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Important Information about Domain Forwarding

If you have a domain name that is hosted elsewhere, your domain hosting provider may offer forwarding services for your domain name. There are several different types of domain forwarding which allow your domain name to continue to be hosted with your existing domain host provider while allowing your website to be displayed when a visitor types in your domain name. Because many domain hosting providers offer domain forwarding for free, a lot of people use domain forwarding without realizing the disadvantages it can cause for their website.

"Frames Based" Domain Forwarding

With "Frames Based" Domain Forwarding, your domain host will create a hidden "frameset" which pulls the content of your website into the framed page on their server. Using this method of domain forwarding, the URL in the browser's address bar never changes - even when your visitors click on different pages of your website. If you are using "Frames Based" Domain Forwarding, you can choose View, Source from your browser's toolbar to see the frameset. This is normally where your home page content should be displayed.

Using "Frames Based" Domain Forwarding prevents search engine spiders from "seeing" any content on your domain name. The hidden "frames" page is the only website page that will be seen on your domain name by the search engine spider. Some search engine spider MAY follow the source of the frameset to your content pages, but the search engine spider will see the content on the actual website domain name (example: mywebsite.inetusanow.net) instead of the domain name you are trying to use. This means that in this example, mywebsite.inetusanow.net will be indexed in the search engines - and YOUR domain name will NOT be indexed.

Standard Domain Forwarding

Using standard domain forwarding, your domain host will "redirect" your domain to your website. This method of domain forwarding will cause the URL in your visitors browser to change to the true website domain name (example: mywebsite.inetusanow.net).

Search Engine Spiders will never see any content pages on your forwarded domain name. They will see the content on the actual website domain name (example: mywebsite.inetusanow.net) instead of the domain name you are trying to use. This means that in this example, mywebsite.inetusanow.net will be indexed in the search engines - and YOUR domain name will NOT be indexed. Some search engines will penalize you for redirects or simply NOT follow the redirect.

With BOTH of these methods of domain forwarding, you will not be able to setup email accounts using the free built-in email tools provided with your website. You would only be able to get email accounts for your domain name from your domain host - IF they offer it (usually for a charge).

How to Point Your Domain Name Directly to Your Website

Changing your domain name to access your website directly (instead of domain forwarding) is easy - and it's FREE for your first domain name.. You don't even need to transfer your domain name away from your current domain host unless you just want to. A few simple changes to your domain name record will "point" your domain name to your website. Please contact your domain registrar (the company who registered your domain name for you) to make these changes as shown below. Usually you can also do this through a "Manage Your Domain" area directly on the domain registrar's website.

You must have the following Domain Name Servers for your domain:
Primary - GROUPER.TNG.NET (IP Address if required: 208.218.214.4)
Secondary - REDFISH.TNG.NET (IP Address if required: 208.218.214.6)

Then, follow the simple step-by-step instructions below to add your existing domain name to your website.

Adding your domain name to your website

  1. Select "Domain Tools" from the Tools menu to display the Coaching page.
  2. Click on "Add/Register Domain Names (Pointers)" to display the Domain Name Options available.
  3. Click on "Use a Domain Name You Already Own" and follow the steps on this screen to make your domain record changes (if you haven't already done this) and setup your domain name to work with your website.
  4. Domain name changes normally take 24-48 hours to become effective. Your domain name should begin working during that time frame.

Important Notes:

  • After your Domain Name Server changes have been made, it normally takes 24-48 hours for your domain name to begin working with your website.
  • Domain Name Servers can be called DNS, Server Names, and Domain Server Names.
  • You can look at your domain registration details (including your Domain Server Names) by visiting WhoIs on NetworkSolutions.com website.

    Please let us know if you have any questions or if you need help getting your DNS changes made. We'll be happy to help!