Domain mapping allows you to use several domains for the same web page. This is very useful when using content management systems like WordPress: you can structure multiple domains and subpages and connect them together. This makes it easier for users to navigate your different web pages, while allowing you to maintain an overview of your content. Read on to learn how to use domain mapping.
What is domain mapping?
Domain mapping allows you to connect multiple domains to your main domain or content management system (CMS). You can use domain name mapping to, for example, register individual domains for different departments, product categories or services and still manage them in the same WordPress installation.
In summary, domain mapping allows you to have several independent and different domains and manage them centrally. This makes it easy for users to navigate your website content without having to click through to subpages.
How does domain mapping work?
Mapping a domain is quite easy and very comfortable: a web server is associated with several domains. In this way, users have different ways of reaching your content. This is relevant for multisite solutions, where the different subpages and landing pages have their own domains, but everything can be managed centrally in your CMS. Also, you can easily add existing domains from other providers to your web presence.
For example, WordPress makes this possible with its multisite feature, which you can use to split a single WordPress installation across multiple connected domains. So you can create separate subpages for customer service, your company blog, an online store, or local franchise pages and bring it all together under the umbrella of your main domain.
Why use domain mapping?
Domain mapping is especially useful for companies and web page operators that work with diverse sets of products, services or themes. Domain name mapping allows you to connect a network of different domains and therefore makes it easier to find related domain names. It also makes it easier for users to find the part of your page they need. Since all the separate domains point to your main domain, it makes updating and maintaining your subpages much easier.
The advantages and disadvantages of domain mapping
Advantages
The advantages of domain mapping are quite clear. If you use a CMS, you can take care of maintaining and updating your domains in one place. You will save time and money, since all your domains are part of your “ domain map ”.
With domain mapping you can also secure several domains that are of interest to your brand. Domains will not stay “parked”, but can be connected to your main domain. This way you can optimize your reach, reach new customers and increase your traffic. And it is also possible to use domain mapping to integrate existing domains into your system without spending a lot on domain changes, WordPress migration or hosting changes.
Drawbacks
Some disadvantages of domain mapping stem from CMS structures, such as the WordPress Multisite feature. If you don’t have enough knowledge of your CMS, domain name mapping can be difficult to implement. So be prepared to learn how multisite networking and domain mapping works before you dive into it.
Domain mapping vs. domain transfer
The main difference between domain mapping and a full domain transfer is also one of the main advantages of domain mapping: if you have a contract with a service provider for your WordPress site, you will not be able to transfer or change your WordPress domain, or you will have to spend a lot of money to do it. It is much easier to connect independent domains with already mapped domains without changing providers or servers.
While a domain transfer from one provider to another involves transferring all content to a new server including the AuthCode, with domain mapping you can simply point your various domains to your main domain.
Domain mapping vs. domain forwarding
If you want to get attractive domains for branding reasons or increase your reach with similar domain names, domain forwarding might be what you need. With domain forwarding, users will be redirected to your destination domain, even if they didn’t originally search for it.
On the other hand, with domain mapping it is not about being redirected. Instead, it is a separate domain with its own content, which is connected to and points to a multisite network. The users are in the child domain but are shown content from the parent domain. The URL in the browser does not change.
