Domain forwarding is one of the most useful - and most misunderstood - domain features. It lets one domain take visitors straight to another, whether you have multiple brands, a .com.bd variant, or a redirect from your old address. This guide covers the types, the SEO implications, and the setup.

Table of Contents

What Domain Forwarding Is

Domain forwarding automatically sends visitors from one address to another. For example, visitors to mybrand.com.bd immediately land on mybrand.com. It is managed in your registrar's settings and needs no hosting.

Types of Forwarding

  • Permanent (301): tells browsers and search engines the move is permanent.
  • Temporary (302): used for short-term redirects.
  • Masked/framed: shows the destination content but keeps the original address in the browser bar.

301 vs 302 Redirects

The choice matters for SEO. A 301 tells Google the old URL has permanently moved - it transfers ranking power to the new address, which is what you want when rebranding or moving domains. A 302 says 'temporarily here' - search engines keep the original URL as canonical, which is right for short campaigns.

SEO Best Practices

  1. Use 301 for permanent domain changes so you keep your search rankings.
  2. Forward both www and non-www versions to one canonical address.
  3. Forward your alternative extensions (.net, .com.bd) to your main domain.
  4. Avoid chains - forward directly from A to C, not A to B to C.
  5. After moving, submit your new sitemap in Search Console and update your site URLs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does domain forwarding cost money?

Basic forwarding is usually free with your registrar. Premium features like masking may cost extra.

Can I forward a subdomain only?

Yes - you can forward shop.yourdomain.com to a separate site while the main domain stays untouched.

Forwarding keeps your visitors and your SEO moving in the right direction. Use 301s for permanent moves, and register those extra extensions to protect your brand.