If you are looking to register a domain online, GoDaddy is one of the first places where you should go to. They are one of the best domain registrars available today with a huge set of features, functions, and discounts beneficial for beginners to advanced users. Today we are going to write an article about registering a domain on GoDaddy with the complete step by step procedure. So if you have been looking for a tutorial that explains everything about GoDaddy domain registration, this is it.
1. Head Over to GoDaddy and Sign in
Obviously, the first step you have to do is heading over to the GoDaddy website. After you reach the website, you should make sure that you are in the correct variation of the site dedicated to your country. For example, if you reside in India, the website will be in.godaddy.com instead of www.godaddy.com. If you wonder why does it matter, because the pricing may vary from region to region, the payment methods available will be different, and the taxes will be also applied. So, using the correct region will allow you to save some money and apply coupon codes only available in a certain region. You can change your region and currency from the footer of the website.
If you already haven’t created an account on GoDaddy, you should create one. You cannot register a domain on GoDaddy without creating an account. A Godaddy account will allow you to manage all your domains and services you registered with GoDaddy. Creating an account from this step and signing in will allow you to avoid doing that in the middle of the domain registration process.
2. Search for the Domain
When you are in the correct region, it is time to search for the domain that you want to register. The homepage itself contains a large search box where you can simply input the domain name and click on the Search button. It will bring you several variations with the different TLDs (Top Level Domain). We are guessing that you already have a TLD such as .com, .net, or a country-specific one like .in in your mind. If not, you can decide that from this screen. It will also list different prices for different variations. So you can choose accordingly.
3. Add the Domain to Cart
Once you decide which domain you want to register, You can click on the Add to cart button next to the appropriate TLD. It will instantly add the product to your cart which will be displayed on a sidebar popup. By default, GoDaddy will choose the period of the domain registration to 2 years. If you register for two or more years, you will get a discount for the first year. So you can decide whether you want that discount or you can simply choose one year from the dropdown. When you are ready and don’t want to register multiple domains at the same time, you can either click on the cart button at the top right corner or simply click the Continue to cart button in the popup.
4. Choose the Additional Services
This step is very important. GoDaddy will automatically choose some additional features such as privacy protection, website builder, email account, etc. Most of these services will cost you additional amounts. Even though few of them offer discounts for the first year, they might cost you a fortune when you renew them. So if you do not need any of those services, be sure to choose the No thanks radio button under each one of them. If you need features such as Whois protection, you can keep them as well. As soon as you are ready, click on the Continue to cart button.
5. Apply Promo Codes
On the next screen, you will see a link “Have a promo code?“. If you don’t know already, GoDaddy offers several promo codes once in a while especially for new product registrations. You can apply those promo codes by clicking on this link. If it is valid, you will instantly see a discount in the pricing listed on the page. Promo codes are a great way to save a lot of money when registering domains on GoDaddy. Once you enter the promo code or don’t have one, click on the Checkout button.
Quick Tip: the simplest way to get some discounts or promo codes is by reaching out to the GoDaddy support from the chat button available on the website. In most cases, they will graciously provide you some discounts.
6. Sign in (Optional)
If you already haven’t been signed in to the GoDaddy, it will ask you to sign in. It is mandatory to create a GoDaddy account in order to register your domain. The details you provided with your account will be linked to your domain information. So if you haven’t already created an account, you will have to create one and enter the details in the sign-in section.
7. Provide the Billing Information
In the next screen, GoDaddy will ask you to enter your billing information if you already haven’t connected a credit card or other payment methods with your account. You can also use your PayPal account to make payments. If you choose to enter the credit card details, the “Use as backup payment method for this account” option will be selected automatically. That means the credit card will be stored on your account for future payments. If you do not want that, be sure to uncheck this option. The same applies to your PayPal account as well.
The accepted payment methods will vary from region to region. Some countries will have internet banking methods and some others won’t. So if you do not see a certain payment option on the screen, that means it is not yet supported in your country. As I mentioned in the first step, make sure that you are on the correct GoDaddy website dedicated to your region to see the correct payment methods for your country.
8. Complete the Purchase
As soon as you provide the correct payment information, you will be taken to the page where you can complete the purchase. This step will be different for different regions. But the idea of the page is letting you complete the purchase by either charging your already connected payment methods such as credit card, PayPal, etc., or taking you to a payment gateway where you can enter the payment details. Just follow the onscreen instructions to complete the payment. If you successfully make the payment, it will show you a success message with a receipt.
9. Verify the Domain is in your Account
Now that you have successfully registered a GoDaddy domain, you just have to make sure that it is correctly added to your account. In order to do that, click on the User icon at the top right corner of the screen and choose the My products option. It will take you to the GoDaddy products section where it will list all the products that you have purchased from GoDaddy. If you see the domain there, that means the product is successfully added to your account. If not, verify if you were charged from your bank account. If the money has been deducted, wait for a few hours to see if the problem is temporary. And after that reach out to their support.