When your company changes its name, you'll likely want a new domain name to match. It's important to understand that a registered domain name cannot be renamed or edited — you must register a new domain and migrate your website to it.
Your old domain remains active until its registration expires, and you should use it to redirect visitors to your new domain during the transition.
Overview of the Process
- Register a new domain name
- Add it to your hosting account
- Update your website to use the new domain
- Set up 301 redirects from the old domain
- Update external references (Google, social media, etc.)
Step 1: Register a New Domain
Choose and register a domain that reflects your new company name:
- Go to cynet.com.my or your preferred registrar
- Search for your desired domain name
- Register it — we recommend securing the
.com,.com.my, and any other relevant extensions
Tips for choosing a new domain:
- Keep it short, easy to spell, and memorable
- Match your new company name as closely as possible
- Avoid hyphens and numbers if possible
- Secure common variations to protect your brand
Step 2: Add the New Domain to Your Hosting
If the new domain is registered with Cynet
Nameservers are already set. Simply add the domain to cPanel:
- Log in to cPanel
- Go to Domains → Create A New Domain
- Enter the new domain name
- Set the document root to the same folder as your old domain (e.g.,
/publichtml) - Click Submit
If the new domain is registered elsewhere
First, update nameservers at your registrar:
ns1.cynethost.comns2.cynethost.comns3.cynethost.comns4.cynethost.com
Step 3: Update Your Website
For WordPress Sites
- Log in to WordPress admin (
yourdomain.com/wp-admin) - Go to Settings → General
- Change WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to your new domain
- Click Save Changes
Warning: After changing these URLs, you'll need to log in again using the new domain.
- Update all internal links using a search-and-replace plugin:
oldcompany.com - Replace with: newcompany.com - Select all database tables - Run the replacement
For Static or Custom Websites
- Update any hardcoded domain references in your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files
- Update configuration files that reference the old domain
- Update absolute URLs in your sitemap and robots.txt
Step 4: Set Up SSL for the New Domain
cPanel's AutoSSL will automatically issue an SSL certificate for the new domain. To verify or speed up the process:
- Go to cPanel → SSL/TLS Status
- Select the new domain
- Click Run AutoSSL
- Once issued, enable HTTPS redirect in cPanel → Domains → toggle Force HTTPS Redirect
Step 5: Redirect the Old Domain to the New One
This is the most critical step for preserving your search engine rankings and ensuring visitors find your new site.
Set up a 301 (Permanent) Redirect
Add this to the .htaccess file in your old domain's document root:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPHOST} ^(www\.)?oldcompany\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.newcompany.com/$1 [L,R=301]
This redirects all pages from the old domain to the equivalent page on the new domain (e.g., oldcompany.com/about → newcompany.com/about).
Alternative: Use cPanel Redirects
- Go to cPanel → Redirects
- Select the old domain
- Set destination to
https://www.newcompany.com - Choose 301 (Permanent)
- Check Wild Card Redirect
- Click Add
Step 6: Update External References
After the migration, update your domain everywhere it's referenced:
- Google Search Console — Add and verify the new domain as a property, then use the Change of Address tool
- Google Business Profile — Update your website URL
- Social media profiles — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
- Business directories — MyBusiness, Yellow Pages, industry listings
- Email signatures — Update all employee signatures
- Printed materials — Business cards, brochures, letterheads
- Third-party services — Payment gateways, CRM systems, API integrations
Step 7: Create Email Accounts on the New Domain
Set up email accounts to match your new branding:
- Go to cPanel → Email Accounts → Create
- Select the new domain
- Create accounts (e.g.,
[email protected],[email protected])
Tip: Set up email forwarders from the old domain's addresses to the new ones during the transition period, so you don't miss any messages.
Keep the Old Domain
Do not let the old domain expire. Keep it registered and renewed for at least 1–2 years after the rebrand:
- The 301 redirect continues to pass visitors and SEO value to the new domain
- Search engines gradually transfer ranking authority from the old domain to the new one
- Customers with bookmarks or saved links will still reach your site
- Old printed materials and business cards will still work
SEO Impact
A domain change will temporarily affect your search rankings. To minimise the impact:
- 301 redirects are essential — They tell search engines the move is permanent and to transfer ranking signals
- Keep the same site structure — Don't change your URL paths at the same time as the domain
- Submit a new sitemap — In Google Search Console, submit the sitemap on the new domain
- Monitor rankings — Expect a temporary dip for 2–4 weeks, with recovery over 1–3 months
- Update backlinks — Reach out to important sites linking to you and ask them to update the URL