Already own a domain name? Great. You can usually keep it where it is. GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace, Cloudflare, and other providers use different dashboards, but the big-picture steps are similar.
Your domain and your website are two different things
Your domain is the web address customers type, like yourbusiness.com. Hosting is the service that makes the website available online. You can often use a domain from one company with hosting from another.
Your domain registrar is the company where you bought or renew the name. DNS settings might be managed there — or with a separate provider. We need to know which account actually controls them.
What to have ready
Before launch, we can go over a few details together. You do not need to buy a new domain or move it to another company just to begin.
- The domain name you plan to use
- Where you pay to renew that domain
- Who has access to its DNS settings
- Whether you use business email on that domain
- Any existing website or services that still use the address
How the connection works
Your website host will provide the DNS settings needed for the new site. Depending on the setup, that could mean an A record, CNAME, or a provider-specific option. The exact values depend on your hosting service, so do not copy settings from a generic example.
If domain connection is included in our project, I'll help coordinate the required settings with whoever manages DNS. Once they're applied, we'll check both the main domain and the www version. Changes can take time to appear across the internet.
After the website is connected
If I'm handling your launch, I'll check that the address works, HTTPS is active, and key links and forms function correctly. We'll also verify that any existing business email still works.
Keep your domain renewal and account access under your control. If a collaborator needs access, use the provider’s sharing or delegated-access features when available — never send passwords by regular email.
Common Questions
Do I need a GoDaddy account?
No. Your domain can be registered with many providers. We can work with the setup you already have.
Do I need to transfer my domain?
Usually not. Pointing a domain to hosting and transferring domain registration are different actions.
Will my business email keep working?
Usually, if the necessary email DNS records are preserved. We should confirm the current setup before making any changes and test email afterward.