How do I switch from GoDaddy to FatCow?

Question:

I bought a goDaddy domain yesterday before seeing all the advantages to FatCow. I’ve started a FatCow account so I can transfer from GoDaddy to Fatcow, but apparently your domain needs to be active 60 day.

Is there a way to move from GoDaddy to Fatcow that won’t take the wait? I want to get started pronto but the GoDaddy interface is complex and unhelpful.

Answer:

That 60-day transfer ONLY applies to transferring to a different domain name registrar.  You’re not doing that.  You can keep your GD domain name AND have FatCow web hosting.  When you sign up for a FatCow account, they ask you if you want to register a new domain name or transfer an existing domain.  They’re talking about transferring your web hosting because they assume you already have hosting for your domain.  They are NOT talking about transferring your domain name registration.  It’s really confusing.  iPage does the same thing.

You’ve already got the FC account so that part’s taken care of.  Yes, the GoDaddy control panel is confusing.  Here’s how to do it.

• Log into your GD control panel.
• In the menu, hover your mouse over Domains.
• Down in the lower right is Domain Management.  Click on that.
• Then click on your domain name.
• In the Nameservers section, click on the Set Nameservers link.
• Clear out the name servers that are already there and replace them with ns1.fatcow.com and ns2.fatcow.com.
• Save.

Now wait for up to a couple of hours for the change to propagate.  This connects your Godaddy domain name to the FatCow servers.  Then go build your site.