3 Steps To Adding A New Domain Name To Your Inmotion Hosting Account
By Brad Markle
All webmasters, designers and administrators will at some point need to add a different domain name to their InMotion Hosting (IMH) accounts. At IMH we are always glad to see this, since it usually means that the individual behind the account is growing his or her business. The process of adding another domain to IMH is fairly easy, although there are certain things to keep in mind to ensure that the domain to be added will work as the designated uniform resource locator (URL) for the desired website.
1. Domain name registration
A domain name must be registered before it can be added or transferred. Registering a domain with IMH is easy; once a domain name is registered, it will be good for a full year. Staying up-to-date with domain name registrations is essential since letting a domain name expire allows anyone else to lawfully claim it as theirs. Registration renewals take place each year, and although IMH reminds you of upcoming renewals, it is always a good idea to set up other reminders on your work computers, smartphones, personal organizers, or even on a paper calendar stuck to the refrigerator.
Registration of a new domain name is accomplished on the Account Management Panel (AMP) feature of your IMH account. Logging in to AMP is the first step. Once logged in, the Additional Services section will be visible, and under it you will the Domains link. Clicking on Domains will launch a screen in which users can enter the desired domain name and check to see if it is available. The minimum registration period is one year, but multiple years can also be chosen at that time. Payment can be made using the credit or debit card already associated with the account, or a new card can be added. Some webmasters and designers work with outside clients who insist on using their own cards for payment; if this is the case, a new card can be added to the account.
Domain privacy can be chosen and purchased at registration time. The optional privacy feature protects IMH’s account holders by shielding their contact information from the WHOIS registry. Once the Terms of Service have been acknowledged and accepted, clicking the Submit button will complete the registration process.
2. Pointing the new domain name to IMH’s servers
A domain name that is newly registered with IMH will point to the right nameservers, but if the domain name is coming from a different hosting company, then you will need to change the nameservers. Some hosting and registration companies allow their clients some level of control in this regard, but if you aren’t able to do this on your own, you will have to contact the company that formerly held the domain name registration. The IMH nameservers that your domain should point to are:
ns.inmotionhosting.com
ns2.inmotionhosting.com
ns2.inmotionhosting.com
3. Correctly setting your domain name
IMH clients who only have one domain name registered with us do not have to worry about this step, but if you are registering an additional domain name you must configure the names correctly. One domain name must be designated as the main one on the account; all additional names must be assigned as add-on, parked or subdomains.
Subdomains are simply domain names that fall under the main domain name. They can be entered by clicking the “Subdomains” link under the Domains section. This creates a new folder in the public_html directory where the files for the subdomain can be uploaded to.
Parked domains will point to the main site. Parked domains can be added under the Domains section of the AMP.
Add-on domains are separate and independent from the main domain name. They are useful for web designers who work with multiple clients at once. Add-on domains are set up under the Domains section of the AMP, and they are automatically assigned a new FTP account for which the account holder must enter a new password.
Brad Markle is the Customer Community Manager for InMotion Hosting, a leading webhosting provider based in Los Angeles. His team is dedicated to providing accurate and clear technical support documentation, which you can find in the Support Center.
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Tags: add a domain name, adding a new domain, hosting account, InMotion hosting, Inmotion Hosting Account, new domain