Know-How Exchange : SEO/SEM

A quick list:

1. Try and keep title tags the same
2. Try and keep file names the same and if not, implement 301 redirects from old page to new page.
3. Make minimal changes to pages during transition.
4. Implement 301 redirect from old domain to new domain. If you keep the filenames the same you can implement a wildcard redirect that will simplify the transition.
5. Dead pages should 404 or be 301 redirected to replacement pages.
6. Prepare your redirects prior to the transition and push them live immediately after the switchover.
7. Set your redirects by analyzing the indexed pages in the major search engines.

Make certain that your redirects are 301/permanent not 302 (the default). Otherwise your rankings will suffer greatly.

Please note that a 301 redirect will leak PageRank so the new domain may not receive the same amount of link juice.

Be prepared for some instability in rankings during the transition period. If everything is done properly the instability will level out.

Selecting a new domain name can also be tricky. Can you provide details?

Dear excellira,

We change from the www.xx.com.my to www.xx2u.com.

xx is our brand name. Sorry, i cannot disclose it here.
We change to 2u because the xx domain is belong to other company.

Certainly a valid reason for changing domains. Since you don't have a choice, then you simply implement 301 redirects and move on. You won't lose much but there will be some loss of PR. That may not actually translate into lower rankings.

Be prepared for some instability for a short period and then the rankings should settle down.

Is it possible to obtain an exact-match domain name?

Dear excellira,

How long it takes for instability period?

For exact-match domain name, it is difficult to obtain because many company using the same brand name for different product.

Thanks.