Folks,
Client is changing site name (e.g. from http://oldname.com to http://newname.com)
Server location not moving (files and db staying put as is).
Site has been up for a while and SEO concerns are present.
The site is on a server running LAMP and CPanel.
*W**hat I've done*:
1. At domain registration site for new name I've set the name servers to the current site. 2. At CPanel at current site I've added the new domain as a "Parked" domain 3. At CPanel I've done a 301 redirect, enabling the wildcard feature.
*The only thing that isn't working properly:*
- Wildcard redirects use "dirty" urls. Example: user types in: oldname.com/blog and the redirect goes to newname.com/index.php?q=blog.
That page shows up fine, but I'd prefer the url be: newname.com/blog. Once on newname.com/index.php?q=blog if you click on any internal links, the "dirty" url goes away and everything is perfect.
One response is, "It could be worse!"
But I really would like to fix this.
*T**wo questions*:
1. How can I get the redirect to redirect to the clean URL? 2. Do you see anything wrong in my procedure (maybe there is a problem that I'm simply not noticing yet)
Thanks much!
Shai