How To Forward A Domain On Godaddy ?

Domain forwarding is an essential tool for website owners. Whether you want to redirect traffic from an old domain to a new one, consolidate multiple domains, or ensure your customers reach the correct website, GoDaddy makes domain forwarding simple. In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step of forwarding a domain on GoDaddy, along with practical tips to optimize your setup for SEO and user experience.

What is Domain Forwarding?

Domain forwarding, also called URL redirection, is the process of automatically sending visitors from one domain to another. For example, if you own www.olddomain.com and want visitors to go to www.newdomain.com, you can set up a forward.

There are two main types of domain forwarding:

1. 301 Permanent Redirect – Tells search engines that the domain has moved permanently. This helps retain SEO value.
2. 302 Temporary Redirect – Indicates a temporary move, meaning SEO value is not fully passed to the new domain.

Pro Tip: For most cases, especially rebranding or consolidating domains, use a 301 permanent redirect to preserve search engine rankings.

Why Forward a Domain?

Forwarding a domain is useful in several situations:

• Rebranding – Redirect an old domain to a new brand domain.
• Multiple Domains – Consolidate traffic from similar or common misspellings to your main website.
• Marketing Campaigns – Forward a short, easy-to-remember domain to a landing page.
• Domain Portfolio Management – Keep domains active without creating separate websites.

Step 1: Log in to Your GoDaddy Account

1. Go to GoDaddy.com.
2. Click Sign In and enter your account credentials.
3. Access your My Products page to see a list of your domains.

Step 2: Select the Domain You Want to Forward

1. Under Domains, locate the domain you want to forward.
2. Click the DNS button next to it. This will open the domain’s DNS management page.

Step 3: Set Up Forwarding

1. Scroll down to the Forwarding section on the DNS page.
2. Click Add under Domain Forwarding.
3. Enter the URL you want to forward your domain to (for example, https://www.newdomain.com).
4. Choose your forwarding type:
   • Permanent (301) – Recommended for SEO.
   • Temporary (302) – Use only for short-term redirects.
5. Select Forward only or Forward with masking:
   • Forward only – Visitors are redirected to the new domain URL.
   • Forward with masking – The original domain remains in the browser’s address bar while showing the new site. Masking is not recommended for SEO, as it can confuse search engines.
6. Click Save to apply changes.

Pro Tip: It can take up to 24–48 hours for domain forwarding to fully propagate worldwide.

Step 4: Test Your Domain Forwarding

After setting up forwarding, verify that it works correctly:

1. Open a browser and enter your old domain.
2. Check that it redirects to the new domain.
3. Test both with www and without www to ensure all variations redirect properly.

Step 5: Optimize for SEO

Proper SEO management ensures your forwarding doesn’t negatively impact search rankings:

• Use 301 Redirects – This passes most of the old domain’s SEO value to the new domain.
• Update Internal Links – Replace old domain links in your website content.
• Update Google Search Console – Add the new domain and monitor indexing.
• Update Backlinks – Reach out to important websites linking to your old domain to update links if possible.

Step 6: Forward Subdomains (Optional)

If you have subdomains, such as blog.olddomain.com, you can forward them individually:

1. Go to DNS Management for the domain.
2. Add a CNAME record pointing the subdomain to the target domain.
3. Alternatively, use GoDaddy’s forwarding feature for specific subdomains.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Forward with Masking – This can hurt SEO and create a poor user experience.
2. Not Choosing 301 Redirects – Temporary redirects don’t transfer SEO authority.
3. Ignoring Propagation Time – Changes may take up to 48 hours to take effect.
4. Forwarding Without Testing – Always confirm that all variations of your domain redirect correctly.

FAQs About Forwarding a Domain on GoDaddy

Q1: Can I forward my domain to a website on another platform?
Yes, you can forward a GoDaddy domain to any URL, including Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, or custom websites.

Q2: Will forwarding affect my email?
Forwarding only affects website traffic. Email accounts associated with the domain remain unchanged unless you update MX records.

Q3: Can I remove forwarding later?
Yes, you can delete or modify forwarding anytime in your domain’s DNS settings.

Conclusion

Forwarding a domain on GoDaddy is a straightforward way to redirect traffic, consolidate multiple domains, and maintain SEO value. By following the steps outlined in this guide—choosing the right redirect type, setting up forwarding, testing, and optimizing for SEO—you can ensure a smooth transition for your visitors and search engines.