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With this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to set up a GoDaddy domain name on a BlueHost hosting account. Before you get started, you’re going to need two things: a domain name with GoDaddy and a hosting account with BlueHost. If you need a GoDaddy domain name, you can go to http://websitehostingguides.com/godaddy99 * to get a 99-cent domain name. If you need to get hosting services, you can check out http://websitehostingguides.com/getbluehost * to see if there are any specials available. Once you’ve got all that set up, it’s time to get started!
- Log in to your BlueHost account. It should take you to the hosting and cpanel page.
- Find your dedicated or shared IP address, which will be located on the left hand side of the screen under system.
- Copy your IP address.
- Log in to your GoDaddy account. Then click on Visit My Account.
- Click on the Domains drop down menu. Select the domain name you’d like to point to BlueHost.
- Click on Manage DNS.
- Click the Edit button on the A record. Paste the new IP address into the Points To field and click on Save. Now your GoDaddy domain name points to BlueHost.
- Go back to your BlueHost account and click on domains in the top navigation bar. You’ll need to add the domain name to BlueHost and set up WordPress or any other content management system you’d like to use to build your website.
- Click on assign domain name to your cpanel.
- Select use a domain that is not already associated with your account. Enter the domain name in the field and it will verify that the domain address is connected.
- Scroll down to the bottom. Leave step 3 marked as an add-on domain name. In step 4, make sure create a new directory is selected. Click on assign this domain.
- You’ll be taken back to your domains page. This process may take several minutes to complete.
- Click on hosting in the top navigation bar.
- If you need to install WordPress, scroll down to the website section and click on the Install WordPress button.
- On the next page, select the website you’d like to set up in the Domain section. You don’t need to fill in the Directory field. Click Next.
- On the Admin Information page, enter the Site Name as well as your email address, username, and password. Click Next. The installation process will begin.
- When the installation process is complete, you’ll see a green bar across the top of your screen. Click on view your credentials.
- Click on the link next to Install Location to verify that WordPress is installed.
- You should be taken to a WordPress login screen on the backend (this will have wp-admin/ at the end of your URL). You can see what the front end website looks like by deleting the wp-admin from the end of your URL. If everything was installed properly, you’ll see a site that says something like “A New WordPress Site is Coming Soon!”
- Congratulations! You’re set up and ready to start building your new website!
If you’d like to learn more about BlueHost, we’ve put together a BlueHost overview guide so you can quickly get all the information you need.