Changing your blog name without losing followers

You’ve thought long and hard about changing your blog name and you want to do it. You’ve found the perfect name, but you still worry about losing your readers. It’s normal to be scared if you’ve worked hard to create content and build a following. Just follow these simple steps to successfully change your domain.

Tell your readers.

Let people know in advance that your site will be going through a change. Write on your blog, social media, or send emails. If you don’t have a mailing list, it might be time to start one.

Buy a domain name and set up a new email address

You might want your email to match your domain, so set up an email address on your new domain. Change the contact details on your site, import your mailing list, and forward your emails.

Move site to the new domain and set up a redirect

You should move your blog before the old name expires. Do it at least 6 months in advance. This way you can set up a 301 redirect that will tell the search engines that your site has moved permanently and will send your visitors to the new domain.

Tell Google about it

Use Google Search Console to tell Google that your site has moved. This will help index your URLs and you will not lose your Google search ranking. Also, add your new domain and a sitemap.

Change your name

Change your name on WordPress/Blogger and update your URLs to the correct new URL. On WordPress, you can use a plugin to update the URLs.

Update social media, Bloglovin’ and RSS feed

This is optional, depending on what name you use. It’s easy to change the URL on Twitter and Instagram, but Facebook only lets you change it if you have under 200 likes.  You’ll also have to claim your site on Bloglovin’ and redirect your followers to the new domain. Don’t forget to set up a new RSS feed, or change the old feed to receive content from your new domain name. If you have Rich Pins set up, you will have to do that again.

Change graphics

Make sure all the graphics on your site and social media have the correct details on them. If you make your own graphics, there are a lot of editing programs you can use.

Change shop details

Most platforms will allow you to change your name at least once. On Etsy, the second time you ask for a name change, you will have to go through a review. A new domain name is a good reason, so your name change will be approved. Don’t forget to update your contact details and graphics.

There is still a chance you might lose some followers, but your loyal readers will know about it and still follow you

Did you change your blog name? Are you thinking about doing it?