How to Register a Domain & Transfer to Another Domain

Finding and registering a domain name is a rather simple process; in fact, the hardest part can oftentimes be finding a domain name that hasn't already been taken. Once you do find a name, however, it's simply a matter of giving a bit of personal information to the registrar company and then choosing a hosting package to run your website. All of this is very simple to accomplish and literally takes only a matter of minutes.

Instructions

Register a Domain

1. Find a registrar to obtain your domain. The most popular registrar and the easiest to use is Godaddy; however, Hostgator and NetworkSolutions are also easy to use. You'll know if the site offers domain registration if it offers the option to "Find a domain" or something along those lines on its homepage.

2. Search for the domain name you want to register. If the domain is not registered, you will receive a message telling you so. If it is already taken, you can either look at the top level end of the domain, such as .net or .biz, or simply look for another domain name.

3. Enter your personal information once you find your domain. Use valid information to avoid iCANN issues down the road, which could lead to the loss of your domain name. You'll also need to enter a payment type; some sites only accept credit cards, while others such as GoDaddy accept PayPal, Google Checkout and other forms of payment. Fill out all of the necessary information and wait for your domain name confirmation message.

Transfer a Domain to Another Party

1. See if the person you are transferring the account to uses the same registrar or if she is willing to use that registrar for transfer purposes. In most cases, as with Godaddy, you can simply choose the "Change Owner" option from within the "My Accounts" section of your account and then enter the user name for the new owner. The steps for same registrar account changes will differ from company to company; call your registrar if you can't find the information by logging into your account.

2. Unlock your domain from within your registrar account if you plan on moving the domain to another registrar. Again, the wording for this option can vary from company to company, so check the company's FAQ page to find this info or call your registrar.

3. Choose the transfer option from within your account once you have unlocked the domain. An email will then be sent to the registered "Whois" account for the domain; this is the account email you have on file with your registrar.

4. Click on the verification link for the transfer that arrives at your Whois email account to verify the transfer.

5. Wait 3 to 8 days for the transfer to be completed. Sometimes this takes a little less time, but not more than 8 days, in most cases. The transfer process should then be complete.