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How to Connect Your Domain and Your Hosting

Now this for many may seem like a very easy step but when I first started blogging it was a step I didn’t know. So, if I didn’t know that means others out there won’t know either! Again, many of you may see this as an easy step. But if you are completely new and need help here ya go! I even created a video to walk you through how to purchase your domain name, your hosting and then how to connect them.

I am no expert and I don’t pretend to be either! What I am is a mom who wanted to start a blog and I felt completely lost and didn’t know where to start. I read blog post after blog post trying to learn everything I needed to know. I was told it would be super easy and it pretty much happens overnight.

Then I was told it takes years of blogging and hard work. The one thing I do know FOR SURE is that if you don’t try you will never know. I also know that if you have someone to help walk you through the steps that makes a big difference too! So that is what I decided to do.

I want to walk moms (and maybe dads) through the steps of starting and running a blog. There is more to it than that but just starting is half the battle! So here is a short video that shows you where I purchased my domain name and hosting from and then how to get them to connect to each other!

Here is a quick recap!

Maybe you don’t like watching videos or maybe you still need a little help after watching the video. Either way here is a quick recap!

Where to Get a Domain Name

1. You have to get your domain if you haven’t already. If you use a free hosting platform like blogger.com they may provide you with a domain name but you don’t own that name or the contents of your blog.

Just a heads up. I had looked into the free option as well and quickly found out that wasn’t a good idea. Using the free option is like borrowing space from that site. If that site decides to delete your blog it can because it owns everything on there. However, if you purchase hosting you own your blog and all it’s contents. Also on places like that, you can’t always put affiliate links or ads to make money on your blog either.

2. You want to check and see if your hosting provider (not the free hosting) will provide you with a domain name. Sometimes they will give you a special and you get a free domain name when you purchase your hosting through them. For example, HostGator provides a free domain name with the purchase of certain hosting packages.

3. Check out RetailMeNot.com and see if there is a coupon available for your domain name provider. Who doesn’t like a discount!? I was able to find one on there for NameCheap where I purchased my domain name.

4. Go to NameCheap ( or GoDaddy, 1and1, wherever) and purchase your domain name! They are very inexpensive! Or again just grab a free one with HostGator when you get your hosting.

Don’t forget you want your domain name to be something easy to remember and relevant to your blog.

Related Posts:

• Where to Purchase Your Domain Name for Your Blog
• How to Find Your Niche for Your Blog
• Which Hosting Should You Use for Your Blog

Where to Get Your Hosting

Now that you have your domain name you need to purchase your hosting. That is of course unless you purchased them together. And again, you want to purchase hosting so you own your blog contents and you can then make an income off your blog.

I currently use SiteGround for my hosting provider. When I was starting this blog I was reading so many blog posts trying to learn everything I could about blogging. Several bloggers said they used SiteGround so I gave them a try. My experience with them has been the majority good. I would give them 5 stars however, my only complaint with them is the price increase.

Hosting is very inexpensive in the grand scheme of things but the price has continued to increase each year I have been with them. But luckily there are other options besides SiteGround. Other hosting providers you can use are HostGator or BlueHost. Those three are the main hosting providers that bloggers use.

HostGator has hosting available right now for as low as $2.75 a month so I suggest to shop around and find the best hosting provider for you.

Don’t worry though your domain name and hosting are the two main expenses for starting a blog. Each hosting provider also has different packages they offer as well. Choose which plan fits you best and follow the steps to complete your hosting purchase.

Connect Your Domain and Your Hosting

Okay, now we are to the important part. The reason you came to this blog post. Let’s connect your domain and your hosting! (If you purchased them with the same company then I am sure they connect automatically if you purchased separate keep reading)

To connect them you need to log into your hosting account, click on account, Cpanel, then look for two nameserver numbers. It will be a series of letters and numbers, not just numbers.

In another tab, you will want to log into your domain name account. Make sure you are in the domain section and you can see your domain name. Now click on manage your domain name.

There should be a spot where you can enter those two nameserver numbers from your hosting account. If you are using NameCheap, click the drop-down menu and choose Custom DNS and copy and paste each of the nameserver numbers in.

Save all changes and now you just wait for them to connect! It is that easy!

It may take up to 24-48 hours for them to connect but usually, it’s not that long!

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy blogging!

Vanessa