Transfer Domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost

Transferring your domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost can be quite easy if you follow the right steps.

If you want to transfer your domain name from GoDaddy, there are a few requirements that you need to fulfill:

• • The expiration time of your domain name should be upwards of 15 days
  • You’ve registered the domain name more than 60 days ago
  • Your domain name is with these extensions: .com, .net, .org, .info, .us, .co, and .biz.

 

Here are the steps involved:

1. Go to your GoDaddy domain dashboard and click on the domain name you want to transfer to Bluehost.

 

2. The next step would be to check your domain contact information. It should be correct as GoDaddy will send the authorization code to the Whois email address.

Source: godaddy.com

 

You’ll need this unique code to complete the domain transfer process. Don’t know where to check or edit your domain contact information? This can help you out. 

 

3. Note: If you haven’t purchased GoDaddy’s domain privacy, you can skip to the 4^th If you have purchased GoDaddy’s domain privacy, make sure to disable it before going through with the transfer.

You can just select your domain name and scroll down until you see “Privacy Settings”. Just click the “Turn Privacy Off” option.

Source: godaddy.com

4. If you are already using Bluehost as your hosting service provider and your nameservers are pointing towards it, you don’t need to change the nameservers.

Otherwise, change your nameservers and point them to your hosting provider.

 

5. Then, you’d need to unlock your domain name. Just switch the locking status to OFF from ON. You may have to face a 5-minute delay in its implementation.

Source: godaddy.com

6. Now that you’ve unlocked the domain you can easily get your authorization code. Before going through with this step, make sure you have the accurate domain contact information.

This address would be the one where GoDaddy will send you the authorization code.

Click on “Get Authorization Code” in the GoDaddy panel and wait for an email in your inbox that contains your EPP authorization code.

When you click on the link, you’ll be forwarded to a new page and you’ll receive the code in your email.

 

7. Here is a checklist by GoDaddy on how you should approach the domain transfer on Bluehost’s side:

Source: godaddy.com

 

Now, all the steps involved at GoDaddy’s end in the transfer domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost process are complete.

Now, you’d need to go to your Bluehost panel and follow a few simple steps.

8. Go to your Domains inside Bluehost and click on “Transfer”.
9. Now, type in the domain name that you want to transfer to Bluehost.
10. After that, Bluehost will ask you to enter the authentication code that you received from your previous domain registrar (GoDaddy). Enter that code and hit enter.
11. You can always change the credentials in the contact information section. These will act as your domain contact information.
12. The next step would be to pay for the domain name. You’d be redirected to a checkout page, where you can pay for a duration of your choice. Make sure to pay for at least 1 year.
13. That’s it! You’re done with the transfer domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost process. The transfer may take 5 to 7 days to take effect. Keep checking for any updates in the Domain Manager.

 

If you find any difficulty in any of the above steps, you can consult a guide from Bluehost here.

While the process of transferring a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost may seem a little overwhelming, you’ve seen that it’s quite simple.

You won’t be needing any technical knowledge to transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost. Even if you encounter any bottlenecks, both companies have technically sound customer support teams.

You can ask for their assistance anywhere in the process.

 

Why Would You Need a Domain Transfer?

There can be a few reasons why you would want to transfer your domain name to another registrar. Let’s discuss each one of them.

 

You Want Your Hosting and Domain Companies to be the Same

To Streamline the Process

You don’t want the hassle of going back and forth with your domain and hosting companies. Having a domain name with a company that also hosts your website makes things streamlined and easy to manage.

So, ease of management could be one of the most important reasons why you’d need to transfer a domain name.

 

Cost

Another reason to switch your domain provider is cost. You see, not all domain registrars offer a domain name at the same price point.

The cost of a domain name is commonly high when a company is offering added features at a relatively high price.

Plus, although some companies offer a low-priced domain in the first year, the renewal costs are quite high.

So, the cost is a major factor that might get you to switch your domain providers. After all, you generally pay for a domain name on a monthly basis, which can add up to a lot over time.

However, price shouldn’t dictate whether you should transfer your domain or not. You need a reputable service and peace of mind as it’s your business that’s at stake.

This is why transferring your domain to Bluehost is a good idea. Although it might turn out to be a little expensive, you’re getting everything you’d need.

 

Features

Another reason why you’d want to transfer your domain to another company is the features. When you are not getting the features you want with your domain name, it would be a good idea to transfer it to a new one.

These features may include:

• • The price of the added features
  • Is it easy to manage your domain name inside the current registrar’s dashboard? Are there any tools that make your work easier?
  • Is the customer support helpful and quick in responding?

What Happens When You Transfer a Domain?

When you are transferring a domain name, you are essentially telling ICANN (the internet corporation for assigned names and numbers) that you are shifting to a new registrar.

While your domain name address is transferred to the new registrar, there should be no impact on your website’s hosting.

When you transfer your domain from one company to another, your domain’s expiration date shouldn’t change.

This means, if you transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost with a 1-year left on it, you should be getting this time with your new registrar as well.

However, it’s important to make sure before switching companies as not all companies may offer this feature.

Some companies may also ask for at least a one-year domain subscription on top of your previous subscription. You’ll also have to pay a small transfer fee to the registrar.

After your domain transfer is complete, you’d then be paying for any subsequent subscriptions to the new company, of course.

Does Your Website’s Address Change?

No, when you transfer a domain from one registrar to another, there is minimal impact on your website.

Users will still be able to access your website with the exact same name and your website’s files will be saved with the hosting company.

 

Can I Use a GoDaddy Domain on Bluehost?

Yes! You can use a GoDaddy domain on Bluehost without any problems. Even if you are not tech-savvy and don’t know anything about website management, you’d be able to transfer your domain in a few simple steps.

A domain name is simply your website’s address. You just have to point the user to that address. You might have to wait for a few days before the transfer is complete from GoDaddy to Bluehost.

GoDaddy and Bluehost customer support teams are technically sound and very communicative. So, in case you find something overwhelming, you can always contact them.

 

Are there any circumstances where my registrar can refuse to transfer my domain?

Yes, there are quite a few circumstances where your registrar may refuse to transfer your domain name. These include:

• • Fraud
  • Dispute over your identity or the person who is authorizing the transfer
  • Your domain name is on hold because you didn’t pay for the previous registration period.
  • In case your domain name is in lock status
  • Your domain is in the initial 60-day period of registration
  • Your domain has been transferred in the previous 60-day period

That said, it’s pretty easy to avoid all those limitations as most of them fall under normal moral conduct.

 

Can I transfer an expired domain without having to renew with my current registrar?

Yes, you can transfer your domain even if you haven’t renewed your domain for the current period of registration.

However, your registrar may require you to pay a renewal fee before proceeding to transfer if you haven’t paid the previous registration fee.

Generally, it’s a good idea to initiate the domain transfer process a few days before the expiration date to avoid any bottlenecks.

 

Benefit of Having the Domain and Hosting with the Same Company

If you are using a Bluehost hosting service, it would be more convenient to have your domain name registered on Bluehost.

This is because you don’t want to get into the technicalities should anything uninvited happens in the future.

Having a domain with the hosting provider makes website management a whole lot easier.

 

How Long Does it Take to Transfer Domain from GoDaddy?

In most cases, a domain is transferred to the new registrar in about 5 days. However, you can speed up the process by asking to manually approve it.

If you transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost, you can check the progress by:

• • Signing into the Bluehost Domain Manager
  • Click the transfer option at the top submenu of your page
  • Check the progress of transfer under “details”.

Some domain registrars allow you to transfer domains almost instantly while some take time. Normally, it won’t take more than 2 – 3 days to have your domain up and running on the new registrar.

The 5-day domain transfer period is a cushion in case everything doesn’t go perfectly. If the domain transfer isn’t finished even after 7 days, you should consult customer support.

 

Will My Website Go Down During a Domain Transfer?

Whether your website goes down during the domain transfer process depends mainly on the new registrar and how you follow the required steps.

Make sure that your nameservers are pointing to the hosting provider by following all the steps involved in a domain transfer procedure.

This way, when the domain transfer is complete, your domain would have the same nameservers pointing to your website.

In such a case, your website will not go down and will be up and running during the process.

So, when your old domain registrar deactivates your domain, the new registrar enables it. There is no loss of time between the two steps.

However, there is still a chance that your visitors will see some errors while accessing your website. But, there is nothing to worry about when you transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost as the process would be smooth.

 

Does Domain Transfer Affect SEO?

The short answer to the question “does domain transfer affect SEO”’ is No!

You won’t have to worry about any search engine optimization impacts on your website after transferring your domain to a new registrar.

This is because the domain transfer process isn’t related to your website’s content. Your website’s files and folders will remain intact with the hosting provider.

Therefore, if you transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost, there won’t be any effects on your website’s SEO.

 

When Does the Domain Transfer Affect SEO?

We have established that keeping your domain name while only shifting to a new domain registrar doesn’t impact your website’s SEO.

How about when you want to change your domain name?

When you change your domain name, it does impact your website’s SEO. You see, search engines rank your website using your website’s permalinks.

Major search engines like Google utilize metrics on page level and domain level to rank your website.

When you change your website’s address (domain), your search engine rankings can take a serious hit. But, there are steps that you can take to carry out a smooth domain change.

How Can You Change Your Domain Name Without Affecting SEO?

The simple answer is, redirect all your pages to the new domain. For an in-depth answer, you can visit this resource.

Lastly, webmasters don’t need to worry about domain transfer affecting their hard-earned SEO rankings. When you transfer a domain to another registrar, it doesn’t impact your search rankings.

 

Final Thoughts

If you want to transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost, it will just take a few steps from you and a few days to implement.

This means even if you don’t have any knowledge of domain transfers, you’d be able to transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Bluehost using this guide.

And, although you might have to wait a few days before Bluehost completes the domain transfer process, your website will work perfectly meanwhile.

GoDaddy and Bluehost’s customer support teams are helpful and able, so you can ask for their help if you get stuck at any step of the process.

Lastly, your website remains up during the transfer process and it doesn’t affect your SEO rankings either.