Image: elephantjournal
Changing blog domains has always been a critical issue among bloggers.  Thinking about the change usually arises when the blog has gained a considerable audience but the blog doesn’t have its own domain.  This is the time when bloggers start to realize that his or her blog has actual potentials and seek  to find a home that will ensure a solid standing.
Transferring domains wouldn’t be such an issue if there are no negative consequences involved in doing it.  The main concern here is the probable loss or decrease of traffic which is never welcome news to any blog.  Blogs gain readership with much effort in content writing and syndicating them in social platforms that matter.  An audience is something which a blog cannot gain overnight.
Another possibility is the permanent loss of statistics obtained by the original blog.  Nothing can be more discouraging than to see all data go back to zero just when everything seems to be going well for the blog.  Changing domains is actually a real SEO challenge since no one knows just exactly how much will be retained and lost by the transfer.
There are suggested steps to minimize negative consequences if and when domain transfer is decided upon. Â The most basic include:
1. Â Register a new domain and upload at least one HTML page weeks before the actual transfer to enable search engines to find the new blog. Â It is best to mention that the new blog will become the new home.
2. A proper redirect solution must be in place to ensure that all traffic to the old blog will be redirected to the new one.
3. Social profiles must be modified to point to the new domain.
There will be more to be done thus complete redirection may not happen quickly as any blogger would have liked. Â New bloggers should consider starting with their own domain when possible so that future problems related to this nature will not be a concern.