How to Transfer the Domain Name and Hosting to Godaddy
You have decided to change your hosting provider. Congrats! You have made the right decision and understand the importance of securing a decent price (at least semi-decent, considering it’s a one-time fee) and terms that are favorable to you. But if you’re super duper happy with your current host, you may not want to rock the boat. Luckily for you, we’re here to help with 5 steps to smoothly transfer your domain names and hosting. So let’s get started.
Step one: Take a deep breath
Now that you’ve made the decision to switch hosts, it’s time to sit back and relax. You’ve been working hard for years on your website/blog/product/service, and now it’s time to reap the benefits. Before you dive into the process, it’s important to take a few minutes to breathe and settle down. If you feel like you’re about to commit economic homicide, then now may be a good time to reconsider. This step will help you relax and feel more comfortable with the decision. It will also help you get ready to make the switch. Once the process is complete, you can finally take a break and enjoy the new benefits that the internet and your new hosting provider have to offer. This step will also help you avoid any stressful surprises during the process. It’s highly recommended to take this step before moving on to the next step. Do whatever you can to take your mind off the stress. Perhaps you could visit a spa or get a massage. You might even consider going for a walk, getting a drink or eating something that smells good. You’ll feel less tense and more relaxed after doing something like this. It’s important to keep in mind that taking a break isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually good for your physical and mental health. So don’t be afraid to take some time off work and relax. It will make the transition much smoother.
Step two: Get a new domain name
The first thing you’ll want to do after taking a deep breath is to grab yourself a new domain name. If you’ve been using the name of your current host for your website/blog/product/service, then it’s time to renew and/or transfer your domain to your new host. There are several reasons why you might want to do this. You could be approaching the end of your initial term with your current host, or maybe you’re looking for a better price. It’s also possible that they’ve increased their prices or made some of the terms unfavorable to you. In most cases, you’ll want to consult with your current host to see if there’s any way they could help you out. If not, then it’s time to look for another company. Once you’ve secured a new domain name, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Step three: Set up your new hosting account
The second step is to set up your new hosting account. Nowadays, most hosting providers make this process very easy and take care of all the technical details for you. All you need to do is visit the website, provide some basic information and make a payment. In most cases, the payment is handled by the company. Once you’ve made the payment, you’ll receive a confirmation email from the hosting provider. At this point, you can access your hosting and start setting up your new website/blog/product/service (if you’re using WordPress, then you can use their one-click installer to make the process even easier).
You may want to consider setting up a new hosting account even if you’ve already transferred your domain name to your new host. There are several reasons why you might want to do this. First, having a secondary hosting account is useful in case your primary account gets compromised. If this happens, then you can immediately switch over to your secondary account (created for this exact purpose) and continue operating your website/blog/product/service as usual. Second, if you use a free service like WordPress.com or Typeform, then having a secondary hosting account is necessary to prevent all your content from being hosted on a single site. Third, if you host your site on your own server, then having a secondary hosting account is necessary to ensure that your content is always backed up. Finally, having a secondary hosting account allows you to test out different features before you make the switch to your primary account. In most cases, you won’t need to worry about this account once you’ve made the switch to your new host. They will take care of everything for you. However, it’s good practice to back up this account just in case. You never know when disaster might strike. A good rule of thumb is to back up your primary account every week and your secondary account every month. This way, you’ll always have some content should anything happen.
Step four: Install a SSL certificate onto your website
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a special type of security code that gives your website the appearance of being secure and prevents hackers from eavesdropping on your conversation with customers. An SSL certificate is vital if you’re accepting payments (either online or through a mobile device) on your website. If you sell products or services that are worth purchasing, then it’s time to install an SSL certificate onto your site. To do this, follow the simple steps provided by the company that issued your certificate. In most cases, this process will be very straightforward and require only a few minutes to complete. Don’t worry, we’re not going to ask you to purchase an SSL certificate or promote them in any way. We’re just going to walk you through the process so you can have it done properly. Once your SSL certificate has been installed, you can move on to the next step.
Step five: Test the checkout process
The last step is to test the checkout process. For this step, you’ll want to create a very simple product with a one-time delivery, no physical products and with a very economical price. Once you’ve created this product, it’s time to visit the retailers you’ve selected to sell your product. When a customer makes a purchase, they’ll be prompted to enter a checkout coupon or to use their credit card. If everything is working properly, then you’ll see a notification pop up on the page confirming the order. You can also test the shipping process by ordering a few sample products, seeing how long it takes for them to arrive at your door and testing out different shipping services provided by your new host. This step is very important to ensure everything is up and running smoothly before you make the switch. It would be a shame to start using a new service and then have all your shopping carts break down because the platform isn’t compatible with your shopping cart software or your store is unable to process online payments.
Transferring a domain name and hosting to a new provider is not a difficult process. It’s actually quite straightforward. Just follow these five steps and you’ll have a functioning website in no time. And don’t worry, should anything happen, you have several options for hosting providers should you need help. They’re all here to help you get your site back up and running as fast as possible.