Imagine having multiple domain names all leading to your fantastic website! With domain aliases in cPanel, you can achieve this magic. An alias acts like a virtual signpost, redirecting visitors from another domain name (the alias) to your primary website's content.
Why Use Domain Aliases?
There are several reasons why a seasoned website owner might leverage domain aliases:
- Brand Expansion: Secure variations of your brand name (e.g., company-domain-name.com and company-domain-name.net) and have them point to your main website, capturing potential visitors who might search for these variations.
- Marketing Campaigns: Create temporary domain aliases for specific marketing campaigns or promotions, directing traffic to relevant landing pages on your website.
- SEO Benefits: While not a direct ranking factor, domain aliases can help consolidate website traffic and improve your website's search engine ranking.
Understanding Domain Aliases vs. Addon Domains
It's important to distinguish between domain aliases and addon domains, both functionalities cPanel offers. Here's a quick breakdown:
| Feature | Domain Alias | Addon Domain |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Domain in Address Bar |
No (alias points elsewhere) | Yes (displayed in the address bar) |
|
Apache Directive |
ServerAlias | VirtualHost |
|
Separate Logs/Stats |
No (shares with main domain) | Yes (separate logs & stats) |
|
Ideal Use Case |
Multiple domains, same content | Separate websites, same account |
Creating a Domain Alias in cPanel
Ready to leverage domain aliases for your website? Follow these steps using cPanel's intuitive interface:
-
Log in to your cPanel account.
-
Navigate to the "Domains" section.** This is where the domain management magic happens!
-
Click on the "Aliases" option. Here's where you'll configure your domain aliases.
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In the "Domain" text box, enter the domain name you want to create as an alias.**
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Ensure the "Share document root (/home/username/public_html)" checkbox is selected. This guarantees that the alias points to the same content directory as your primary website.
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Click on the "Add Domain" button. Voila! Your domain alias is now configured.
Additional Info
- You can only toggle the Force HTTPS Redirect to On to automatically redirect the new domain's visitors from the insecure version of the website (HTTP) to the secure version (HTTPS) on main domains. The toggle will not appear for aliases.
- You also cannot modify the document root directory for domains that share that directory with the main domain.
Important Considerations:
- The domain name you use as an alias must be registered with a valid domain name registrar and pointed to our web hosting provider's nameservers.
- It can take some time for domain aliases to propagate across the internet, so be patient! Changes might not be reflected instantly.
By effectively using domain aliases, you can expand your website's reach, enhance brand recognition, and improve your SEO standing. Remember, a well-planned domain strategy can be a powerful tool for online success!
WebHostingM Support
If you encounter any difficulties while creating or managing domain aliases in cPanel, WebHostingM's support team is here to help! You can contact our support team for personalized assistance.
