To sign up for a domain in OU Create, go to Create.ou.edu and click on one of the buttons that say “Login.” On the login screen, make sure to choose the “Domain of One’s Own” option rather than the login for our new WordPress multisite. You will use your OUNetID(4×4) and password to login.
Once you’re logged in, you will fill out a form to request an account. Make sure to specify why you would like a full domain rather than using our newer sites.create.ou.edu system. If you want to use a tool like Omeka or Drupal, or if you plan to hand code your site in HTML or python, then this original version of Create is probably best for you. If you are wanting to set up a blog for class, you may want to try the new sites.create.ou.edu option instead.
After you submit your form, one of the members of our team will review your application and follow up with you via email. Once you’re approved into the system, you’ll be able to choose your domain.
Option 1: Free Subdomain
If you wish to create a free subdomain of .oucreate.com, leave this default option selected and enter in the subdomain you want for your OU Create website. When you’ve found an available subdomain, click the button labeled Click to Continue.
After you click on the blue button, you will be brought to the checkout page. Since you selected the subdomain option, you should see that it is available for free.
Scroll down the page to find and read the Terms of Service. To continue, you will need to agree to the Terms of Service and select Order Now. You will be brought to the cPanel and are on your way to creating your own OU Create space.
Option 2: $12 Domain
If you wish to register a domain of your own, select this option. You will need to select a domain that in unique from any other website URL. Choosing your domain name is the first step in getting started with staking your claim on the web. Your domain name is really just a unique Web address that can be used to build out your own digital presence. As you make your choice, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
Your Domain Name Must Be Available: Domain names must be unique, which means in order for you to claim your own, you need to be sure that it is currently available (and not being used by any one else or any company or organization). There are lots of tools to check on domain availability, and when you sign up on create.ou.edu, we’ll actually check the availability of your choice for you. If you’d like to spend some time thinking about your choice and checking availability before you actually sign-up, we recommend using whois.net.
If you want to register a “Top Level Domain” or TLD: The TLD is the suffix (or ending part) of your domain name. On create.ou.edu, we only allow you to choose from 3 TLDs: .com, .net, .org. You must choose which one you want to use (and the availability of your domain may depend upon the TLD you choose). Historically, .com domains were meant for businesses and commercial entities. On the other hand, .org domains were usually used by non-profit organizations. The .net domain was mean to be used by internet service providers. All of that said, the “historic” uses of these TLDs means very little anymore. You may find that .com domains are easier for people to remember, or you may like the “non-commercial” message of using a .org. The bottom line is that your choice of a TLD is entirely personal: just make sure that you choose one of the TLDs allowed by create.ou.edu.
Choose a Domain You Can Live With: You should choose a domain name that you feel you can live with for quite some time. You should pick something that you won’t find embarrassing in the future. A good rule of thumb is to pick a domain that you would be comfortable putting on a future job application.
You May Wish to Include Your Name in Your Domain: There is no requirement that your domain reflect your specific identity in the form of your first and last name. However, choosing a domain name that includes your name may make it easier for you to achieve higher rankings in search engines when someone queries your real name.
Pick a Domain you Like: At the end of the day, your domain should reflect you. Pick a domain you like and are proud of. It can reflect your interests, sports you play, or your hobby. Or it could just be your name. The “right” domain for you is the one you’re comfortable with.
Our system will check to be sure the domain name you’ve chosen is available. When you’ve found an available domain, click the button labeled Continue.
You will be brought to the checkout page. Since you selected the domain option, you should see that will cost $12. Make sure to switch from invoice to Credit Card if you would like to use a credit card to complete this transaction.
Scroll down the page to find and read the Terms of Service. To continue, you will need to agree to the Terms of Service and select Order Now. You will be brought to the cPanel and are on your way to creating your own OU Create space.
