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How to Transfer a Domain

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Hosting

The post How to Transfer a Domain appeared first on HostGator Blog . There are a multitude of reasons you’ll want to transfer your domain. Maybe you’ve sold a domain, or bought one for a gift? Or, you could be unsatisfied with your current registrar and are looking to migrate? Whether you’re transferring ownership of your domain or migrating to a new registrar, there are certain steps you’ll need to follow. Although it might seem fairly technical, this process exists for a reason—to help ensure that your domain remains in the right hands. Below we look at the things to look for in a new domain name registrar, as well as the processes you need to follow to transfer a domain name to a new registrar, or another party entirely. Why Transfer a Domain? As you learned in the introduction, there are plenty of reasons you might want to transfer a domain name. The most common is because you’re frustrated with your current registrar. Maybe the yearly renewal rate is too expensive? Or, you’re looking for a registrar with more features? For example, by using a domain name registrar like HostGator you can group your domain name and hosting all under one roof. This simplifies the technical steps of setting up your website, as well as the number of invoices you’ll have to remember to renew. There’s nothing worse than letting an important domain lapse because you forget to check in and missed the renewal date. Or, you could have sold a domain , or bought a domain for a friend. In this scenario, you’ll be switching the ownership of the domain along with transferring the domain to their registrar of choice. Whatever your reason we’ll walk you through both processes in the final section below. If you’re not in the market for a new registrar yourself, then feel free to skip to the final section of this post. What to Look for in a New Domain Registrar If you’re transferring your domain because you’re dissatisfied with your current domain name registrar, then you’ll want to make sure you’re not going to make the same mistake twice. Which means you’ll want to make sure your new registrar is high-quality and won’t lead to the same headaches you’re currently experiencing. Here are a few key things to look for as you search for the perfect domain name registrar: 1. Total Feature Set Every registrar will have different features. Some registrars will only offer domain name purchase and management, while others will provide an entire suite of different services. Common features include domain name management , renewal, transfer, and domain privacy protection via WHOIS. However, other registrars will also offer bundled website hosting, website builders, email management and a lot more. If you want your hosting and domain name management all under one roof, then you’ll need a registrar that also offers hosting. Plus, you’ll need to make sure that the host is also very high quality. Make a list of what non-negotiable features you need in a registrar and compare this with the feature set of the registrar you want to switch to. 2. User Friendliness There’s no point in transferring registrars if it’s going to be very difficult to use. You’ll want it to be very easy to manage your domain names, purchase a new domain name , switch over the nameservers to your host, add privacy protection, and a lot more. The last thing you want is to have to spend hours setting up your domain names, just because the platform isn’t easy to use. For this reason, it can be helpful to look for a domain registrar that’s oriented towards beginners, as generally it’ll be much easier to navigate and will use less confusing terminology. Also, look out for tutorials, blog posts, and other helpful information that’ll help save you time and set up your domains the right way. 3. Customer Support You might not need to use customer support all the time, but when you do, you’ll want them to be responsive and helpful. When you’re having issues with your domain name, or any of the associated services, you’ll want a support team that can help you out as fast as possible. For example, if your domain is currently offline for some reason, you’ll want support to be able to quickly resolve this issue. It can be helpful to get in touch with customer support before you decide to move registrars. This will help you get a feel for the quality and responsiveness of the support team before you migrate. Also, make sure they provide the support channels that you prefer to use, whether that’s live chat or phone. At HostGator, we offer 24/7 Live Chat and phone support every day of the year. 4. Domain Protection When using a registrar you’ll want to make sure that your domains are secure and there are features in place to help protect your purchase. For example, is WHOIS privacy protection included free of charge? Will you be notified before your domain name expires ? Are there additional privacy and protection services you can purchase? Beyond protecting your purchase and ensuring that your domain will always remain in your possession (as long as you want it), you’ll want to make sure there are features that allow for the safe transfer of your domain name. Here are a few domain transfer features to look for: Authorization codes. These codes help to ensure that whoever is transferring your domain has permission to do so. Transfer locks. These help to ensure that your domain name can never be transferred to another party without your permission. Transfer confirmation emails. These emails will require authentication to make sure that you’re transferring the domain to the right party. 5. Overall Price Finally, you’ll want to consider the price of the new registrar. Price is important, but it shouldn’t be the main factor in deciding to pick a new registrar. Choosing based upon price alone can leave you with a low-quality registrar that’ll end up being detrimental to your website as a whole. When examining the price of a new registrar make sure you consider any additional fees. Some registrars will include services for free that others will charge an add-on fee for. Some registrars will have very low introductory rates but jump up tremendously when it’s time to renew. Find a domain registrar within your budget, but don’t let price be the sole determining factor in your selection. How to Transfer a Domain The general process for transferring a domain will be similar no matter what registrar you’re using. Below we’ll show you how to transfer a domain, whether you’re migrating to a new registrar, or you’re moving your domain to another party. 1. Transfer a Domain to Another Registrar Moving your domain to a new registrar isn’t difficult, but there’s a series of steps you’ll have to complete. These steps exist in order to protect the domain that you own. But, if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, then here’s how you can transfer your domain to a new registrar. For the sake of this tutorial, we’re going to assume you’re moving your domain over to HostGator. Before we dive in there’s an important point to cover. You can only transfer a domain if it’s been in your possession for 60 days. If you’ve owned your domain for more than 60 days, then you’re good to go. If not, then bookmark this post and come back in 60 days. 1. Prepare for the Transfer The first thing you’ll need to do is disable the existing protection protocols and prepare your domain name for a transfer. If you want a smooth transfer process, then make sure you do the following: Update your nameservers to reflect your new host (if you’re also migrating your hosting ) Disable your WHOIS privacy protection, if it’s currently enabled Make sure that your domain contact information is up to date Unlock your domain name at your current registrar Obtain your EPP authorization code, you might have to reach out to your current registrar to obtain this Now, your domain is successfully prepared and ready for transfer. 2. Start the Domain Transfer Initiating the transfer process with HostGator is easy. Head over to the HostGator Transfer page and enter the domain name you want to transfer. This tool will then run through the pre-transfer checklist to make sure that you’ve satisfied all of the requirements. If there are any issues with the domain you want to transfer then these will be displayed in the pop-up box. If everything is good to go, then you’ll be able to complete the transfer. To finalize the transfer you’ll need to pay for a yearly registration at your new registrar. Since you’re using HostGator, just click the ‘Continue to Checkout’ button. Here you’ll enter your billing information and complete your purchase. Once you’ve submitted payment the transfer process will begin. 3. Verify the Domain Transfer To complete the domain transfer you’ll need to go through the email verification process to ensure you’re transferring the domain to the right person. Navigate to the email inbox for the email address that’s associated with the current domain. You should see a verification email. Here you’ll need to enter your EPP key or your authorization code. Once this has been verified the transfer process will be done. Now you just have to wait for the transfer process to finish. 2. Transfer a Domain to Another Party If you’re currently using HostGator for your domains and you want to transfer your domain to another third party, then following the steps below: 1. Unlock Your Domain and Prepare for Transfer In order to transfer your domain, you’ll need to prepare your domain for transfer. To do this navigate to your control panel and head over to the ‘Domains’ tab. Then, select the domain name you want to transfer and unlock the domain. Then, turn off privacy protection, if you have it enabled. If the person you’re transferring the domain to has another host enabled, then you’ll need to point the nameservers to the new host. But, if not, then you can leave the nameservers alone. Finally, you’ll need to obtain the EPP/Authorization Code from the ‘Transfer EPP’ tab. With all of this, you’re now ready to initiate the transfer. 2. Confirm the Third-Party Transfer The transfer will need to be initiated by the third party who’s accepting the domain name. This will be done from their own account on their registrar of choice. Once the transfer has been initiated you’ll need to log back into your Domain Manager and accept the transfer. To finalize the transfer you should receive a confirmation email that deals with identity confirmation and your EPP codes. Domain Transfer FAQ Hopefully, the above information covered the process in depth, but you still might have a few questions. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions related to a domain transfer. How long will the domain transfer process take? In total, the transfer should be completed in 5-7 days. This is the standard allotment, but usually, the domain will be switched over prior to that. But, if you have any issues, then it might take a bit longer to resolve everything. How long does it take to initiate a domain transfer? Preparing the domain and initiating the transfer shouldn’t take long at all. At most, it should take an hour or two. You should set aside some time to do the transfer without any interference. If you wait too long the security codes might expire, so you’ll want to everything at the same time. Can domain information be altered during a transfer? No. That’s why you’ll need to make sure all of the contact information, especially the contact email, is correct before you initiate the transfer. You can only change the domain contact information once the transfer is complete. If you need to change any domain information while the transfer is taking place you’ll need to get in touch with customer support. Ready to Transfer Your Domain? Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the domain transfer process and everything it takes to properly migrate a domain name. If you’re switching to a new domain registrar, then the information above should help point you in the right direction. Transfer your domain to HostGator today. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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building backlinks.

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Hosting

What are the strategies keep in mind while building backlinks for good results?… | Read the rest of http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1756993&goto=newpost Continue reading →

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Looking for partnership, preferably in USA — Web Hosting

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Hosting

Hello everyone, I have a website up and running, however I am in the early stages of setting up the business. I am looking for a long… | Read the rest of http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1756484&goto=newpost Continue reading →

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Web Hosting With a Dedicated IP

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Hosting

The post Web Hosting With a Dedicated IP appeared first on HostGator Blog . When you’re exploring your options for dedicated hosting there are a lot of terms and technologies you’re probably not familiar with. One of those being a dedicated IP address. A dedicated IP is different than dedicated server hosting , but often the two are linked together. You can get a dedicated IP address without having to upgrade to dedicated hosting , but usually, a dedicated IP address will be paired with a dedicated hosting environment. If that sounds a little confusing, don’t worry. Below we’ll break down what a dedicated IP address actually is, how it differs from a standard shared IP address, and finally how web hosting with a dedicated IP works, and why you might want it. What is a Dedicated IP Address? First, we’ll look at what an IP address is. IP stands for Internet Protocol, so your IP address is your Internet Protocol Address. Essentially an IP address is a locator or identifier for any computer that’s connected to the internet. Your web host’s server is technically a computer, so this computer will have an address that identifies and defines their location on the internet.   These IP addresses are mapped to certain domain names. So, you can technically type an IP address in place of a domain name and actually land on the same website. A dedicated IP address is an IP address that’s assigned to your website and your website alone. Sometimes this can be paired to your server environment too, but usually, it’s connected directly to your site. On most hosting accounts the IP address that comes with your account will be a shared IP address. This IP address will be used by any website who’s sharing the server environment. So, in the case of shared hosting, this could be hundreds or thousands of other websites.   Dedicated vs Shared IP Address The discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of dedicated and shared IP addresses is actually quite a lively debate. Part of this is due to the natural evolution of certain technologies. A lot of the big advantages that used to be attributed to using a dedicated IP address have disappeared. Now, using a dedicated IP can still be beneficial for certain users, but it just doesn’t carry the weight it once did. The difference between a dedicated IP address and a shared IP address is pretty straightforward. Their names alone suggest the biggest difference. A shared IP address will be used by multiple websites who are also sharing the same server environment. While a dedicated IP address will be used by a single website. You can think of a dedicated IP address like your cell phone. Chances are you have a unique number that you don’t share with anyone else. While a shared IP address could be like an old-school landline or home phone. When people call that number they could be looking for a certain person in your house, but anyone can answer the phone. Here’s are the biggest ways that shared and dedicated IP addresses differ: Email sending. Although not always the case, if you’re sending a ton of emails through your web host you could run into email deliverability issues. In some cases, your shared IP could be blacklisted. With a dedicated IP, you’ll have higher deliverability rates, and the chances of a blacklist are almost zero, unless you’re spamming people yourself. SSL and site security. Dedicated IP addresses used to be completely necessary in order to do things like improve the security on your site. Simply put, you would need a dedicated IP for SSL certificates, which may be a necessity for some site owners. However, with new technology like SNI, this is no longer the case. Still, some hosting providers will require a dedicated IP for SSL. Software requirements. This is also pretty niche, but some server software and scripts actually require that you utilize a dedicated IP address. This is usually related to processes that take a while to run or initiate. If you’re using a shared server, then this might terminate before the process is complete, making a dedicated IP address necessity.   How About Dedicated IP Addresses and SEO? It’s still hotly debated whether or not using a dedicated IP address will give you an SEO boost. Like most things SEO-related there is no strict yes or no answer. If you’re using a low-quality host you can run into issues that could negatively impact your site, such as IP and DDoS attacks, association with spammy websites, and more. These will have a greater impact on your rankings than your IP address choice alone. But, if you’re using a high-quality host you probably won’t run into these issues, even if you’re using a shared IP address. Overall, there’s no real correlation between using a dedicated IP address and improved rankings. According to Google , using a shared IP address won’t negatively impact your rankings.   The Benefits of a Dedicated IP Address There are still many benefits of dedicated IP addresses. Overall, it depends upon your unique needs and the type of site you run. Depending on your provider you might be able to add a dedicated IP address to your shared hosting plan, but usually, if you can benefit from a dedicated IP address, then you can also benefit from a dedicated host. Here are the main benefits your site will receive by adding a dedicated IP address to your current hosting:   1. View Your Site By IP Address Alone One of the biggest advantages of using a dedicated IP address is that you can access your website without a domain name. So, if your domain is taking a while to propagate, you don’t have to sit around and wait for the process to complete. Or, maybe you want to start building a website , but you haven’t done your domain name registration yet. With a dedicated IP you’ll be able to access your site and start building, then once you’ve settled on a domain name you can complete the process. Accessing your site via FTP and building without a domain isn’t a common practice. But for some users, this will be an absolute necessity.   2. Reduce the Risk of IP Blacklisting One thing that could happen to your IP, if you’re using a shared IP, is something called IP blacklisting. IP addresses can become blacklisted if there’s activity that can be classified as spam from that IP. If you’re using a shared IP the chances are higher that this could occur. With a dedicated IP address, the chances of this are basically zero. This occurs most frequently with users who are sending emails through the host. All it takes is a single user to send spam emails from their domain and your website could be affected.   3. Run Your Own FTP Server Some users might want to use FTP to share files with clients, friends, and family. With a dedicated IP, it’s much easier to run your own FTP server. FTP isn’t used very frequently when you’re running a small website. But, it can be a very effective way to transfer and give access to files within an organization. With a dedicated IP, you’ll have easy access to your own FTP server. You can even implement things like anonymous FTP, which allows users to access files that are publicly available. This lets you give people access without having to identify themselves to the server.   4. Avoid SSL Compatibility Issues Like we mentioned above, a dedicated IP address is no longer completely necessary to install an SSL certificate on your site. For complete functionality, it’s recommended, but it’s not 100% necessary. Today, you can install multiple SSL certificates on a single server with Server Name Indication (SNI) technology. This allows the web hosting company to issue multiple certificates under a single shared IP address. However, there are still some issues with SNI, it’s not a perfect solution. The biggest issue is an incompatibility with older browsers and operating systems like: Windows XP and older versions of Internet Explorer Safari running on Windows XP Blackberry mobile, Windows mobile, and Opera mobile browsers This isn’t the biggest issue in the world, but for those who want to ensure all their bases are covered, it’s a good idea to upgrade to a dedicated IP address. There’s a chance your visitors might not even be using these browsers. If you want to know for sure you can fire up your Google Analytics account , and filter visitors by browser type. This will give you a better picture of what devices and browsers your users are using to access your site. This is useful knowledge to have unrelated to your choice of IP address.   5. Create Your Own Gaming Server If you want to run your own gaming server for an online game, like making a Minecraft server , then you’ll need your own dedicated IP address. You’ll also need a dedicated server for games if you want to create your own or share with friends. Some of the biggest issues with online gaming revolve around lag and lack of bandwidth. With a dedicated IP server and address, you can offer the highest level of gaming possible. It is possible to run a gaming server on a shared IP, but generally, it’s frowned upon. It will be much more difficult to configure your server and you’ll probably run into performance issues.   What is Dedicated IP Address Web Hosting? By now you’re probably wondering how web hosting and dedicated IP addresses fit together? Dedicated IP addresses aren’t synonymous with dedicated hosting, but they are typically offered together. To define dedicated hosting , you can assume that dedicated hosting packages will have dedicated IP addresses included as part of your package. Sometimes you’ll even have the ability to use multiple dedicated IPs from a single dedicated server. This can be useful if you want to migrate multiple sites you own to a single dedicated server. If you truly want to unlock the potential of using a dedicated IP address, then you’ll use it in tandem with a dedicated server. This will give you the benefits of using a dedicated server, on top of the benefits of a dedicated IP address. Think of this as not only owning your own house but also owning an entire street, with no other properties around for miles. Think of everything you could do with all that freedom in a single service.   How a Dedicated Server and Dedicated IP Address Work Together Using a dedicated server will provide your site with a lot of benefits. If you’ve been thinking about making the jump to a dedicated IP, then you’ll also want to consider if dedicated hosting is right for you as well: You’ll get access to features like: Incredible server performance with the ability to choose between HDD and SSD hard drives (depending on your website needs) Improved data center protection protocols to keep your physical and digital server components safe. Multiple server management options, such as cPanel or WHM, for easy server management and configuration. A dedicated support team who’s there to help sort through technical issues, or answer your questions 24/7. Typically, hosting providers will prioritize those using dedicated hosting, or even have a separate support team entirely. The ability to have single or multiple dedicated IP addresses. For almost every dedicated server a dedicated IP address is a common industry standard. Basically, with a dedicated IP web host, you can get a lot more freedom with your hosting environment. Plus, you’ll get unparalleled levels of security, performance, reliability, and more.   Closing Thoughts Overall, you can add a dedicated IP address to most hosting plans. But, usually dedicated hosting and a dedicated IP address work together. Not 100% of the time, but sites that need the added benefits of a dedicated IP will probably also require more advanced forms of web hosting. Using a dedicated IP address doesn’t pack as many benefits as it used to, but for some types of website owners,  this service still might be a necessity. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of why you might want a dedicated IP address, and how web hosting with a dedicated IP can benefit your website. To compare cheap dedicated server hosting plans or to learn more about our web hosting services, check out our website or talk to a Hostgator representative today. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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FREE malware scanner | Website Malware Removal | Website Security| Auto Daily scans| 50% OFF

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Hosting

Website Security & website malware removal services We offer the best on-going website security and website malware removal plans… | Read the rest of http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1754451&goto=newpost Continue reading →

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