The Entire Process to Transfer a Domain Name to GoDaddy from Start to Finish (Video)
Why Transfer a Domain?
If you’re anything like me… throughout your entire internet existence, you’ve registered all kinds of domains names. Maybe you were one of those that bought your first domain from InterNIC (that first place you could get a .com, .net or .org). Maybe over recent years you’ve picked up other domains doing .com searches on sites like Hostgator or GoDaddy.
It may be hard to believe, but the list of accredited registrars has exploded over the last decade or so and with new domain extensions coming out almost every month, there’s really no end in site.
As domain and hosting pops up on sale or new features are added to systems that maintain domains, people like us might decide to “jump ship” over to another registrar for serviceability. Or instead, when the domain is about to expire, we know how to move a domain to a new host and probably get an additional free year of domain hosting by simply switching our loyalty to another provider…yes, this happens all the time.
“Hey, I own a domain, but have never had to transfer a domain name!”
Ok, I get it. Could also be you’re someone who just happened to purchase a domain from one of the lesser known registrars and now you’re receiving bills in the mail for some huge amount of money. When you google “domain name costs” you’re discovering how little others are charging to purchase or renew one. Well, Guess What?
Important Tip: NEVER accept offers in the mail for domain name renewals…they’re usually looking to scam you into paying up to 10x more for a service that you can buy on the open market for anywhere from $0.99-$19.99 a year, depending on whether it’s a TLD (top level domain) or not.
There are many other factors that can attribute to the cost.
So here’s your choice…
You can go ahead and pay that $60-$100 bill you just received in the mail to renew your domain and stick with the sloppy service you must have now. Because what I will say is this…if you’re paying that much to keep your domain, you’re getting ripped off!
-OR-
You can do some more research and decide if moving your domain over to GoDaddy! is the right thing for you…then you can pick on the “It’s Go Time” link above, watch the video below and see just how easy transferring a domain name to GoDaddy can be!
“I Don’t Have a Domain! How do I get my first one?”
If you somehow arrived on this page trying to figure out how to get started with your first domain, I highly recommend you go check out a recent page I put together on building a website (it’s also located in my main menu above). You’ll want to get through the entire page before you even think about purchasing a new domain. Trust me!
Thanks for stoppin’ by! See you in the next post!
If you have any questions or comments, leave me a comment below!
This is excellent information and if anyone is like me I always need the step by step instructions. The video really helps to see it done instead of just reading about it. Great mix of “how to” since I’ll need to be doing this sometime in the future. I’m going to tag your site as a favorite so I can visit it again when I need the help. Thanks for the post!
This is actually a video I made quite some time ago when I was just starting out. Think about all of those times that you’re putting together content, or working on your website, that you could record and cut together a short video showing the process you took.
That’s all people are looking for is someone that has a direction to follow.
Thanks for the great comments!
This is an awesome information about domain transfer. I had just started in affiliate marketing and I personally own 2 websites.
I was thinking that I would like to change all of my domains to GoDaddy or NameCheap once the domains are expire. From your experience, between GoDaddy or NameCheap, which one is better?
Hey Lucas! Thanks for commenting…
I’ve always been a big fan of GoDaddy myself, only because I’ve used them for so long now I suppose. Namecheap has been around quite awhile also and their support is said to be fantastic, though I can’t speak for their’s and could say the same about GoDaddy’s!
I like GoDaddy’s new cPanel interface a bit better, but they do tend to stick more upsales in your face every time you check out a purchase. More times than not, I find that Namecheap has their domain prices just a slight bit cheaper and it seems GoDaddy has been increasing their prices as of late. In the end, it’s really more a matter of personal preference.
I have domains on both, and will probably continue to do so going forward!
Glad you liked the article!
Leland
Hey Lucas, just to give you a little extra…I just received this in my email this morning from NameCheap:
Hello Leland,
It’s finally here! Much toil and sweat went into our long awaited new Account Panel,
and we’re finally launching it to the public this morning. What’s new and notable?
An all new slick and intuitive interface that will make your friends and clients swoon
An integrated experience that makes it a lot easier to see the services tied to your domains
Faster, simpler renewals
Well, what are you waiting for? Check out everything that’s new, and log into Namecheap to see it yourself!
Sincerely,
Team Namecheap
So I’ll be logging in this morning to check out the new interface!
I really like the layout on this site. The banner in your header is legit…it looks like it is unique to this site. I am signed up with GoDaddy and I definitely recommend it for any and every body who plans on creating a website. It looks better when you actually have a website name instead of one of those add ons in url website name. Not to mention it is very cheap, I paid $14.99 for mine for 2 years. Cant beat that.
Hi Leland, nice tips. I have followed your tips, and it’s working. I bought a domain name from godaddy and moved it to my hosting that I have registered. However, If possible, I want request maybe you can write how to move my website from hosting A to hosting B without losing any data.
I certainly can. One thing to remember whenever moving or even updating hosting packages is to “backup, backup, backup” your data. That means exactly what it says (3x). On WordPress, you can backup the core files of the customized site by saving an .xml file with the WP export utility. Another is to backup the theme with any backup feature that comes with the theme itself, (though this is not available on all themes, some of the higher end ones have this built-in). The third is to use an FTP program and create 2 separate zip files. One will be an entire backup of your site structure under the root directory (httpdocs), the other (at min.) should be the contents of the /wp-content/uploads which will contain all of your uploaded media files. The last one is usually the one people forget about and realize in the long run that the WP backup doesn’t contain the media. But if done properly and moved over after creating the new accounts into the proper folders, all of your existing site should be just the way it was when you left!
Thanks Leland for the great step-by-step on how to transfer a domain to GoDaddy. I have a domain on GoDaddy (as well as a couple of domains on Namecheap) and I haven’t yet had the need to transfer. However, if that need does arise for me I’ll definitely be sure to reference your page and your video here. Thanks again!
I’m actually in the process of moving back in the other direction. Hosting is available for dirt cheap on Namecheap (living up to its name I suppose?) So I’m also cutting some videos on moving domains over to Namecheap. I’ve decided with domains constantly on the rise over at GoDaddy, that I was going to go back to being a little frugal. Watch for them in the next week.
Thanks for stopping by Paul.
Hi, this is a rather informative text and video. I do have one domain hosted at GoDaddy, but I cannot say I am too happy with that. I pay more than with my another domain at Namecheap, and I dislike all those up-sells they have at GoDaddy. In fact I am thinking of transferring the domain from there somewhere else, if this is doable. Most likely you will diaagree with my views?
Actually Jovo, I wouldn’t disagree with you at all. I created this video and post years ago as a way to help people follow through this process themselves. There are many that have paid GoDaddy almost $100 to have the provider do it for them, which I felt was a cheap shot.
Just last year I moved my hosting and many of my domains over to Namecheap also. The pricing is better, the hosting is cheaper and they are constantly upgrading without the upsells, as you mentioned. I’m a big fan of their site myself. They lack a few bells and whistles, but well worth the switch!
Thanks for the comment!