Change the Primary Blog’s URL
Before you can link your old URL to a new one, you must give your blog a new name. Log into your Tumblr Dashboard and click the gear icon at the top to navigate to your Settings menu. Choose the blog you’d like to change from the left side of the page and click “Customize.” Modify the name in the “Title” field – you’ll be notified immediately if the name is already taken – so both your blog’s name and its corresponding URL are updated.
Create a New Blog
The next step in the redirecting process is to create a new blog using your old blog’s previous name. In other words, now that it’s available, you want to retain the old title so there is a familiar URL for your existing readers that automatically redirects them to the new location. Other than a bit of coding that links them elsewhere, you won’t actually post any content to this blog. To create this “new” account, click “Create a New Blog” on the right side of your Dashboard and register a new blog with the old blog’s name.
Add the Redirect
While still logged into the new blog, select “Customize” and choose “Theme.” Delete all of the existing code – there may not be much since you’ve not done any major formatting – and copy and paste “,” omitting the outer quotation marks and replacing “NEW URL” with the main blog’s new link and “SECONDS” with the amount of time – in seconds – you prefer before readers are redirected. Set the time measurement to “0” if you don’t want any delay at all.
Alternate and Non-Automatic Solution
To both call attention to the new URL and invite readers to “Follow” the new blog as well, it may be prudent to avoid adding a script that automatically redirects upon launch. Consider using some kind of image or text-based content explaining the change instead and offer a clickable link leading to the new site. For a simple, text-based solution, select “Customize,” choose “Theme” and delete all existing code. Add “Click here for the updated blog. Be sure to Follow it!”, omitting the outer quotation marks and replacing “NEW URL” with the blog’s new link.
Considerations
Keep in mind that a name change will alter any external links that are connected to your blog. In other words, if you or another user has linked back to one of your blog posts from another site, that link will no longer serve its original purpose and will produce an error when clicked. This will also affect any link building and search engine ranking you have already worked hard to attain. Writer Bio
