URL forwarding allows you to direct visitors from one domain name to another website or URL. It is particularly useful when you own a domain that you wish to use as an alternative web address without hosting a separate website on that domain.
For example, if your primary website is hosted at example.co.za, you could forward another domain, such as example.com, to the primary website. URL forwarding can also be useful when a business changes its domain name, launches a marketing campaign, or wants several domain names to lead visitors to one main website.
Domains.co.za refers to URL forwarding as domain pointing or domain forwarding. The service allows a domain to be pointed to another existing website and is available as part of the Domains.co.za domain services.
URL forwarding is different from hosting a separate website on the domain. Instead of storing website files on the domain’s hosting account, the domain is configured to send visitors to another destination.
This can be useful for businesses that have registered multiple domains or are transitioning from an old domain to a new one. For example, if a company rebrands and moves from oldbusiness.co.za to newbusiness.co.za, forwarding the old domain can help existing visitors reach the new website.
Before setting up forwarding, ensure that you have access to the domain in your Domains.co.za account and know the full URL that you want visitors to reach. Domains.co.za describes domain pointing as a way of linking an existing domain name to another website or application.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to Set Up URL Forwarding
1. Login to the Domains.co.za Customer Portal.
2. Open the Manage Services dropdown menu.
3. Choose Web Hosting if the domain is associated with a web hosting service.
4. Click Manage next to the relevant domain.
5. Locate URL Forwarding or Domain Pointing for the domain that you wish to forward.
6. Enter the full destination URL where visitors should be sent. Ensure that you enter the correct website address, including https:// where appropriate.
7. Save or apply the forwarding configuration.
8. Allow time for the DNS or forwarding changes to take effect.
The amount of time required can vary depending on the configuration and DNS caching.
9. Test the domain in a web browser after the changes have taken effect. Confirm that entering the original domain sends visitors to the intended destination.
10. Update the forwarding configuration if the destination URL changes. This ensures that visitors continue to reach the correct website or page.
Additional Information
- URL forwarding, also known as domain pointing or domain forwarding, allows an existing domain to direct visitors to another website or application.
- URL forwarding is useful when multiple domain names need to lead visitors to one primary website.
- Forwarding can be particularly useful when a business changes its domain name and wants visitors using the old domain to reach the new website.
- You should always check the destination URL carefully before saving the forwarding configuration, because visitors will be directed to the address that you specify.
- DNS changes and forwarding configurations may take time to become visible because DNS information can be cached by browsers, devices and DNS resolvers.
- Domain forwarding can form part of a brand protection strategy by allowing several relevant domain names to lead to your primary website.
- Domains.co.za provides URL forwarding as part of its domain services, allowing domains to be pointed to an existing website.
- URL forwarding does not replace web hosting when you need the domain to host its own website files, databases, email services or applications.
- If you want multiple domains to operate from the same hosting account and website, domain parking may be a more suitable option depending on your requirements.
- Domains.co.za describes domain pointing as a way to simplify website management by allowing multiple domains to lead to a single primary website.
Login to Domains.co.za Account
1. Go to the Domains.co.za website Account Login page.
2. Enter your Email and Password and click the Sign In button.
3. You will see the Domains.co.za Dashboard, displaying the Manage Account menu on the left and your Account Information, Account Overview and Open Support Tickets on the right.
