[Matt Gibson]

Hi guys,

Usually post on the general section but I know some of you guys here are pretty clued up on websites/Google so ive got a quick question.

I want to change my domain of my website from precisepressurewashing.co.uk to ppwservices.co.uk but I dont know how it will affect my ranking. I know nowadays that having a keyword in your domain name isnt as important but actually changing it totally, im not sure how that will affect my site.

Any thoughts?

[Kev Loomes]

I presume ppwservices.co.uk is s a brand new domain name? Subsequently Google will see it that way aswell, and treat it as such i.e. it will have its own ranking (nothing to do with your other site - its irrelevant).

Why not keep your existing site? - especially if it ranks well. If it does rank well and you have worked hard at making it as such, then you will be throwing all that hard work away.

[Mike Halliday]

I'm no  expert but can you keep both and have ppwservice.co.uk automatically redirected to your old site?

[Matt Gibson]

Thanks kev, I thought as much. Mike, I thought about that, but basically im trying to look a bit more commercial and also shorten down my email address (matt@precisepressurewashing.co.uk is a mouthfull) and also looking for a shorter domain name.

Was thinking I could just use ppwservies.co.uk as my email prefix but then it wont match my website domain. Might look a bit dodgey to some.

[Kev Loomes]

Yes Mike. If he plans to keep both then he just needs to set up a domain forwarder so that he gets a redirect. I presume he is getting rid of the old one though?

If he plans to keep it though, then a redirect is fine and it shouldnt affect his ranking on the site its going to (his old one)

However, if this is his plan then will he need a new site design on his old domain name? So there's more cost to consider. I would choose this option though, as a new site build will be the same cost anyway - at least he keeps his ranking this way (and his old domain name will be visible in the address bar - no real biggy)

So in this scenario all this is doing is having the new name on his stationary/van etc

[Matt Gibson]

Kev, see my post above.

Will be keeping both domains, just wanting to look abit more commercial, and shorten down my email addresses and web address. I will be re jigging my existing site. I looked at designing a new website for the ppwservices domain, but there would be a lot of the same content on both sites, and was advised that bot sites might suffer.

[Kev Loomes]

Seems ok to me. I wouldnt worry about the email not matching the site it lands on - it will match the new domain that you advertise - so not a problem.

You could even have a mobile site done and have your old site forward to that when they log on with a phone/tablet (not iPad though - you want the iPad to go to your main site as its a big screen, can look daft otherwise) 

I think these are doing an offer at the moment: http://poshgecko.co.uk/mobile-website-design/

[Matt Gibson]

Thanks kev, very helpfull. I might just point the new domain at existing site, and create a couple of emails with the new domain.

Bit worried though if people search for "ppw service" they wont find me as the domain is only pointed..

[Kev Loomes]

No problem.

I dont think many people will be searching for that term anyway tbh Matt. If your worried about existing clients then just email your contact there now and again (along with any other firms - at the same time i.e. bulk, its easier). New clients will definitely not be using that term!