{"id":101998,"date":"2021-01-26T08:36:02","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T14:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=101998"},"modified":"2024-01-18T15:58:54","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T21:58:54","slug":"wordpress-domain-mapping","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-domain-mapping\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress Domain Mapping Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It\u2019s not uncommon for web developers or business owners to <a href=\"https:\/\/domains.google\/learning-center\/top-5-reasons-to-get-more-than-one-domain-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">purchase more than one domain<\/a> for their websites. This could be for brand protection and awareness, or simply for future use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever your reason for buying multiple domains, you\u2019ll then need to connect them to your hosting service. That\u2019s where the process of domain mapping on WordPress comes in. This technique enables a domain that \u2018lives\u2019 somewhere other than with your web host to point visitors towards the right host and website content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll cover the situations in which you may want to use domain mapping for WordPress, and explain how to begin the process. Additionally, we\u2019ll introduce some tools that can make this task easier. Let\u2019s jump right in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Use Domain Mapping?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wordpress-best-practice-configuring-dns-for-wp-engine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Domain mapping<\/a> can become necessary in a couple of scenarios. In this context, \u2018mapping\u2019 refers to making sure your chosen domain name points or connects to the hosting server where your website\u2019s files are located.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reasons you might need to carry out this process include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You\u2019ve purchased several domain names that all need to point to the same server.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A domain name you purchased does not reside with the same hosting provider as your website\u2019s server.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are switching to <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/why-use-cms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a new Content Management System (CMS)<\/a>, but want to preserve the links on your site.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Essentially, domain mapping with WordPress is a way to redirect users to the correct host, through your website\u2019s address. This is especially important if you have purchased a domain name that is not already connected to or provided by your website\u2019s host.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can I Have Multiple Websites on One Domain?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can have two (or more) websites located under one domain. This is generally done by using subdomains, or by placing the websites into separate folders under the main domain. If your domain is \u201cexample.com\u201d, a subdomain might look like \u201csteve.example.com\u201d. This would be a completely different site with its own style and content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you wanted to place the sites into separate folders, the second website might be located at: \u201cexample.com\/steve\u201d. Again, thanks to domain mapping in WordPress, this could point to a completely different site than the original URL (\u201cexample.com\u201d). In the next section, we\u2019ll explain how to set this up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Map Domains on WordPress<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to map your domain, you\u2019ll need to be familiar with your web host\u2019s control panel or administration dashboard. For example, WP Engine customers have access to a custom <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-engine-user-portal\/\">User Portal<\/a>, where you can execute the steps needed to map your domains.&nbsp;Additionally, you\u2019ll need to make sure that you provide your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudflare.com\/learning\/dns\/glossary\/what-is-a-domain-name-registrar\/\">domain name registrar<\/a> with information about your website\u2019s host. Mapping is a \u2018two-way street\u2019, which requires that the correct information gets to your host <em>and <\/em>to your domain name registrar. Let\u2019s take a look at the steps you\u2019ll need to follow in order to make that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Access Your User Portal to Manage Your Domains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find much of the information you\u2019ll need in your host\u2019s control panel or user portal. On a WP Engine account, this means navigating to <em>Sites<\/em> and choosing the website you want to manage the domain for. Then click on <em>Domains<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the bottom of the <em>Domains<\/em> screen, you\u2019ll find the information you need to provide to your domain registrar. Using the <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/a\/answer\/112037?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canonical Name or <em>CNAME Record<\/em><\/a> is recommended when possible. This is what tells your domain registrar where to send users who visit your domain name online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll then need to check your domain registrar\u2019s requirements, to see what they\u2019ll accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you collect this information and update it with your domain registrar, you\u2019ll need to add your domain information to your hosting account. If you don\u2019t know what your registrar is, you can find it by using the <a href=\"https:\/\/lookup.icann.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Lookup<\/a> website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Add Your Domain Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can add your domain information to your User Portal, in the same place where you retrieved your DNS details. Once you access your <em>Domains<\/em> page, you can click on <em>Add Domain<\/em> under the <em>Domains &amp; Redirects<\/em> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that, you\u2019ll just need to enter your domain and select <em>Next<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve completed the first two steps, your domain name should point to your website. It might take up to 24 hours for your new mapping to completely resolve, however.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Verify Your Domain Information and Test Your Mapping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To test your domain mapping, you can simply type your domain name into a web browser. If the mapping process was successful, you will land on your website\u2019s home page. If not, you will need to check the accuracy of both the CNAME information you entered into your registrar, as well as the domain name you provided to your web host.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mapping for Multisites and Multiple Domains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There may be times when you need multiple WordPress domains to work with one installation or instance. In some cases, you may have multiple domains using WordPress, which all need to point back to the same website. This might be for branding and name recognition, or to avoid name confusion with similar brands. Alternatively, if you\u2019ve set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/support\/article\/create-a-network\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress multisite network<\/a>, your domain mapping might look a bit different as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, let\u2019s look at the process of mapping several domains to the same website. For this task, we recommend using a plugin. This is the easiest and most user-friendly way to manage multiple WordPress domain mappings on one site.&nbsp;The <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/multiple-domain-mapping-on-single-site\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Multiple Domain Mapping on Single Site<\/a> plugin is especially useful for marketers who are using various landing pages, or who want to have specific domains pointing to different pages on a larger website. You can manage those mappings easily in the plugin\u2019s interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that getting this plugin running does take some familiarity with your website\u2019s setup. For example, you\u2019ll need to be able to locate the information we outlined earlier in the manual domain mapping process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What if you\u2019re running a WordPress multisite network? <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/domain-mapping-wordpress-multisite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Starting with version 4.5<\/a>, WordPress included domain mapping for multisite setups as a native feature. This means you no longer need a plugin to map multiple domains in a network, and you can do one install for multiple WordPress domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multisite is useful if you want to manage numerous websites from the same dashboard. Rather than having distinct and individual WordPress installations for multiple related sites, you can create a network and manage them under one umbrella.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It does take a little more technical know-how to set up a multisite network and <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/support\/article\/wordpress-multisite-domain-mapping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">map your domains appropriately<\/a>. You\u2019ll need to be comfortable editing your website\u2019s <em>config.php<\/em> file, for example. Additionally, you\u2019ll need to make sure all of your domains are already mapped to your DNS server, and that your <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/add-ssl-site\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)<\/a> certificates are properly installed for each domain. This will enable secure administrator logins for all sites on the network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Master WordPress Domain Mapping Wit<\/strong><strong>h WP Engine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Registering multiple domains on WordPress and mapping them to your primary website can be a useful tool for managing brand recognition or using landing pages strategically. Fortunately, all you need to get started with your own domain mapping strategy are <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the right resources<\/a> and tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here at WP Engine, we offer the best in WordPress solutions, resources, and support. Check out our world-class <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wordpress-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress hosting plans<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s not uncommon for web developers or business owners to purchase more than one domain for their websites. This could be for brand protection and awareness, or simply for future use. Whatever your reason for buying multiple domains, you\u2019ll then need to connect them to your hosting service. That\u2019s where the process of domain mapping<span class=\"tile__ellipses\">&hellip;<\/span><span class=\"tile__ellipses--animated\"><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":177,"featured_media":114315,"template":"","resource-topic":[901],"resource-role":[896,1296,899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-101998","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>WordPress Domain Mapping Guide | WP Engine\u00ae<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If your site started out somewhere other than WordPress, you might be interested in domain mapping to preserve your site name and identity. 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