TOPIC:

Due to chartering in a rush, we had to change our placeholder name to a new one. However, we're constrained by budget from purchasing a domain. Is there a way to redirect from vpoo.toastmastersclubs.org to vp.toastmastersclub.org, which isn't taken, to avoid our prospects and guests from getting a broken link 404 error?

You can change your website alias at any time in the admin console.

Only catch is that there is a minimum length requirement. The alias must be at least 3 characters long.

If we switch to a new alias, will the old alias redirect to the new one? For example, if we switch vpoo.toastmastersclubs.org to vps.toastmastersclubs.org, will it redirect requests from vpoo.toastmastersclubs.org to vps.toastmastersclubs.org? If not, then it seems that we shouldn't change unless we have a domain as a back-up to bridge the gap and avoid broken links.

There is no redirect functionality.

Also, I do not think you understand. The only domain that matters to the server when you are accessing your club with the website alias is the toastmastersclubs.org part. The alias is captured by the server to use to find your club's website information in the database so that the server can patch it into our website template to create your website on the fly.

The toastmastersclubs.org domain is registered and managed by us, not by you. This is an advantage of using this *free* website alias approach, since you can change the alias at any time since it is really just an update to a field in the database. There is really not any domain called vpoo.toastmastersclubs.org that is registered anywhere... the vpoo just looks like a subdomain of the registered domain (registered by us) to the internet.

As far as links go, the only links that would be of consequence would be links to your website from other websites and browser bookmarks. For instance, if you have your website referenced on Find-A-Club, then yes that would need to be updated. Look at the bottom of support.toastmastersclubs.org/doc/item/d...tical-considerations for a good checklist.

Sorry, I still don't think my question is answered. If we switch the alias, will the old alias still work or generate an error message?

Only one alias will work at a time because only one alias can be entered at a time.

Thanks. Can this be a feature request to redirect requests to the old alias to the new alias? Other service providers and sites do this to avoid a broken link for poor customer experience.

No this will never be offered.

May I ask why not? Without a redirect for switching aliases, there will be broken links for poor customer experiences in their journey.

it is simple, we don't do redirects. No other explanation is going to be given.

If you want to change your alias you can do it, you also have to change all of the links you created. It is all your choice.

Another option is to use your club number instead of the alias, especially for links such as Club Central and any that you might not be able to update easily. The club number URL will never change.