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Tutorials > Publishing, domains and email:

Tutorial: Buying your own domain from Yola

We have made it much easier for you to have your own custom, top-level domain. Choose from any of these domain extensions: .com, .net, .org or .biz. We have added the option to purchase Country code top-level domains: .ca, .co.uk, .eu, .es, .co, .in, .nl, .us, .fr, .it, .de, .at, .dk, .com.br and .com.mx.

Domain hosting is not included in the price of a domain - you have a choice between the basic Yola Bronze hosting package and the feature-rich Yola Silver package. See the package comparison table below:

Yola Bronze and Yola Silver are both offered at either a monthly or annual basis. For more information about pricing, please click here: How much does Yola cost? 

One of the benefits of having a custom domain is that it is shorter, easier to remember and appear more professional. So, this is a very worthwhile investment for your site. When you buy a domain through us, we take care of setting everything up for you and once your domain is up and running, you will be able to update your site at any time with a single click!

If your site is already published to a Yola subdomain it will automatically redirect to your new website address, for example, www.example.com. This means that you won't lose the value of any links or visitors who only know your old location, as they will be directed to your new custom domain.

1. Purchasing a domain for an unpublished site

1. To publish your site to your custom domain, click on the green "Publish to the web" button.

2. A dialog box will open up with the available publishing options. In the first section, "Search for a custom domain", you can search for and buy the domain of your choice. Enter your desired domain name in the box provided to confirm its availability.

 

3. Once you have chosen your domain name and it is available to purchase, click on "Next".

4. On the following screen, select the package you would like to purchase, either Yola Bronze or Yola Silver.  

• Tip: Purchasing your domain and choosing an annual hosting package includes private registration for one year, as well as two months' free subscription.
• If you would like a customize your email address, for example name@example.com, check the "Mail" box to purchase Yola Mail for an additional $9.96 per year.
• If you want to have domain privacy enabled, check the "Private Registration" account.
• Click "Continue" to proceed to the payments screen.

5.  On the payments screen, you have the following options:

• Select the subscription plan that will suit you, either monthly or yearly (annually). If you have selected an annual hosting plan, you receive one year free domain privacy, as well as two months' free subscription.  However, if you choose a monthly plan, you can purchase domain privacy as an add-on for $9.95 for the year. If you'd like domain privacy enabled, place a check in the "Private Registration" box.
• You can also opt to include Yola Mail for $9.96 / year.
• Select the payment method, either credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discovery) OR PayPal.
• Enter your billing and credit card information in the form provided.  This is a standard requirement when registering a domain name.
• Click “Purchase” to complete the payment process.

5. You will receive a receipt via email to indicate that you have purchased the domain and hosting package. Your site will be up and running on your new domain within a few hours. If you encounter any difficulties with this transaction please email us and we will help you as soon as possible. 

2. Purchasing a domain for a published site

You can upgrade to a custom domain just after logging into Yola. Make sure you're on the "My Yola" page and click on "Customize your domain". This will take you through the same process described above.

 

Please note:

1. Your domain name and hosting package can be purchased separately. However, you need to purchase a hosting package before you can publish your site to your domain.
2. There is no limit to how many domains you can purchase per hosting package.
3. Buying a domain does not guarantee that your site will come up in a Google search right away. You will still need to promote your site, there is more info on this tutorial: Introduction to SEO.
4. Any domain name you purchase through us remains your property and if you ever need to transfer it this can be done. More info available on this link: Managing the domain you bought from Yola.
5. If you have purchased a domain after 11 August 2011, you will be opted in for auto-renewal. For more information, please see: Renew the domain you purchased from Yola.
6. If your site is already published to a free Yolasite subdomain, you will be given the option to upgrade to a custom domain whenever you update your site.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an email address with my domain?

Of course! This tutorial will get you started: Creating email with your domain.

 

What additional features do I get if I buy a domain from Yola?

When you purchase a domain from Yola you have the choice of two hosting packages, available on a monthly or annual basis. For more information about the hosting packages click here: Yola Bronze and Yola Silver. 

 

I bought my domain, but I want a different one - can I change it?

As we have already incurred the expense for this domain name with our domain registration partners, it is not possible to change that domain name. Your only option at this stage would be to purchase a new domain name by unpublishing your site and then purchasing a new domain. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Go to Site > Site Settings > Publishing > Un-publish Site. 
2. A dialog box will open up asking to confirm if you want to unpublish.
3. Type "Unpublish" into the text box provided and click "Unpublish site".
4. Your site is now unpublished.
5. Click on "Publish your Site" and click on the button "Search for a custom domain" and follow the same steps described above until your site is published to your new domain.

When you get the renewal reminder for your first domain (these are usually sent three months before the domain expires), you can ignore it.

 

I bought a domain from another registrar.  Can I use it on Yola?

Definitely! If you've purchased your domain from another registrar, you'll need to configure it so that it points to Yola. Steps are available on this link: Publish to a domain you already own. This is available to Yola Bronze and Yola Silver account holders, as well as partner programs.

 

Is it safe to give my credit card details out so that I can buy a domain from Yola?

Absolutely! We use all the standard security features that you would see on any site that accepts payments. We're serious about your security online, and we’ve integrated with Verifi payment gateway to ensure that your credit card details are stored in a highly secure Payment Vault that is fully compliant with the Payment Card Industry’s Data Security Standard. Read more about it here.
 
During purchase, you can elect whether to pay for your hosting on a monthly or annual basis, and will also be taken through the steps to set up a stored payment method for rebilling.

 

I bought the domain from Yola, but I would like to enable domain privacy. Is it too late?

Not at all! Please note that if you have purchased both a domain and one of our annual hosting packages, you will receive one year of free domain privacy. If you have opted for a monthly subscription plan, you can send us an email, we'll be able arrange it for you for a fee of $9.95.

 

How will I know when to renew my domain registration?

When you purchase a domain, you are opted-in to auto-renewal. Take a look at this tutorial for more information about the benefits of auto-renewal: What are the benefits of auto-renewal? You will receive a reminder about this, which will be sent approximately 9 - 11 months after you purchased your domain. If you no longer wish to keep your domain, you can cancel auto-renewal up to one month before your domain expires, and your domain will not be renewed. You do this in My Yola, in the "Domains" menu. 

 

Can I renew the domain before renewal time is due?

If you would like to renew your domain purchase for a further year, or longer, you can do so by following the steps on this link: Renew the domain you purchased from Yola.