In today’s post I’m going to show you the exact steps you need to setup both your Namecheap and SiteGround accounts and how to point your domain from Namecheap to SiteGround.
If you’re looking to launch your own blog (which I’m assuming you probably are already in the process of) then you know you’ll need both a domain name and web hosting.
That’s where Namecheap and SiteGround come in.
The only problem is since they’re separate accounts, there’s the potential to run into some tech hiccups which admittedly happened to me as well.
This short guide is meant to help you avoid all of those frustrations so you can have your own amazing blog up and running in no time.
Here’s a quick rundown of everything we’re going to take a look at:
- The benefits of having both Namecheap and SiteGround
- How to setup your Namecheap and SiteGround accounts (A Complete Walkthrough)
- How to point your domain name from Namecheap to SiteGround Hosting
- How to Install WordPress on SiteGround
Let’s get started.
P.S.
This guide is meant to be a complete walkthrough for anyone who’s just getting started with Namecheap and SiteGround.
If you already have your domain name and hosting, then click on the following link to learn how to redirect your domain name. -> Point your Namecheap domain to SiteGround Hosting
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: This post may contain some affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission which comes at no extra cost to you. Please feel free to read my Affiliate Disclosure for more info.
Benefits of Having Both Namecheap and SiteGround
As I mentioned earlier, if you’re interested in starting your own blog you’ll naturally need a domain name and web hosting.
It is actually possible for you to bundle both under the same provider but personally I think it’s a good idea to keep them separated – especially in terms of future growth.
You really don’t want to keep all your eggs in the same basket so to speak.
Let’s look at some reasons why.
1 - Convenience
Sure you could argue it’s more convenient to have everything under the same roof (one account, same login, etc.) but it could easily become a struggle if you end up having to make some changes down the road.
If you cancel your hosting for example, the fees for your domain name could suddenly increase or even worse it could be tied down by the hosting provider.
You don’t want any company limiting your flexibility. You never know what could happen down the road.
Fewer commitments makes it easier for you to switch if need be.
2 - Security
I’m sure you’re well aware of the potential threats lurking out there and last thing you need is for someone to destroy all of your hard work.
Imagine all the time and effort you’ve vested into your blog being destroyed in one swoop.
I certainly don’t wish that upon anybody and hacks are rare but they’re definitely still possible.
Having your domain name separate from SiteGround does add an extra layer of security.
3 - Growth
You might be starting out with a single domain today but as your brand grows, you’ll probably want to expand your portfolio.
Or maybe you’ll eventually want to create a couple more niche sites.
Having all those domains in one place (separate from your hosting provider) actually makes them easier for you to manage.
Plus once again it gives you that much needed flexibility.
4 - Pricing
I know one of the biggest concerns will be the cost of having separate accounts.
Most hosting providers will give you an attractive bundle deal with a free domain name in the first year but the price immediately balloons the following year.
I’m not going to claim having separate accounts tends to be the cheapest option either.
However I suggest you should do a comparison of the different renewal prices.
You’ll find out in most cases going with a dedicated domain name registrar and separate hosting account will be cheaper over time.
Is there a one-size-fits-all approach here? Of course not.
But you’re here because you’re looking into both Namecheap and SiteGround and the reasons above reinforce the benefits of having both.
Sure there’s the added step of linking them together but it really isn’t difficult at all and I’m going to walk you through the entire process.
The way I see it, if you’re in this for the long-term and plan on eventually building a bigger brand then you’ve made the right decision.
How to Set Up Your Namecheap and SiteGround Accounts
I’m going to guide you through the setup process for each one first so we can get your domain name registered on Namecheap and find the best hosting plan on SiteGround.
We’ll start with your domain name.
I’m sure you already have your domain name in mind but if you’re feeling stuck for whatever reason, here are a few guidelines to help you pick one:
- Keep it short and easy to remember.
- Make it easy to type and pronounce.
- Avoid numbers and hyphens if possible.
- Trying picking a name that reflects the overall topic of your blog.
- Make sure the name isn’t already in use.
- Use your own name if you plan on branding that way.
- Always go for the .com extension if it’s available.
If you still feel like you can’t come up with any ideas then you could also use domain name generators like Namemesh or Domainwheel.
How to Register Your Domain Name with Namecheap
Step 1 - Head over to Namecheap
The first step is to obviously head over to Namecheap.com.
You’ll find that they also have a list of other services they provide but the only thing we’re interested in is your domain name.
Once you type in your domain name into the search bar, Namecheap will populate a list of suggestions based on what’s available and which ones aren’t.
It’ll also include a list of options that may be available for sale by the previous owner.
Step 2 - Select the Best Option for Yourself
Depending on availability, you may need to play around with your domain name a little but once you find one that suits you, add it to your cart and proceed to checkout.
You don’t need all the options for EasyWP, Professional Email, Web Hosting or SSL.
SiteGround will take care of all of that.
Step 3 - Confirm Your Order
You can adjust the number of years you want on your domain registration as you see fit.
My recommendation is 2 years because you get a bigger discount over that time period. It’ll also make a lot more sense once you sign up for your web hosting.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make sure you enable the WhoisGuard* subscription.
It’s a privacy protection service that keeps your personal info safe, hides it away from the public and avoids all the spam.
Namecheap offers the WhoisGuard subscription completely FREE forever so that’s something you definitely want to take advantage of.
Once you have all of that verified, you’re going to confirm your order and it’ll lead you on to the next stage where you’ll create your new account.
Step 4 - Complete Your Account and Purchase
All you need to do in the final steps is complete your account information, enter your payment details and purchase your domain.
Once you’ve done all of that, your domain is now ready to go live. Almost.
We still need to set up your web hosting but that’s all it takes to register your domain name with Namecheap.
It’s a very easy process.
How to Set Up SiteGround Web Hosting
I love SiteGround for a number of reasons:
- It’s very user friendly, even for beginners.
- It’s affordable.
- A wide range of hosting plans with lots of features.
- Fast loading times and excellent uptime.
- Great customer service and support. Available 24/7.
- Easy 1-click WordPress Install.
- Seamless website migration if you need to.
SiteGround is one of the top hosting providers recommended by WordPress so rest assured you’re in good hands.
If you’re interested in learning about everything they have to offer, you can read my complete review here.
So let’s take a look at how to setup your SiteGround web hosting.
Step 1 - Go to SiteGround.com & Select Web Hosting
The first step is to head over to SiteGround.com and once on there, you’re going to select the Web Hosting option.
Not to be confused with Managed WordPress Hosting.
Step 2 - Select Your Hosting Plan
The next step is to select your hosting plan.
You have 3 options to choose from:
- StartUp
- GrowBig
- GoGeek
My recommendation is the GrowBig plan because it’s the best option for you to start and grow your blog without worrying about making any changes any time soon.
You also get a higher amount of web space, a higher accommodation for monthly traffic and the ability to host unlimited websites like we spoke about earlier.
Step 3 - Enter Your Domain
This is where you’ll enter the domain name you purchased earlier on Namecheap.
So select I already have a domain, enter your domain name and click on proceed.
Step 4 - Review & Complete Your Order
Next you’re going to enter your account information, payment information and your purchase information.
The purchase information is where you’ll select the length (period) of your plan.
You have the option of a 1 month period, 12 months, 24 months or 36 months.
I’d never recommend a month to month plan. It’ll end up being way too costly.
So select between the 12, 24 or 36 month period.
The longer the term, the bigger the savings over that time period.
Since you’ve already registered your domain for 2 years, I’d suggest you go with the 24 month period if you can.
Once you’ve completed those steps, click on Pay now and you’re all set.
Note: You don’t need the SG Site Scanner. There are different plugins you can install later to help with site security.
How to Point Your Namcheap Domain to SiteGround
Now that you have both your Namecheap and SiteGround accounts, it’s time to link them together.
Essentially we’re going to redirect or point your Namecheap domain to SiteGround’s name servers.
1 - Log into your SiteGround Account
Head over to your SiteGround account and once you’re logged in, click on Websites.
2 - Website Details
You should be on a page that says Website Details.
The next step is to click on SITE TOOLS in the section with your active domain.
3 - Name Servers
On the new page that shows up you’re going to find your name servers in the section titled IP and Name Servers.
They should look something similar to this:
- ns1.***.siteground.us
- ns2.***.siteground.us
Keep that page open and head on over to Namecheap.
4 - Log into Namecheap
Log into your Namecheap account and in the Dashboard section you’re going to click on MANAGE right next to your domain name.
5 - Change Your Name Servers
On the next page you should see a row labeled Name Servers.
Select Custom DNS then copy and paste your SiteGround name servers in the spaces underneath it.
Few things to remember:
- When copying your name servers, you don’t need the numbers in brackets.
- Make sure ns1 and ns2 go in the appropriate sections.
After you’ve filled everything out, click on the check mark to save your values and you’re all done.
P.S. After making all those changes, it may take a few hours for your site to go live.
This is known as DNA propagation.
SiteGround says it could take up to 72 hours for everything to propagate fully but in my experience it’s never been that long of a wait.
Just make sure you refresh your site every so often to make sure everything looks good.
Other than that, you’re all set.
That’s all it takes to link a Namecheap domain to SiteGround.
How to Install WordPress on SiteGround
After you’ve gotten your domain name and created your SiteGround account, there should be some follow up prompts that guide you on how to set up your site and install WordPress.
The entire walkthrough should go something like this:
- Click on SET UP SITE
- Select START NEW WEBSITE
- Select WORDPRESS
- Set up your WordPress login
- Click on CONTINUE
- Click on FINISH (Remember you don’t need SG Site Scanner or Domain Privacy if you purchased your domain from Namecheap)
- From there your site should be set up all complete with WordPress. Voila!
Alternative Way to Install WordPress with SiteGround
If for one reason or another you weren’t able to install WordPress using the steps above, here’s another way to go about it.
This method will work for any of the following reasons:
- You purchased your domain name and SiteGround hosting but didn’t set them up in the beginning
- You’re adding a new domain to your SiteGround hosting
- Or any other reason why you were unable to install WordPress
Step 1: Sign in to SiteGround
Sign in to your account and click on Websites.
Step 2: Click on Site Tools
Step 3: WordPress
Click on WordPress, click on Install & Manage, then select WordPress.
From there all you have to do is fill out your Admin Info, make sure the correct domain is selected, then click on install at the bottom.
That’s it.
Once you’re done, log in to your WordPress account to make sure everything works.
Note
Once you’ve set up your Namecheap and SiteGround accounts, you won’t really need to log in to them anymore unless you need to make some changes to those accounts.
To log in to WordPress, all you’ll need is the WP Admin area.
To access it, just type in your domain plus /wp-admin/ into your web browser.
Like this: https://www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/
Finishing Up
That wasn’t so bad, was it?
If you followed all the steps, you should have both your Namecheap and SiteGround accounts set up, pointed your Namecheap domain to SiteGround and finally should have WordPress installed.
Your next steps are to make sure everything is functioning smoothly and now you’re ready to start adding amazing content to your blog.
If you run into trouble at any point, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers about Namecheap and SiteGround
- Log in to your SiteGround account.
- Click on Websites.
- Click on Site Tools.
- Copy your SiteGround name servers in the section labeled IP and Name Servers.
- Log in to your Namecheap account.
- Click on Manage.
- Scroll down to the row labeled NAMESERVERS.
- Select Custom DNS.
- Paste your SiteGround name servers.
- Confirm.
Yes it is.
If you sign up for SiteGround Hosting, you get to install WordPress for free.
SiteGround is one of the best hosting companies and for good reason:
- It’s very user friendly, even for beginners.
- It’s affordable.
- They have a wide range of hosting plans with lots of features.
- Fast loading times and excellent uptime.
- Great customer service and support. Available 24/7.
- Easy 1-click WordPress Install.
- Seamless website migration if you need to.
Namecheap is an excellent domain registrar but their web hosting services can be very limiting.
If you’re in need of a reliable Web host, I recommend SiteGround.
SiteGround no longer has cPanel access.
The SiteGround interface has changed and you no longer need cPanel to make changes on your account.
