Begin Your Job As Site Administrator
Once done with all of the above, its time to take on your new responsibilities as the person in charge. If dont know what that entails, check the post on site maintenance linked above.
Aside from that, its important that you keep vigilant. Every website is different so there may be things not included in this checklist. If that is the case, its up to you to get all necessary information and include them on your end.
Audit The Security System
After the backup, its time to deal with the rest of security. After all, keeping the site safe is one of the most central tasks when you take over an existing website.
- Run a scan The first task is to make sure there isnt already a problem. Run a security scan for the site to make sure it is not blacklisted, malware infected or the like.
- Install security plugin Should no security system exist yet, make sure to secure the site with one of the many WordPress security plugins and other security measures.
- Change email address For any existing security solution, make sure that from now on alerts come your way, not your predecessors.
- Check if the site has SSL A must these days. If the administrator before you didnt take care of this, make it a point to do so. Use this post for more information.
Same as for backups, if there is a premium solution in place, find out who is paying for it so you can change it if necessary.
Congratulations Youre Now The Proud Owner Of A New Website
Learning how to make a website is no small feat, even with a detailed guide to help you along the way.
At the same time, it can be very satisfying when you acquire a new skill and start seeing your hard work pay off.
But dont stop here. Use your new knowledge to learn more and implement more complex functionalities and features. This way, you wont just learn how to make a website but exactly the site you want.
Read Also: Flippa Domain Appraisal
What If I Own The Domain But The Host Wont Give It Back
This is where youre in luck, and precisely why you should always keep your domain registered in your name. If you dont host the domain and dont have access to it, but it is registered in your name, then most of the time you can simply transfer it back directly through Nominet or the registrar in question.
How Do I Transfer Domains To Godaddy
Transferring domains to GoDaddy is simple.
You can transfer up to 500 of your domains to GoDaddy at once in our bulk domain transfer tool. If the extension youd like to transfer isnt listed, you cant transfer that domain name to us.
Don’t Miss: Connect Godaddy Domain To Squarespace
Can I Transfer My Domain Name
Yes, most domain registrars can also facilitate the process of transferring a domain name from one person to another . For example, if you want to buy a premium domain name from someone, a registrar can help process the deal securely.
Also, you can transfer your domain name between different registrars if you found a better deal, for example, or just need some extra features.
Below are linked help documents for doing that with each registrar:
Get Ready To Manage Site Content
If content creation and/or management will be part of your duties, there are a few more things you need to be aware of/ask for:
- Contact details To get in touch with writers or the editorial team for coordination purposes.
- Content calendar If there is a document that shows what content will come out when, be sure that you have access to it.
- Assets Images and other media are a crucial part of web content. See that you know the right formatting, where to source them, etc.
In short, know the workflow and how you fit into it. By the way, much of that will be part of a blog style guide, so see if the site you are taking over has something like that.
Also Check: How Much For A Domain Name
Connect Your Domain To Shopify
To avoid any interruption in service, you need to connect your domain to Shopify. If you don’t connect your domain before you transfer it, then visitors to your domain might experience connection errors during the transfer process.
Note
Changes to a domain can take up to 48 hours to complete. Make sure that the connection process is complete before you begin the transfer.
Who Owns My Website Domain
Who owns my website domain? is often the first question that a new client asks, and with good reason. Your website domain is the key to your entire website, and losing access to it can do significant damage to your online presence. You can move servers, upgrade your CMS or change to a completely different web language but your website domain will always stay the same. You should always take care to ensure that you or your company owns your domain, as taking control of a domain owned by someone else can be a very difficult process.
Recommended Reading: Registering A Domain Name Cost
Where To Buy A Domain Thats Taken
From a branding and marketing perspective, its especially important to choose the right domain name for your website. For many people, its a truly personal decision. The domain just has to feel right and you dont want to settle for an alternative.
If this is the case in your search for the perfect domain, take heart. You might be able to buy your ideal domain name in the domain aftermarket. You can find most of the domain names from the aftermarket listed directly on auctions.godaddy.com.
If your dream domain isnt listed on the aftermarket, you can attempt to buy it directly from its current owner. However, youll want to keep a few things in mind before you take the plunge and contact the domains owner, namely budget and timing.
Set your budget
Its important to think about the budget you have for acquiring the domain. Put yourself in the other domain owners shoes for a minute. They spent time and money to get the domain, and they might be actively using it. Offering them $10 or even $100 probably wont even get you a response.
Think about what the domain name is worth, and be prepared to make a fair offer.
Editors note: Need help determining the value of the domain? As the largest reseller of aftermarket domain names, GoDaddy has access to extensive data that we use to analyze millions of historical domain sales. Try GoDaddy Domain Appraisals to determine the value of the domain so you can make an educated offer.
Give yourself enough time
Launch Your WordPress Website
Once your site is ready, its time to officially launch it. Make sure to double-check your settings and proofread your posts and pages one more time. If everything looks good, click the link at the top of the dashboard that says Coming Soon Active.
After that, scroll down and hit the button that says Launch your site.
Now you can check your live website.
Read Also: Point Godaddy Domain To Squarespace
Ready To Buy A Domain
As with anything else in business, getting started is often the hardest part. But now that you know how, I encourage you to jump into buying the domain you always wanted. Even a no from the current owner doesnt mean you have to give up situations change, so its always a good idea to check back in from time to time to let your dream domains owner know youre still interested.
Want an expert to handle it for you? If all this domain aftermarket stuff sounds too complex or if you just dont have the time to deal with it, consider turning to a professional service like GoDaddys Domain Broker Service. A broker will contact the domains current owner and negotiate for the domain on your behalf. Done and done.
Point Your Domain To Your New Web Host
Once your new web hosting account is set up, you’ll need to make your domain name redirect to that new location. Please readmy article How to Point aDomain Name to Your Website for the steps to take to accomplish this. You will need to be able to log into your domainregistrar’s account to do this.
This is the key step that wrests your website out from under your old web designer’s or web host’s control. Onceyou do this, your old site will no longer be accessible to you using a web browser. So if you want a copy of yourold website’s pages, make sure you save them before you take this step.
Read Also: How To Figure Out Who Owns A Domain
Check What The Domain Is Currently Being Used For
Your first step should be to visit the domain you want to buy. Is there a real website there? Has it been updated in the past few years? If the answers to both questions are yes, the owner of the domain is probably not interested in selling it. If theres a real website but it hasnt been updated in several years, youre more likely to get the domain, but theres still a strong chance the owner will refuse to sell it.
On the other hand, if the website you see is simply a placeholder, you can approach the domain owner with confidence. If the domain owner buys and re-sells domains on a regular basis, they might even have a page up linking to the domain buying service they prefer to work with.
Heres an example of what a parked domain usually looks like owners of such domains are usually just waiting for the right offer to come their way:
What Kind Of Domain Name Should I Pick
When youre choosing your domain name, there are a few rules you should keep in mind:
- If youre setting up a business website, your domain name should match your company name. For example: YourCompanyName.com
- If youre planning on making a personal website for yourself then YourName.com can be a great option.
For this site , I chose WebsiteSetup.org
Domain names usually end with .com, .org or .net, but in recent times, a large number of domain extensions have come out, ranging from .blog to .party.
My best advice? Avoid the unusual extensions and go with .com, .net or .org unless they precisely describe your website and even then, it is usually better to go with a more common extension.
Recommended Reading: Io Domain Register
Provide Access To All Connected Third
In a lot of cases, the first and second steps should be enough to complete a successful website transfer. However, a lot of websites also use third-party services to help them implement new features.
is one of the most popular examples of such a third-party service. It enables you to monitor your websites metrics in-depth. However, you need to access the services dashboard to check out that information:
It stands to reason whoever owns your website will also want access to all the third-party services you used to build it up. With that in mind, youll need to make a list of all the services with external accounts you use to run your website. Youll then need to transfer their credentials to your websites new owner.
In most cases, this should be as simple as updating contact information and sending a list of login credentials. However, in particular cases, such as with Google Analytics, things get a bit more complicated. You probably dont want to transfer ownership of your entire Google account since it might be associated with multiple other services. In this case, youll need to transfer your web property to the new owners Google Analytics account.
Get Access To Everything Connected To The Site
When you take over an existing website, the first thing you need is access to its important components.
This means more than simply a username and password for the WordPress dashboard.
In particular, make sure you have credentials for:
- WordPress back end This is sort of a given and we have already mentioned it. However, make sure you get an administrator account and not anything below that.
- Hosting account Access to hosting is necessary in order to change basic site configuration and troubleshoot problems.
- Domain registrar Domains often come together with hosting, however, thats not always the case. Consequently, be sure to double check that you know how to access anything pertaining to the domain.
- Cpanel Some hosts have different logins for Cpanel and the hosting account. Get both.
- CDN If the site is using a CDN , make sure you have the login information for that as well.
- Email accounts If there are any email accounts connected to the site or any of the above, you need access to them for recovering passwords, updates and other administrative reasons.
Read Also: How To Determine Who Owns A Domain
How To Transfer A Domain Name To Us
Maintaining your domain registration and hosting services within the same account allows you to manage both services with only one login password, making it easier for you to stay on top of everything related to your website. This article explains the process of transferring your domain to Bluehost, so there are no surprises along the way.
This process includes transfers to/from our MX partners.
Important:
- You can transfer the following domain extensions to us: com, net, org, us, co, info, and biz.
- To avoid any delays, please complete all five steps before initiating the transfer.
- Avoid transferring your domain within 45 days of a domain that has been recently renewed, or you could lose that renewal year.
Want to host your website here and keep the domain registered elsewhere? Try assigning a domain to your account instead.
Pro Tip: Buy a new domain – Help grows and protects your brands reputation. Keep others from buying domains similar to yours and avoid losing visitors or customers to competitors.
Verify The Ownership Of Your New Domain
The final step is to verify the domain ownership through the email address you used when registering the domain. The email usually arrives within a few minutes after finishing the domain setup. Simply click the verification link in the email to verify your contact information.
If the email doesnt arrive, resend the request from the control panel. We recommend doing it immediately, as waiting for 15 days or more will lead to a temporary suspension from the registry.
Thats all there is to it. Now you know how to buy a domain name and complete the initial registration process.
Tip from Darius
To make the most out of your newly acquired domain, consider authorizing it with the Google Search Console. This will provide you with important analytical insights and make it easier for Google to crawl the content of your site.
First, log into your Google account and head to the Search Console page. If you want your entire domain to be crawled, enter the URL in the bar on the left. Once thats done, click Continue and youll be presented with a code. Then, copy it and do not close the tab.
Now, log into your Hostinger account, head to the hPanel, and on to the DNS Zone Editor. Under Manage DNS Records, select TXT as the Type. Unless youre only adding a specific subdomain to the Search Console, leave as the Name. Next, copy the code youve received previously as the TXT Value. We recommend leaving the TTL Value as the default. To finish it all off, click on Add Record.
Recommended Reading: How Much For A Domain Name Per Year