I Bought a Domain Name, Now What?
Congratulations on securing your domain! You’ve just made a major step in establishing your online presence. But now what? What do you do with the domain name you just bought?
You may need clarification now, but we are here to walk you through the steps after buying a domain name.
What to do after buying a domain name?
Purchasing your domain name is just the beginning. Now, the real work begins. The decisions you make after you buy a domain are crucial in turning a mere online address into an asset that drives traffic to your business.
This guide will walk you through essential steps to fully leverage your domain and build a successful online presence.
1. Connect your domain to a web hosting service
Your domain is like your website’s unique address. It’s a name that people can remember and type in to find you online. But just a street address, it needs a physical location to exist—that’s where web hosting comes in.
Web hosting provides a service space where you can store your website’s files and data. This includes things like your website’s code, images, and content. Without web hosting, your web domain would be like an address with no house—people could find the address, but there wouldn’t be anything there.
The good news is, there are different types of web hosting plans available, just like there are different types of apartments. Here are a few popular options:
- Shared hosting. This type of hosting is ideal for small and beginner websites. As the name suggests, you share server resources with other websites. Since the server is shared, you pay less than the price compared to occupying a single server alone.
- Managed WordPress hosting. This option is specifically tailored for WordPress sites. If you plan on building your website with WordPress, this is undoubtedly the best option. Your website will have optimized performance, automatic updates, and additional security.
- Online store hosting. If you’re planning on selling products online, this is the best fit. This hosting option often includes integrated shopping carts, inventory management, and enhanced security for transactions.
It’s imperative to pick a web hosting company that fits your needs to ensure your new domain is fully functional and ready to host your content. To grow your site properly, look for hosting services that offer security, uptime reliability, and scalability.
Domain.com offers a variety of web hosting options that can fit different budgets and website types. You can choose from Basic, Plus, and Premium plans. Even better, you get a free domain registration in your first year if you purchase any hosting plans from Domain.com.
After securing a hosting plan, you can now connect your domain. To do that, you need to:
- Log in to your domain registrar (where you bought your domain).
- Locate your domain’s DNS settings.
- Enter the nameservers provided by your hosting provider. This will indicate your domain where to direct web traffic.
- Save the settings. Within 24-48 hours, your website address will point to your hosting account.
2. Set up a custom email address
Customizing your email address using your domain is a simple yet powerful way to boost the professional image of your business. Suppose your business email address looks like this: [email protected]; it builds more trust with your customers. A custom email address that reflects your business name makes your communications look more credible compared to a free email service like Gmail or Yahoo.
Most web hosts make creating an email linked to your domain easy. To create a custom email using your domain, you need to do the following:
- Login to your hosting dashboard. Access your hosting provider’s control panel or hosting dashboard. It depends on the service you use.
- In the control panel, look for the Email Accounts section. Here, you can set up and manage your domain-specific email.
- Enter the desired email name. Choose your domain from the dropdown list. Set a password. You can also choose how much storage the email account will have.
- Once set up, you can log in to your email either through webmail or connect it to an email client like Outlook or Gmail.
3. Secure matching social media handles
Ever heard the saying, “You only get one first impression”? That applies online too! When someone searches for your business, you want them to find a seamless, recognizable brand experience across all platforms.
Make sure to have consistent social media handles across platforms to show brand consistency. Being consistent makes it easier for customers to find and engage with your business across different channels. It would be better to use matching social media profiles to strengthen your brand identity.
Check the availability of your social media handles and make certain that it matches your domain name. Consistent social media handles would look like this:
- Instagram: @MyBusiness
- Twitter: @MyBusiness
- Facebook: facebook.com/MyBusiness
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/MyBusiness
- Pinterest: pinterest.com/MyBusiness
If the exact handle isn’t available, you can use variations. Add simple modifiers like location or relevant keyword:
- Instagram: @MyBusinessHQ
- Twitter: @MyBusinessUS
- Facebook: facebook.com/MyBusinessHQ
Once you have your domain name, go ahead and create social media accounts on all relevant platforms, even if you’re not ready to use them yet. This reserves your handles for future use.
After securing your handles, link your social media profiles to your website and marketing materials. Use them to promote your brand and engage with your audience consistently across platforms.
4. Install a CMS and build your website
After purchasing a domain, you need a content management system (CMS) to have a fully functional website. A CMS makes building, managing, and updating your website’s content easy without needing advanced coding skills. You don’t need to be an expert web developer to have a functional site and domain.
Popular CMS you’ve probably encountered are WordPress, drag-and-drop website builders, and custom-built solutions for more complex needs. If you’re looking for flexibility and customization, consider choosing a premium theme. Premium WordPress themes, for instance, allow you to customize the look and feel of your site, ensuring it aligns with your brand. Premium themes typically offer better design, more features, and support compared to free themes.
WordPress is the widely known CMS used by small and medium businesses. Most hosting providers offer a one-click option to install WordPress. Once you successfully install WordPress, you can start building your dream website right away.
5. Develop your website content and structure
After setting up your site properly, you’re now ready to develop content that will bring value to your audience and help your site rank in search engines. Creating SEO-friendly, valuable content is key to generate traffic and converting visitors to customers.
To create valuable content, here are a few tips:
- Know your audience. Understand what your audience is searching for. What are their interests? What problems do they face? Tailor your content to their specific needs.
- Use keywords strategically. Make sure to incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content. This helps search engines like Google understand what your content is about. However, avoid stuffing keywords. Focus on creating high-quality content that provides value to your readers.
- Quality over quantity. Don’t sacrifice quality over publishing dozens of useless content. Write high-quality, informative content that offers true value to your target audience. Search engines are hungry for valuable content that keeps visitors engaged.
6. Optimize your website for search engines (SEO)
You now have a domain name, a web host, a reliable CMS, and quality content for your website. Is that all you need to do after buying a domain?
No. You still need to optimize your website for search engines (SEO). A well-optimized website will help you rank higher on search engine result pages, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
How do you ensure that your website is crawlable?
- Internal linking. Make sure your site is easy to navigate with clear internal links that connect to relevant pages. This helps search engines understand the hierarchy of your content.
- Mobile-friendly design: We sometimes forget to ensure the website is responsive and mobile-friendly. With the rise of mobile technology, search engines prioritize mobile usability in rankings.
- Page speed: Optimize loading times by using tools like caching and content delivery networks (CDN). Fast websites not only rank higher but also improve user experience.
7. Set up essential tools and plugins
Ensure that your WordPress site runs smoothly and effectively. Install must-have WordPress plugins that optimize performance and traffic and improve SEO. Here are essential tools and plugins:
- SEO plugins like Rank Math SEO or Yoast SEO to optimize your on-page SEO
- Install Google Analytics to monitor website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates.
- Caching plugins improves your site’s load times.
8. Secure your website
Never compromise on security. Protecting your website helps keep your data, your customers’ information, and your online reputation safe. When your site is secure, you not only foster trust with your visitors but also shield your business from various potential threats.
One important step to boost your security is to protect your personal information from public view. By keeping your details off the WHOIS database, you can help ensure your privacy online. Additionally, using security tools that defend against hackers and reduce the risk of human error can significantly enhance your website’s safety. Options like Domain Privacy + Protection and SiteLock protection can work together to create a stronger shield for your online presence. Another layer of protection is an SSL certificate. Installing an SSL certificate on your website is crucial for encryption. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) ensures that data exchanged between your website and its visitors is encrypted and safe from interception.
To be more secure in handling your domain and website, make sure that you renew your domain registration. However, there are instances where renewal slips one’s mind, or unforeseen circumstances will prevent you from doing so. Instead of losing your domain when it expires, it is best to purchase a Domain Expiry Protection so that no one can grab your domain the moment it expires.
9. Plan your marketing strategy
To truly thrive online, you need a well-crafted marketing strategy. By leveraging multiple marketing channels, you can reach your target audience more effectively and build long-term success. Your marketing strategy should include a mix of email marketing, social media marketing, and paid advertising to maximize reach.
- Email marketing. Start building an email list early by offering valuable content or promotions. Regularly send newsletters, updates, or exclusive offers to keep your audience engaged. Email marketing is a powerful way to nurture relationships and convert leads into customers.
- Social media marketing. Promote your website and blog posts across social media platforms. Engaging with your audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter helps build your brand and drives traffic back to your site properly.
- Paid ads (e.g., Google ads): Consider using Google ads or social media ads to reach a wider audience quickly. Paid ads allow you to target specific keywords or demographics, driving targeted traffic to your website.
Grow Your Online Presence
From purchasing your new domain to creating a functional website, you’ve taken the first significant steps in establishing your online presence. You’ve learned how to make a website, optimize it for search engines, secure it from threats, and plan a marketing strategy to grow traffic.
However, the journey doesn’t stop here. Consistently updating your website with fresh content, refining your marketing strategies, and improving your SEO is crucial for long-term success. The more you invest in maintaining and enhancing your site, the more your traffic and business will grow.
If you’re looking for more tools and resources to support your website or online store, Domain.com offers everything you need to continue building and expanding your online business. Domain.com is here to help you thrive online, from domain registration to hosting services.
Ready to take the next step? Visit Domain.com today and continue your journey to a successful online presence.
