Read This Before You Buy a Domain for your website
If you’re about to create an account with a domain provider, there’s one small step that can save you hours of panic later.
When you create your account with your domain provider (GoDaddy, Squarespace, Namecheap, etc.), do not use an email address connected to that domain.
Instead, use a personal email address — something like Gmail or Yahoo.
Here’s why.
The Problem No One Thinks About
Many people set up their domain account using an email like:
It feels logical. It’s your business email, after all and you are getting your ducks in a row to be super professional.
But here’s the catch: your domain account controls that email address.
If your domain ever has an issue — DNS problems, an expired domain, a configuration error, or even a simple transfer glitch — your email may stop working too. And when that happens, you can run into a frustrating loop:
You try to log into your domain provider —>
They send a security code to your email —>
But your email isn’t working —>
Now you can’t log in to fix the problem.
I have seen this happen with clients multiple times!
What should be a quick fix turns into a much bigger headache because the account recovery emails can’t reach you.
The Most Simple Fix!
When creating your account logins (on Godaddy, Squarespace, Namecheap - or wherever)— make sure to use an email address that is completely independent of your domain.
For example:
a personal Yahoo or Outlook address
any email that will still work even if your domain goes offline
This way, if something goes wrong, you’ll still be able to:
receive security codes
reset passwords
communicate with support
access your account and fix the issue quickly
A Quick Rule to Remember
The account email that you use to access your domain should never depend on the domain itself.
Think of it like keeping a spare key outside the house. Hopefully you’ll never need it. But when you do, you’ll be really glad it’s there.
If you're setting up a website and want help avoiding common domain and hosting mistakes, feel free to reach out. I've helped a lot of small business owners untangle these situations — and it's always easier to set things up correctly from the start.
Check out these related posts
I help small businesses strategize and launch Squarespace websites that work for them!
View Website Services