SISO LABSWhy the address changes#
A DISPO preview lives at its own address while you decide whether the site suits your shop. That address is kept out of search results until you claim it. When you are ready to put the site on a domain of your own, the address changes, and any link that pointed to the old one needs somewhere to go.
Moving to your own domain is a normal step. The site keeps its titles, descriptions, branch details, sitemap and share images. What changes is the web address people type or click. The preview stays free at its preview address, so you can keep it while you plan the move.
What a 301 redirect does#
A 301 redirect is a permanent instruction. When someone opens the old address, the browser is sent straight to the matching page on the new one. Search engines read the same instruction and understand that the move is permanent. Over time, they generally carry their record of the page across to the new address.
Without a redirect, the old address simply stops working. Anyone who saved the link, shared it, or found it in search would reach an error page. A redirect keeps those links useful and helps the page keep its place in search, which is why it is worth setting up before the switch.
Setting it up in practice#
Map each old page to its new equivalent first. The home page should point to the home page, and each branch page should point to the same branch on the new domain. Write the list down before changing anything, so that nothing is missed. Your sitemap is a useful check, because it lists every page the site publishes.
Once the new domain is live, add the 301 rules that send each old address to its new one. The way you add them depends on where your domain is hosted, so check your hosting provider's guidance. Then open a few old links by hand to confirm they land on the right page. Submit the new sitemap to the search engines you use, so they can discover the new addresses. Keep the redirects in place for as long as practical, because outside links may keep pointing to the old addresses.
Rules and checks to keep in mind#
Redirects only move visitors. They do not change what the site is allowed to say. Thai rules limit how cannabis may be advertised, so check your plans with a lawyer. Before you publish a new domain, read the site with those rules in mind.
This is general information, not legal advice. Thai rules limit how cannabis may be advertised, so check your plans with a lawyer. A careful review before the move costs far less than fixing a problem after visitors have already arrived.