Ask Should I do a Fresh WordPress installation instead of redirecting to change a website domain?

[Brajet]

I've been working on a new website for about 2 months. It's got 7 pages and 8 blog posts at this point, so still brand new and pretty empty. I've decided I want to change my domain name.

This will also involve switching my domain on Mailerlite and Google Workspace as well as my actual website. I'll also have to update Google Analytics + Search Console.

I've never done a domain change before and have no clue where to start. I know I need redirects and all that. My question is, since my site is so new, would it possibly be a better solution to simply save all my content manually, install a brand new copy of WordPress, and set up my site again as if it were new? Are there any risks that come from doing this? It's not like I have to worry about SEO as I haven't been running the site long enough to rank yet.

 

[Anthony Joshua]

Since your site's still new, starting fresh with a new WordPress install might actually be the simpler route. You can easily export your posts and pages using WordPress tools, then import them on the new setup. This avoids redirection issues or old URL clutter. Just make sure to update all your links and settings after migration, and it should go smoothly with little SEO impact.

 

[Felix😎]

You don't need a fresh WordPress installation just to change the domain. You can simply update the domain in your WordPress dashboard under Settings > General, then adjust your hosting and DNS settings to point to the new domain. After that, set up 301 redirects from the old domain to the new one to maintain traffic and SEO. A fresh installation should only be done if you're planning to start over completely.