Your step-by-step guide to transferring a domain name to GoDaddy.
A couple weeks ago I had to transfer a domain name to GoDaddy as part of sale. The buyer was supposed transfer the domain to his account at GoDaddy from mine at Moniker, but he through up his hands in frustration.
Given that the buyer is an IT manager at a technology company, I decided to take another look at GoDaddy’s transfer-in process. No wonder he was frustrated — the user interface and entire process is much more complicated than it should be. I ended up transferring the domain to my account at GoDaddy and then pushing it to his.
I just sold another domain this week that I need to transfer to someone at GoDaddy. Rather than go through this again and again, I decided to help everyone out and create a short, simple tutorial “10 longer and trickier than necessary steps to transfer a domain name to GoDaddy”.
OK, so I didn’t really call it that. But you get the idea. Hopefully GoDaddy will wise up and hire a user interface expert. Until then, here’s the tutorial.
Ross says
Why not just have him sign up for an account at Moniker and push the domains to his account there, that is what I do…..
Andrew Allemann says
Ross, it’s an option but many end users have never heard of Moniker and are scared to try anything they haven’t heard of.
Ross says
Ahh….usually I just explain to them how to setup an account (dynadot/Moniker/etc.), they do so and I push the domain in their account. If they want to transfer to GoDaddy later on then that is their issue. Just makes the sale process easier and quicker for both parties.
Johnny says
A PDF for the tutorial? 🙁
Andrew Allemann says
Johnny – as opposed to a web page?
Barry says
I enjoy reading the DNW posts on a daily basis but this one seems nothing more than a flagrant advertisement of Godaddy.
What is the news value in this post Andrew?
I’m sure you may respond to say that it will benefit people who want to transfer domains to this company, but I wonder if you will be creating similar guides to all other ICANN approved registrars or will the attached affiliate link to Godaddy at the top of this post mean otherwise?
Andrew Allemann says
Barry, I hardly think GoDaddy would look at this as an advertisement…it’s kind of the opposite 🙂
Other registrars have easier transfer procedures.
Domain Investor says
I’m surprised how companies make some things complicated when it doesn’t need to be.
Most of these people/companies don’t realize that the vast majority of their customers are not computer geeks?
And, the customer is scared to death they will make a mistake. So, they don’t do anything.
Patrick McDermott says
Andrew,
Do you still have it up as a web page?
I get gibberish when I downloaded the PDF on my iMac.
I know how to transfer a domain to GD. I’m just curious to see what you wrote.
Andrew Allemann says
Patrick, I didn’t create it as a web page because it’s easier this way and people can download and send it to people when transferring a domain to them. If you’d like I can send you the word doc version and see if your mac likes it better.
hmm says
This is funny, who would want to transfer IN to godaddy? You should have a follow up post, “how to get your valuebal domains out of godaddy unless you are a n00b then read this post > link to here”
Patrick McDermott says
“If you’d like I can send you the word doc version and see if your mac likes it better.”
That would be great Andrew.
But only if it’s easy to do.
I don’t want to take up any of your time
doing it.
The offer is much appreciated anyway.
Steve M says
Same experience here, AA.
Sold a couple last week to Jason Calacanis; who certainly knows his way around the internet.
And it was still. a. pain.
Andrew Allemann says
Congrats on selling domains to Jason.
Yes, I ran into the same issue today. The buyer was a webmaster. She was confused because the “authorize” button isn’t really a clickable button.
Steve M says
ps And thanks for the nice tutorial; which I’m holding on to.
Adam says
next tutorial : how to register a domain at godaddy. Can you find the registration box on the home page? Win a prize !! Hint is in a spot where most mens eyes gravitate toward.. . .and you said they needed UI help !
Barry says
Thanks for your response Andrew… so to keep things balanced are we expecting a transfer out of GoDaddy guide?
Andrew Allemann says
Barry, I’ve written many times about the challenges of transferring a domain out of GoDaddy.
Mike in Bali says
I registered most of my domains with godaddy because that is the first company I heard of. I still even have a couple of sites hosted with them.
Their interface is incredibly complicated and there just too many options for what should be a straight forward operation.
I am living in Bali now and I can’t register any new domains with Godaddy because of my Indoneisian IP.