Easily Redirect Your Site to a New Domain and Add Parameters to the URL with This .htaccess Trick

Migrating your website to a new domain? Ensuring visitors and search engines are directed to your new location is crucial for maintaining traffic and SEO rankings. By using an .htaccess file, you can implement a permanent redirect (301) that preserves your site’s integrity.

Step 1: Create or Modify the .htaccess File

1. Locate your website’s root directory: This is the folder where your current site files reside (e.g., public_html or htdocs).
2. Create or edit the .htaccess file:
   • If the file doesn’t exist, create a new text file named .htaccess.
   • If it already exists, open it for editing.

Step 2: Add Redirect Rules

Insert the following code into the .htaccess file, replacing placeholders with your new domain details:

Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\.newdomain\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.newdomain.com/
?parameter=value [R=301,L]

Breakdown of the code

• Options +FollowSymLinks: Enables symbolic link following (required for mod_rewrite).
• RewriteEngine On: Activates the Apache rewrite module.
• RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\.newdomain\.co.uk$ [NC]:
  • Checks if the requested domain is not www.newdomain.com.
  • [NC] makes the condition case-insensitive.
• RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.newdomain.com/
  ?parameter=value [R=301,L]
  :
  • Redirects all incoming requests (^(.*)$) to the new domain.
  • preserves the original URL path (e.g., /blog/post becomes newdomain.com/blog/post).
  • [R=301,L] enforces a permanent redirect and stops further processing.

Optional Parameter

The ?parameter=value segment appends a tracking parameter to URLs (e.g., for analytics). Adjust or remove this based on your needs.

Step 3: Verify and Test

1. Save the .htaccess file and upload it to your root directory.
2. Test the redirect:
   • Visit https://olddomain.com (your previous domain) in a browser.
   • Ensure you’re redirected to https://www.newdomain.com with the correct path.
   • Check for any broken links or missing pages.

Why This Works

• SEO Benefits: A 301 redirect signals search engines that your site has permanently moved, preserving your search rankings.
• User Experience: Visitors are automatically routed to the new domain without disruption.
• Flexibility: The rules handle all pages and subdirectories dynamically.
• Backup First: Always keep a copy of your original .htaccess file before making changes.