So you just bought your domain name from GoDaddy and you are wondering what to do next? It is time to point your newly acquired domain name at your web server. We call this ‘Pointing’ or ‘Setting up’ your nameservers.

So What is a Nameserver?

Nameservers are like the road signs of the internet. For example, if you type a domain name into your web browser (also known as an ‘address’), a site usually pops up. That is because your browser followed all the road signs (nameservers) until it ended up at your destination, the web site you were requesting. These road signs need to be setup by somebody. That somebody is probably you, unless you have a web designer working for you, who will gladly handle this task.

How to Setup Your GoDaddy Nameservers (DNS)

1. Visit www.GoDaddy.com in your web browser.
2. Enter your Login Name and Password to login to your account. The login box is located at the right hand side of the home page. Screenshot
   (NOTE: This login information was created by you when you bought your domain name and should have been emailed to you by GoDaddy. If you cannot find your login info, click on ‘Forgot your password?’ and follow the instructions to retrieve your password.)
3. Once you are logged in, hover your mouse over the ‘Domains’ tab near the top left. The drop down menu will appear. Click on ‘My Domains’ from the list. Screenshot
4. The next page lists all of your domains. Put a check mark on all the domains you would like to make changes to, and click on the ‘Nameservers’ button near the top center of the page. Screenshot
5. The next page shows your ‘Set Nameservers’ options. Click on the ‘Custom Nameservers’ tab and enter your nameservers here. Your nameservers are provided to you by your web hosting company. In this case, we are hosting our web site with MediaTemple, so we enter NS1.MEDIATEMPLE.NET and NS2.MEDIATEMPLE.NET. Click the OK button to continue.
6. The next screen lists the domains you have just updated, simply as a confirmation to you. It also indicates for your to allow a few minutes for processing. Very good! Just click the OK button to continue.
7. You are returned to your main list of domain names again. You are finished and can now ‘Logout’ near the top center of the page.
8. Now you wait. The changes need to ‘propagate’ (spread) across the internet to all the nameservers out there. Once your nameserver information gets updated across the internet, your site will start becoming accessible by entering your domain name into your web browser. This can take anywhere between 2 and 48 hours. Some computers will take effect sooner than others. Continually test your site by entering your domain name into your web browser and hitting refresh every few hours. If a page comes up, then your site has become live!