# ReadMe subdomain redirect after custom-domain cutover

> Keep the old `readme.io` hostname alive as an automatic redirect after moving docs onto your branded domain, so every old link still arrives on the owned surface.

- Canonical HTML: https://growth.iangoh.com/growth-ideas/readme-subdomain-redirect-after-custom-domain-cutover/
- Source: [docs.readme.com](https://docs.readme.com/main/docs/redirect-scenarios)
- GrowthDex source hub: [ReadMe Docs](/sources/readme-docs-docs-readme-com/)
- Last checked: 2026-05-28
- Rarity: uncommon
- Budget: free
- Channels: Documentation, SEO, Brand
- Stages: migration, brand trust, technical seo, developer marketing


## Why this can grow

Docs migrations leak trust when old bookmarks, old support replies, and old community links suddenly land on a dead host or the wrong place. ReadMe's redirect behavior gives teams a cleaner cutover: the original vendor subdomain can keep sending visitors to the custom domain without asking every referrer to update first. That preserves discovery, lowers migration friction, and makes the branded docs feel like a continuation instead of a relaunch.

## Ian's take

From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. For SEO and AI search, I care less about clever keyword tricks and more about clarity. A buyer, crawler, or answer engine should quickly understand who this is for, why it works, what proof backs it, and what page deserves to be cited. I would run it small enough to learn quickly, then only scale the parts that real users repeat, save, reply to, or buy from. For this tactic, I would watch one clear growth signal before putting more time or budget behind it.

## Action plan

1. Define one narrow startup segment where readme subdomain redirect after custom-domain cutover can create a measurable lift.
2. Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the Documentation and SEO channel.
3. Use the evidence from docs.readme.com to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
4. Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: one measurable growth signal.
5. Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.

## Source-backed example

ReadMe says that once a project is configured with a custom domain, visitors to the original `readme.io` subdomain are automatically redirected to the custom domain.

## Adjacent tactics in the same lane

- [Regex redirect families before docs group migration](/growth-ideas/regex-redirect-families-before-docs-group-migration/) - same source, 2 shared channels, 2 shared stages
- [Main-version redirect to clean docs URLs](/growth-ideas/main-version-redirect-to-clean-docs-urls/) - same source, 2 shared channels, 1 shared stage
- [Custom docs 404 page with task-led redirects](/growth-ideas/custom-docs-404-page-with-task-led-redirects/) - 3 shared channels, 3 shared stages
- [Segment pageview pipe on branded docs domain](/growth-ideas/segment-pageview-pipe-on-branded-docs-domain/) - same source, 1 shared channel, 1 shared stage

## Read GrowthDex essays

Browse the plain-English essay index at [GrowthDex Blog](/blog/).

## Related GrowthDex essays

- [Developer docs keep earning when the route stays clean](/blog/developer-docs-keep-earning-when-the-route-stays-clean/) - developer marketing, technical SEO, brand trust
- [The route should stay yours after the click](/blog/the-route-should-stay-yours-after-the-click/) - brand trust, technical SEO, AI visibility

## Reading path: AI products

- [The route should stay yours after the click](/blog/the-route-should-stay-yours-after-the-click/) (2026-06-09T12:07:33.000Z)
- [Developer docs keep earning when the route stays clean](/blog/developer-docs-keep-earning-when-the-route-stays-clean/) (2026-05-28T07:12:00Z)

## Reading path: brand trust

- [The route should stay yours after the click](/blog/the-route-should-stay-yours-after-the-click/) (2026-06-09T12:07:33.000Z)
- [Developer docs keep earning when the route stays clean](/blog/developer-docs-keep-earning-when-the-route-stays-clean/) (2026-05-28T07:12:00Z)

## Advisory

If you want help turning this into a working growth system, Ian Goh offers advisory at https://iangoh.com/advisory.