What To Do After Buying a Domain

The most important step in launching your website is buying a domain name. But what should you do after buying a domain? Is it a complicated process? How long before your website can be published?

In this article, I will break down the steps you need to take to get your site published under your new domain. This process is not very complicated and you should be able to get it done yourself.

A domain must point to a server where the website files are stored in order for a user to access it via a web browser. Updating these files is usually the job of a Web Developer, but today many content management tools allow the layman to add text, images, or video to their website easily.

Additionally, a site should be secured with 128-bit encryption to provide the safest browsing experience for users of the site. When purchasing your hosting package (separate from the domain) you typically can include an SSL certificate as an add-on product.

The site also needs to have an email that uses the domain in the part after the @ symbol. This gives the people behind the site more credibility during communications. Similar to the SSL certificate, an email plan can also be added to the order, but often this is included.

After you get the domain, these are the steps you must take to get your website online:

1. Set up hosting for your site
2. Install WordPress so that you can edit site pages
3. Buy SSL certificate
4. Set up email accounts through Gmail, your hosting provider, or any other service provider.

After buying a domain you need to get hosting

When it comes to hosting, there are different options. Shared hosting is the most affordable option but lacks the additional features of a VPS or dedicated server. A VPS server will offer more resources while a dedicated server will provide an exclusive environment for your site.

What is Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting is a service that provides each customer with their own space on a server. It is the most affordable option for small websites and blogs. The web host will take care of the maintenance, security, and updates of your website in exchange for a low monthly fee.

This type of service is excellent for small businesses and individuals who don’t need all the power and features of dedicated hosting. The benefits include low cost, ease of use, scalability, and quick setup.

Some Examples of Popular Shared Hosting providers

Some examples of shared hosting providers include Godaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, and Dreamhost.

With so many shared hosting providers out there, it can be difficult to distinguish between them. However, they are all built with similar infrastructure and offer a host of features. The best way to make your decision is by comparing their features, pricing, and the type of customer support they offer.

A basic description of VPS or dedicated server

A VPS is a virtual private server. It is a virtual machine that runs its own instance of the operating system, and it can be used to host websites, provide email, or other such services. A VPS is similar to a dedicated server but it is not as powerful.

A dedicated server is the most expensive option for hosting websites or anything requiring high-powered hardware. Dedicated servers are often used by large companies with high traffic and heavy data storage requirements.

Install WordPress so you can create your website.

Setting up WordPress is easy. All you need to do is download the latest version of WordPress, install it, and go through the setup process. You can find more information about installing WordPress here: Install WordPress

Setting up WordPress using Softaculous

Alternatively, you can use Softaculous or Installatron to install WordPress. This program runs within Cpanel. Cpanel is software that runs on your server and is usually accessible from within your hosting account.

With Softaculous you simply fill in a few parameters and click install, and it will automatically install WordPress within 1 minute.

Here is a video showing the process of installing WordPress using Softaculous.

And here is one showing the Installatron process.

After the installation is complete, you will be presented with a link to the admin interface for your WordPress instance.

From this admin, you will be able to select and install a theme, add content to pages, and start blogging.

How to set up SSL after buying a domain?

SSL is a security protocol, which ensures that the data that is being transferred between a web server and a browser remains private. SSL Certificates are issued by Certificate Authorities (CA) to ensure that the owner of the website has permission to host it and that they have paid for their security certificate.

Typically you can purchase an SSL Certificate when you purchase hosting. If done at this stage, the certificate will be automatically installed.

In other cases, where you buy the SSL after hosting, you will need to hire an expert to install it.

How do I get an email after buying a domain?

Just like SSL, an email plan is often offered with the hosting plan. In this case, you can set up your email from within the hosting account.

After setting up your email, you might need to connect it to an email client like Gmail or Outlook. You will have to check within the hosting account for information on how to set up your email inbox.

Conclusion

Now you know what to do after buying a domain. Buy a hosting plan, install WordPress, install SSL, and set up your email. These are the next critical steps to get your website published.

Follow these basic setup steps to get your site launched in very little time.

DigitalSpawn can help you through these basic setup steps. But it is preferred that you take care of these preliminary steps when dealing with any developers – As this gives you much more control over your site.