A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your New Online Presence
Congrats! You’ve made a big first step by purchasing a premium domain name.
It’s the first step towards creating a successful online presence for your business or personal brand; but what comes next?
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to follow after securing your domain name, from transferring the domain to integrating it with web or cloud hosting and leveraging your new online identity to reach out to existing and potential clients.
Transfer Your Domain (if necessary)
If you’ve purchased your domain from a different registrar than your preferred registrar or hosting provider, you’ll need to transfer the domain to your desired registrar. Here are the steps to follow:
- Obtain your domain’s EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) code or transfer authorization code from your current registrar.
- Unlock your domain for transfer, if it’s locked.
- Initiate the transfer process with your preferred registrar and provide the EPP code when prompted.
- Approve the transfer request, which may involve clicking a confirmation link in an email sent to your registered contact email address.
- Wait for the transfer to complete, which may take up to a week (although most registrars will expedite this if you watch your e-mail to authorize the transfer or reach out to the losing registrar’s support team).
Choose Your Web Hosting Service
Selecting a suitable web hosting provider is crucial for your website’s performance, security, and scalability. Consider factors such as storage space, bandwidth, customer support, and pricing when choosing a hosting provider.
Popular hosting options include shared hosting, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), dedicated servers, and cloud hosting. Pick a hosting plan that best meets your website’s current and future requirements.
Point Your Domain to Your Web Hosting
Once your domain transfer is complete and you’ve selected a hosting provider, you’ll need to point your domain to your web hosting service. To do this, you’ll need to update your domain’s DNS (Domain Name System) settings:
- Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel.
- Find the section where you can manage DNS settings.
- Update the nameservers (NS) records to the ones provided by your web hosting company.
- Save the changes, and wait for the DNS propagation to complete, which may take up to 48 hours.
Build Your Website
With your domain and hosting set up, it’s time to create your website. You can choose from various website-building platforms like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, or use website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Weebly. Alternatively, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website tailored to your specific needs.
Reach Out to Existing Clients
Leverage your new domain name to reconnect with existing clients and inform them about your fresh, new online presence. Use email marketing, social media, or phone calls to let them know about your updated website and how it can better serve their needs. Emphasize the improvements made and any new features or services you may be offering.
Market to New Clients
A new domain name presents an excellent opportunity to attract new clients. Implement a marketing strategy that includes SEO (Search Engine Optimization), content marketing, social media marketing, and paid advertising to promote your website and generate more leads. Focus on highlighting your unique selling points and emphasize the benefits of choosing your brand over competitors.
Monitor Your Website’s Performance
Keep track of your website’s performance by using tools like Google Analytics or an open source alternative such as Matomo. These analytics can provide valuable insights into visitor behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates. Use this information to optimize your website and marketing efforts, ensuring you continually attract and retain clients.
Need Help?
After purchasing a domain name, following the steps outlined above will help you make the most of it! If you require any help along the way, be sure to reach out as we are always happy to help. We work with all of the above aspects from registrars and hosting providers to web designers and website builder platforms and analytics.
