Tag Archives: domains

How to Transfer a Domain Name from GoDaddy to Namecheap

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The video is a recording I did last year when I moved a domain from GoDaddy to Namecheap. Some have been asking me how to do this so I thought of sharing my old video.

There are many reasons why bloggers and site owners might want to learn how to transfer a domain name. In my case I just felt that Namecheap had a more user friendly system and, yes, cheaper rates and better special offers.

Here are the steps I followed as detailed in the video above.

1. Login to your GoDaddy account and click on My Account.

2. Click on the Launch button next to DOMAINS.

3. Click on the domain you want to transfer.

4. Click on the Locking icon. Untick Lock domain(s) and click OK. click OK again.

5. Go to Domains>All My Domains and click on the domain you want to transfer again. Next to the word Locked should be Unlocked.

6. Click on the Send by Email link next to Authorization Code. Click OK, then OK again.

7. Make sure Privacy is Off.

8. Go to your email inbox and open the email from GoDaddy.

9. Login to your Namecheap account. Go to Domains>Transfer a Domain.

10. On the white box that will appear, type your domain name (minus http://www.) followed by a coma (,) and then a space. Then copy paste the Authorization Code (EPP Code) that GoDaddy sent to you via email.

Make sure you use your Authorization/EPP Code from GoDaddy as soon as possible. If you don’t it might expire. If it does and your transfer gets rejected, you will get an email informing you about this. Just go back to GoDaddy and submit a ticket to get help with your Authorization/EPP Code.

11. On Namecheap, click Start Transfer then Add to Cart. Click CHECKOUT.

12. Read through some options provided by Namecheap. If you wish, you can Enable WhoisGuard and Automatically Renew. Once you’ve set your options, click Save and Continue.

13. Choose your payment option (Funds, Credit Card, Paypal) and pay.

14. Namecheap will send you another email. Open that and click on the link they tell you to click.

15. That will take you to another page with information about transferring your domain. Down the bottom click I Approve and then the SUBMIT button.

16. Wait a few minutes and go back to GoDaddy My Account. Click on the Launch button again.

17. Go to Domains>Pending Transfers. There should be an Accept or Decline link next to the domain you want to transfer. If it isn’t there, you need to wait longer.

18. Click on the Accept or Decline link. On the pop up box, click on the link Accept/decline transfer now>>.

19. Tick Accept then click OK.

Important Note: You will not always be able to transfer your domain at any time that you please. Registrars have restrictions and you will not be allowed to move your domain when it is close to its renewal/expiry date, when it is very new or when you’ve just changed your registrant information. Make sure to check Go Daddy’s restrictions on these before you attempt to transfer.

How to Set Up a Custom Domain from Namecheap in Blogger

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As I explained in a previous post about Blogger and WordPress, there are times when I do prefer Blogger over WordPress. Naturally though, when I do have to set up a Blogger property, I’d go for a custom domain name instead of the default free option that comes with the .blogspot.com extension. A custom domain address looks cleaner, more professional and is easier for people to remember.

To learn how to set up a custom domain from Namecheap in Blogger, watch the video or read the step by step instructions below.

1. Sign up for an account in Blogger.com. Just follow the account creation wizard which will prompt you to fill in some pieces of information. At first you will have to take a free .blogspot.com blog address/URL.

2. Go to Namecheap.com. Log in and go to the My Account tab. Choose Manage Domains from the dropdown menu. Click on the domain name you want to set up with Blogger.

Naturally, if you don’t have a domain yet, you need to buy one first from Namecheap. We have a separate tutorial for that here.

3. On the sidebar, click All Host Records.

4. Check that the blank next to @ is already filled in with your URL. Ex. http://www.domainname.com/.

5. On the blank next to www, type ghs.google.com. The dropdown next to it, it should be labelled as CNAME (Alias). Click Save Changes.

6. On the left most section under subdomain settings, fill four blanks with your domain name minus the www. Ex. domainname.com.

7. On the blanks at the center next to the domain entries, type four Google IP addresses:

  • 216.239.32.21
  • 216.239.34.21
  • 216.239.36.21
  • 216.239.38.21

8. To the right of these four IP entries, pick A (Address) from the dropdown menus for each of the IP entries. Click Save Changes.

9. Go back to Blogger and on the drop down menu, click Settings.

10. On the Publishing>Blog Address section, click on Add a Domain and then click on “Switch to advanced settings“.

11. On the blank, type your full domain address/URL including the www.

12. Click save. Wait a few hours for the setup to take effect.

That’s it. You’re ready to roll.

Choosing and Registering a Domain Name

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When you’re absolutely certain you can overcome the challenges of blogging and you’re ready to begin, the first semi technical step to get started is to choose your domain name and to have it registered.

Choosing Your Domain Name

Bloggers have a variety of reasons for the domain names they choose. Most have personal considerations influencing their choice. Those who have been online longer however and those who are more or less acquainted with the ropes of online publishing choose names with one or both of these considerations in mind:

  • keyword match for easier search engine optimization (SEO)
  • strong potential for branding

SEO Considerations

If you’ve found this post without reading my previous posts on market and keyword research, it’s best to go read those posts first to help you understand the importance of incorporating keywords in web pages and blog posts.

There is currently a common belief that if your domain contains keywords that are frequently searched for by members of a market, it stands a chance of ranking better in search engine results pages.

For example, because my domain contains the keyword “blog guide”, it stands a good chance of appearing on search engine results when someone searches for the phrase.

Keep in mind however that the inclusion of keywords in a domain name is only one factor and is by no means the biggest determinant in getting sites to appear on search results. Also, because SEO is an ever changing field, keywords in domain names may or may not remain determining factors in search results in the future.

Domains For Branding

There are also bloggers that snub the use of keywords in domain names and choose their names based on branding considerations. This simply means they want a name that is so unique that people will eventually be able to quickly recall and associate it with their business.

Domain Registrar

Whether you choose a keyword-based domain name or one that carries your brand, you need to get it from a registrar. There are many registrars out there. Two of the most popular ones are Namecheap and GoDaddy.

There are a couple of points you need to consider when choosing a registrar:

  • Accreditation – Pick a registrar that is ICANN accredited. This will ensure that you’re with a registrar that complies with good business standards and policies.
  • Reputation – Needless to say, a good registrar has a good reputation online. Search for reviews or even complaints on a registrar you’re considering to find out its reputation.
  • Terms – You’d want to know if registrars have restrictive contracts or difficult policies for transfers should you decide to leave.
  • Fees – Aside from the cost of the domain, different registrars slap different fees for such extra services as privacy protection.
  • Dedicated Business – Some companies offer both hosting and registration services. There are those who advice however, that it is best to have separate companies handle your registration and hosting. This is simply to ensure that if something happens to your host’s company, your domain has the chance of remaining intact.

Domain Name Extensions

Which extension should you go for? A .com, .net, .info, .biz, .org, etc.? I would personally go for a .com because this is what most people commonly associate with website addresses. When people talk about websites and blogs, what is foremost in their minds is .com. It’s also cheaper than some of the other options.

Then again, there are instances when a geo targeted extension would make better sense. For example if you own a business in Australia, it would make sense to have a .com.au extension.

Ready to buy your blog domain? Start researching for options now.