If you are going to create a website or a blog, the very first thing you need to do is buying a domain name and a web hosting plan. The domain name is the name of your site and the web hosting is the place where you’ll keep your site files.
When it comes to buying domain and hosting, HostGator Shared Hosting is my #1 recommendation for beginners. It’s affordable and you’ll get a free domain name with the annual plans.
HostGator is an award-winning web hosting company and has been in hosting industry since 2002. They have already hosted over 9,000,000 sites world wide. So you can trust them.
Now let’s see how to buy domain and hosting from HostGator.
How To Buy Domain & Hosting From HostGator
Buying a domain and hosting from HostGator is very easy. Just follow these simples steps.
Before going to the tutorial, I have great news for you. HostGator offers a special discount for RoadToBlogging readers. This offer allows you to get over a 60% discount on web hosting.
Now let’s dive into the tutorial.
Step #1: Visit HostGator.com (Promo Link)
You’ll be landed on a special offer page. Now simply click on ‘Get Started Now’ button.
Step #2: Choose A Domain Name
Here enter your desired domain name and select the extension. If the domain name is available, it will be added automatically as a primary domain.
(HostGator offers Domain Privacy Protection service for $14.95/year. If you don’t want to take this service, simply click on uncheck box under ‘Add Domain Privacy to’ option.)
Step #3: Choose A Hosting Plan
HostGator has 3 plans – Hatchling, Baby, and Business. Hatchling plan allows you to host only one domain name whereas you can host unlimited domains on Baby and Business plans. And the Business plan is mainly for business and service-oriented sites.
So if I were you, I’d choose the Baby Plan (1). However, you can upgrade your plan anytime for free.
Then select a Billing Cycle (2). You need to choose an annual plan (12, 24, or 36 months) to get the domain name for free. I’d recommend you to select ’24 months’.
And then enter a Username (3) and Security PIN (4).
Step #4: Enter Your Billing Information
Then you need to enter your Email, Name, Address, Phone number & other details. Make sure that you’ve put your correct phone number as they might call you for verification. In some cases they may verify your other details, so put details correctly.
Then select the payment method from the right side – Credit Card or PayPal. If you select Paypal as a payment method, you will be taken to the PayPal payment page.
Step #5: Choose Additional Services
HostGator offers some additional services like Positive SSL, SiteLock, Professional Email, Backup, etc. You can take this services later if needed. So I’d recommend you to uncheck all the boxes. It will save you some money.
Step #6: Enter A Coupon Code
As the coupon code has been added automatically, you don’t need to do anything here.
Step #7: Review Order Details & Checkout
Just check the order details and make sure everything looks OK. And then check the agreement box and click on the ‘Checkout Now’ button.
And complete the payment.
Conclusion
That’s it. You’re done. You’ve successfully bought the domain name and web hosting plan from HostGator.
HostGator will send you a confirmation email. You’ll get all the details there.
Now if you are going to create a WordPress blog, check How To Install WordPress On HostGator.
19 Comments
Excellent article. Hostgator is one of the best and most popular web hosting services. It has unlimited facilities. Your article will help us to signup for Hostgator properly. Thanks for sharing.
Amazingly helpful – simplified something thats really been stressing me out! Thank you.
Thanks for your valuable post, I have some question. When expired my hosting plan can I buy it same method? If your answer is ‘Yes’ How to do that again? Thanks
You will have to pay the monthly or yearly bill. If you pay through credit card, HostGator will automatically take the bill from your card. In case of Paypal, you have to pay the bill from your Paypal account.
Will it be the same price? I mean $0.01 ? And how to off auto renewal?
No. After the first month, you will have to pay the regular price of your hosting plan. You can off the auto renewal from here. For more help, you can use HostGator Live support.
Hi,
I love your post. I am trying to follow your direction to purchase a plan from hostgator, but they charge me a fee of $49.89 for “Hosting Addons” which I couldn’t remove.
Any chance that I can remove it?
Thanks.
Just uncheck all boxes under “Add Additional Services”. Check this image: http://rtbzone.roadtoblogging.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Hostgator-additional-services.png
Looking forward to trying your advice later today. I have no idea what I’m doing but I have bought my web addresses from godaddy this morning and I hope by the end of the dy to have s running web site. Fingers crossed. Thanks again. DVid
Congrats, you are just few steps away from your first website. Follow this simple steps to get your site online.
1. Buy hosting from HostGator. Just follow the steps mentioned on the above post.
2. Connect Godaddy Domain name with HostGator
3. Install WordPress on HostGator.
That’s it! You are done.
If I do HostGator do I have to pay for WordPress?
No, you can install WordPress for free. Check this tutorial: How to Install WordPress On HostGator
Really a Fantastic tutorial Bro, Thanks for giving such informative tips about Hostgator!
I am gonna buy hosting Today !
Hello friend:
This is my first visit to this blog, as i am one of the new bloggers searching for the blog that can provide me knowledge related to blogging, and so i am glad to say that i found your blog awesome.
Very nice and informative post.
Keep it going.
Hey Ismail,
Thanks for your kind words. Stay connected.
Hey Istiak,
Very cool rundown how to get going with Hostgator which is btw is the best hosting company hands down.
Thanks for the share!
Akos
Hostgator is the best web hosting I have used. That’s why I also recommend Hostgator for my readers. This step by step guide will be helpful or all newbies who want to buy hosting form Hostgator.
Hi Istiak Rayhan, Hostgator is the best hosting provider among all other. BTW!! Great Tutorial bro. This above tutorial will surely gonna helps a lot to newbie bloggers who wanna take a New Web Hosting Package. Thanks for Sharing!
I hope so. Two years back, I also faced some difficulty on signing up Hostgator. Even I didn’t have any idea that I could buy domain from Godaddy and Host from Hostgator.