What Is Domain upgrade? Domain Glossary

Why it matters

Startups often launch on a long or odd name, or on a cheaper extension, then upgrade as they grow. A shorter name is easier to say, remember and type. The change needs planning. Set up 301 redirects from the old domain, update email, listings and ads, and keep the old name registered. Plan for temporary search ranking changes. A common mistake is dropping the old domain too soon, which breaks links and email.

Source: developers.google.com

Where we use this term

Related terms

Brandable domain: A short, invented or lightly altered name that sounds like a brand, even though it is not a plain dictionary phrase. It is easy to say and spell, with no fixed meaning.
Site migration: A site migration is moving a website to a new domain or structure. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that sends visitors and search engines from the old address to the new one.
Brand name: A name that identifies a company or product and sets it apart from others. A strong brand name is easy to say, spell and remember, and it works as a trademark.
Rebrand: A rebrand is a change to a company's name, look, or identity. When the name changes, the company often needs a new domain, which can drive a domain purchase.
.com: Dot-com is the most widely used top-level domain in the world. Verisign runs the .com registry, and it held about 166.6 million registrations in mid-2026.

All 205 terms

Why it matters

Where we use this term

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