Host field, enter the hostname or subdomain of the source URL. Create two URL forward rules and enter as host only @ in the first rule and only www in the second rule or a different subdomain.

7. In the first Forward To field, type the destination URL (www.example.com).

8. In the second Type field:

  • Select "permanent redirect (301)" to display the destination URL in the address bar of the browser.
  • Select "in a frame" to display the source URL in the address bar of the browser.

9. Click on SAVE RECORD.

10. Click on SAVE ZONE.

Note: DNS changes usually need up to 24 hours to propagate throughout the entire Internet.

If you have any questions please get in touch and we'll be happy to talk you through the process.

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