Knowledgebase: Domains

How to Transfer your Domain Name

At some point in time, you might find yourself in a situation where you want to transfer your existing domain name to another provider. Maybe you found a better provider to meet your growing needs or you are just unhappy with your current one. To make it easier for you to make this transition, we have compiled a list of major DNS providers with links to their explainer on how to transfer a domain name to them specifically.

But first, what is the general process of transferring my domain?

The general process no matter where you transfer your domain name will look something like this:

1. Disable the registrar lock of your domain in your current web host. This is an extra layer of protection to combat unauthorized transfers of your domain, but as you do want to make a transfer, this needs to be turned off.
2. Request an authorization/EPP code that is sent to your registered email. This is a password of sorts to ensure only the owner can transfer their domain.
3. Set up an account/login to your soon-to-be provider and navigate to their transferring domain section. In this form you will likely have to type in your domain name and the EPP code you acquired.
4. Lastly, pay up. There may be a transfer fee you will need to pay or you’ll have to make a payment in order to renew your domain with the new domain host.

How do I transfer my Domain Name to…?

• GoDaddy
• One of the biggest domain registrars on the market. They offer a wide variety of services beyond just domain registration, such as web hosting and website builders.
• NameCheap
• Namecheap is known for its great customer service and excellent security features. They offer affordable pricing for domain registration.
• Bluehost
• Bluehost is not only a popular domain registrar but also offers excellent web hosting services, including options for WordPress hosting.
• Domain.com
• They have a wide selection of popular and country-specific TLDs to choose from, with a host of add-on services like web hosting, SSL certificates, and email accounts.
• Google Domains
• Google Domains is a simple, straightforward service that integrates well with other Google services.
• Hover
• Hover is a straightforward, no-frills domain registrar. They offer good customer support and an easy-to-navigate website.
• HostGator
• HostGator is another provider that offers both domain registration and web hosting services. They have a solid reputation in the industry.
• DreamHost
• DreamHost offers a full array of online services including domain registration, web hosting, and cloud services.
• Network Solutions
• Network Solutions offers a full suite of services including domain registration, website hosting, website design, and online marketing.
• Register.com
• Register.com offers a variety of services including domain name registration, website design and management, search engine optimization, online marketing campaigns, local sales leads, social media management, and call center services.

We hope this aids you in your transferring process! There are many providers to choose from so make sure you do your research to find the best web host for you and your domain. 

Dirigible needs a place for your site to live even when you haven’t attached a domain to your site yet.

These are temporary URLs that will change when you finally launch your site.

These urls serve as a staging URL that allow you to share your site for feedback before it’s attached to your actual domain name.

It also lets you spend time editing and getting your site ready for launch, before you’re actually receiving traffic. When you are ready to launch, you an add your official domain name to your site!

These urls will look something like https://sitename.xx.getdirigible.com, where xx is a letter and a number.

Look more professional with a domain name.

Having ownership of your domain name has many benefits from granting you control to helping build credibility for your business. It generates brand awareness and makes it easier for people to look for you. Additionally, protects your domain copyrights and trademarks.

What is a domain name?

Your domain is what people type into their browser in order to visit your site. For example, “dirigiblestudio.com” or “google.com”. Think of your domain name as a street address, it is how someone navigates to your location, or in this case, site.

Each domain name is unique and, technically, it’s linked to an Internet Protocol (IP) address, which is a string of numbers. Since numbers are hard for humans to remember, domain names were introduced to replace them.

What should my domain name be?

Keep your domain name short and sweet. It is something that you want people to be able to remember and that relates to your business. So use your business name, or keywords that relate to your craft, or include your location if you only serve a specific area. With that said, it is also a good practice to avoid uncommon words or characters as that will make it hard for your visitors to remember.

How do I purchase one?

To register your domain name you will need to set-up an account with an accredited registrar (i.e Name.com, GoDaddy). Then you will be asked to pay for the domain. Once paid, you will then be designated owner of that domain. It is important to keep in mind that you are not an owner for life, but rather a renter and in order to remain the owner of that domain, you will have to renew after a set amount of time.

Purchasing your domain name will help grow your business and give you security in ownership.