How to Register a Domain and Connect It to Your HostSteps Hosting (Step-by-Step)

Published by HostSteps • A practical, beginner-friendly guide to domains, DNS, and SSL

Your domain name is your brand’s address on the internet. In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose and register the perfect domain, then connect it to your HostSteps hosting with the correct DNS records. We’ll also cover SSL, email setup, and common mistakes to avoid — all in simple, copy-and-paste steps.

Step 1 — Choose a Clear, Memorable Domain

• Short & pronounceable: Prefer short names without hyphens.
• Relevant extension: .com is universal; use .net or a regional TLD if it fits your audience.
• Future-proof: Avoid trademarks and confusing spellings.

Pro tip: If your ideal name is taken, try adding a simple word before/after (e.g., use, get, hq, app).

Step 2 — Register the Domain

1. Search for availability and pick your preferred TLD.
2. Enable WHOIS privacy if available.
3. Complete the purchase and verify your email ownership (ICANN requirement for most TLDs).

Once registered, you’ll manage DNS either at the domain registrar (default) or by pointing nameservers to HostSteps. Both options work — choose the one that matches how you prefer to manage records.

Fastest path: Keep your registrar’s nameservers and just create the A/AAAA/CNAME records we list below. You can always move to HostSteps nameservers later if you prefer central management.

Step 3 — Point the Domain to HostSteps (DNS Records)

Add these DNS records at your registrar’s DNS panel to connect the domain to your HostSteps server. Replace values in <angle brackets> with your actual data.

Host	Type	Value	TTL	Purpose
@ (root)	A	<your_hoststeps_server_ipv4>	300–3600	Points the root domain to your server
@ (root)	AAAA (optional)	<your_hoststeps_server_ipv6>	300–3600	IPv6 support if enabled
www	CNAME	@ (or your root domain)	300–3600	Sends www.domain.com to the same place

If you host your app on a subdomain (e.g., app.domain.com) add:

Host: app
Type: A
Value: <your_hoststeps_server_ipv4>
TTL: 300

Propagation Time

DNS updates typically take 5–30 minutes to go live, but may take up to a few hours depending on your registrar and record TTLs.

Step 4 — Add the Domain in Your Hosting Panel

1. Log in to your HostSteps control panel (e.g., cPanel).
2. Go to Domains → Add Domain (or Addon Domains).
3. Enter your domain, choose the document root (e.g., public_html), and save.
4. Upload your website files or install WordPress (1-click installers available).

Once the DNS points correctly and the domain exists in your panel, your site should load over HTTP. Next, we’ll enable HTTPS (SSL).

Step 5 — Issue a Free SSL Certificate (HTTPS)

• Open SSL/TLS Status (or Let’s Encrypt) in your panel.
• Select the domain + www subdomain and click Run AutoSSL.
• Force HTTPS: In WordPress, set Site URL to https:// and add a redirect rule (or use your panel’s Force HTTPS option).

# Example .htaccess redirect (Apache)
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Tip: Run AutoSSL after A/CNAME records resolve. If issuance fails, recheck DNS and try again.

Step 6 — Set Up Professional Email on Your Domain

Using branded email (e.g., info@yourdomain.com) looks professional and builds trust. Create mailboxes in your panel, then add/update these DNS records:

Host	Type	Value	Purpose
@	MX	mail.<yourdomain.com> (priority 10)	Directs incoming email to your server
mail	A	<your_hoststeps_server_ipv4>	Points the mail subdomain to your server
@	TXT	v=spf1 a mx ip4:<your_ipv4> ~all	SPF — reduce spoofing, improve delivery
_dmarc	TXT	v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:postmaster@<yourdomain.com>	DMARC policy & reports
default._domainkey	TXT	v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=<your_public_key>	DKIM — cryptographic signing for trust

Configure your devices using IMAP/SMTP or use Webmail. Test by sending/receiving from a Gmail/Outlook account.

Step 7 — Test & Troubleshoot

• Website check: Visit http:// and https:// versions. Expect a padlock for HTTPS.
• DNS check: Use tools like dig or online DNS checkers to confirm A/CNAME/MX records.
• Email check: Send/receive to/from an external mailbox; check spam folder and SPF/DMARC results.

Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

• ❌ Conflicting A records: Keep a single authoritative A record for the root domain.
• ❌ Missing www mapping: Add a CNAME www → @ to avoid duplicate content and 404s.
• ❌ SSL fails to issue: Wait for DNS to propagate, then run AutoSSL again.
• ❌ Mixed content warnings: After enabling HTTPS, update site URLs and image links to https://.
• ❌ Email deliverability issues: Set SPF, DKIM, and DMARC; avoid using public Wi-Fi SMTP blocks.

FAQs

Q1: How long until my domain works?
Most changes apply within 5–30 minutes; some providers cache up to a few hours.

Q2: Can HostSteps migrate my old website and email?
Yes. We provide guided or full-service migration with minimal downtime.

Q3: Do I need both A and AAAA records?
No — IPv4 (A) is enough. Add AAAA only if you actively use IPv6.

Q4: What if I use Cloudflare or another DNS service?
That’s fine — create the same records there and keep proxy/CDN settings as needed.

You’re Live — What’s Next?

• Enable automatic backups and test a restore.
• Install a caching plugin (for WordPress) and compress images.
• Add Google Analytics/Tag Manager and submit a sitemap to Search Console.
• Create essential pages: Home, Services, About, Contact, Privacy.

🔗 Need help? Talk to HostSteps — we’ll set up DNS, SSL, and email for you

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