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Step 9 – Connect Your Domain Name to Your New Website
12 Part Series for a Small Business Website
In order to make your new website accessible to the general public, you need to connect the domain name you purchased to your hosted server. This blog post will walk you through the necessary steps.
Understanding Domain Names and Servers
When you access a website, your computer uses a Domain Name Server (DNS) to translate the domain name (like Amazon.com) into its associated IP address. Think of DNS as the internet’s phone book, matching domain names to their respective IP addresses.
Steps to Connect Your Domain Name
Step 1: Log In to Your Registrar’s Website
- Visit your domain registrar’s website (e.g., GoDaddy.com).
- Log in to your account using the credentials you used when you purchased your domain name.
Step 2: Find Your Domain
- Navigate to your account dashboard and locate the section where your domains are listed.
- Select the domain name you wish to connect to your new website.
Step 3: Access Nameserver Settings
- Find the “nameserver settings” for your domain. This may also be labeled as “DNS settings” or “access DNS.”
- Open the settings to view and edit your nameserver entries.
Step 4: Update Nameserver Information
Your hosting service provider (e.g., Amazon AWS, Bluehost, etc.) should provide you with their nameserver details.
- Replace the existing nameservers provided by your registrar with the ones given by your hosting service provider.
- Save your changes.
Step 5: Wait for DNS Propagation
After updating your DNS settings, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 72 hours for the changes to propagate across all DNS servers worldwide. Patience is key here; the changes are not immediate.
Example
If hosted on Amazon AWS, you would:
- Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy).
- Select your domain (e.g., mybusiness.com).
- Access DNS settings.
- Replace nameservers with:
ns1.amazondns.com
ns2.amazondns.com - Save changes and wait for propagation.
Once the DNS propagation is complete, your domain name will be connected to your new website, making it accessible to anyone on the internet. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, your hosting service provider can offer additional guidance.
Connecting your domain name to your new website is a straightforward process that ensures your site is online and accessible to your audience. Follow these steps, and you’ll be up and running in no time!
Step 1 – Get a Great Domain Name
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 2 – Create an Outline of Your Small Business Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 3 – Write Compelling Content for your Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 4 – Choose Your Content Management System
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 5 – Select Web Hosting for Your Business
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 6 – Create Your Branding Guide
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 7 – Design Your Small Business Website Frontend
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 8 – Test Your Responsive Website Design
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 10 – Security Measures for your Small Business Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 11 – Local SEO: Tell Search Engines about Your Website
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Step 12 – Establish a Website Support Plan
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Simple Website Service
Simple Website Service is an affordable, turn-key, custom professional website service for small business owners. Our website design solution comes with full ongoing support for updates, maintenance, security and backup. Our customers speak with a REAL person. With over 100 customers, our singular focus allows us to keep costs down for our customers. Small business websites are ALL we do. For over 17 years, we’ve listened to our customers – small business owners who need help creating professional websites that truly represent their brand. But, traditional options are expensive and time consuming while templated do-it-yourself solutions fail to capture the essence of what makes their businesses unique. That’s why we created Simple Website Service for small business owners who don’t have the time to wade through the complexities of a web project.