GESP GUIDE

Student Developer Pack Guide

Free .TECH Domain for Students

Get a free .TECH domain name for one year through the GitHub Student Pack, perfect for showcasing your technology projects and building your online presence.

What You Get

  • Free .TECH domain for one year (normally $49.99)
  • Professional domain name perfect for tech portfolios
  • Easy domain management interface
  • DNS management tools
  • Email forwarding capabilities

Why .TECH Domains Are Perfect for Students

.TECH domains are specifically designed for technology professionals, startups, and innovators. They’re perfect for:

  • Portfolio websites showcasing your coding projects
  • Tech blogs sharing your learning journey
  • Startup projects building your next big idea
  • Personal branding in the tech industry
  • School projects demonstrating technical skills

How to Redeem Your Free .TECH Domain

Step 1: Access GitHub Student Pack

  1. Visit GitHub Student Pack
  2. Sign in with your GitHub account
  3. Verify your student status if not already done

Step 2: Find Tech Domains Offer

  1. Scroll down to find the “Tech Domains” offer
  2. Click “Get access” or “Redeem offer”
  3. You’ll be redirected to the Tech Domains registration page

Step 3: Register Your Domain

  1. Search for your desired .TECH domain name
  2. Add it to cart (the student discount will be applied)
  3. Create your Tech Domains account
  4. Complete the registration process

Step 4: Configure Your Domain

  1. Access your domain management panel
  2. Set up DNS records for your hosting provider
  3. Configure email forwarding if needed
  4. Point domain to your portfolio or project

Best Practices for Your .TECH Domain

Choose a Professional Name

  • Use your name or professional handle
  • Keep it short and memorable
  • Avoid numbers and hyphens when possible
  • Make it relevant to your tech focus
  • yourname.tech - Personal portfolio
  • projectname.tech - Specific project showcase
  • startupiname.tech - Business venture
  • techblog.tech - Technology blog

Security and Management

  • Enable domain privacy protection
  • Set up two-factor authentication
  • Keep contact information updated
  • Monitor domain expiration dates

Technical Setup Guide

Connecting to GitHub Pages

  1. In your GitHub repository settings
  2. Go to Pages section
  3. Set custom domain to your .TECH domain
  4. Configure DNS CNAME record pointing to username.github.io

Using with Netlify

  1. In Netlify dashboard, go to Domain settings
  2. Add custom domain
  3. Configure DNS records as shown
  4. Enable HTTPS (automatic with Netlify)

WordPress.com Integration

  1. Purchase WordPress.com plan (required for custom domains)
  2. Go to Domains section in WordPress admin
  3. Add your .TECH domain
  4. Follow DNS configuration instructions

Domain Management Tips

DNS Configuration

Most hosting providers require these basic DNS records:

  • A Record: Points to hosting provider’s IP
  • CNAME Record: For www subdomain
  • MX Records: For email (if using email hosting)

Email Setup Options

  • Email forwarding: Forward emails to existing email account
  • Google Workspace: Professional email with your domain
  • Hosting provider email: Many hosts include email accounts

Renewal Information

  • Free domain is valid for one year
  • You’ll need to renew at regular price after first year
  • Set up renewal reminders to avoid losing your domain
  • Consider transferring to another registrar for better rates

Common Issues and Solutions

Domain Not Propagating

  • DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to fully propagate
  • Use online DNS checker tools to verify changes
  • Clear your browser cache and DNS cache

SSL Certificate Issues

  • Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates
  • Some require manual SSL setup for custom domains
  • Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates

Email Not Working

  • Verify MX records are correctly configured
  • Check spam folders for test emails
  • Confirm email forwarding settings are active

Portfolio Platforms

  • GitHub Pages: Free hosting for static sites
  • Netlify: Easy deployment with Git integration
  • Vercel: Perfect for React/Next.js projects
  • Surge.sh: Simple static site deployment

Content Management

  • WordPress.com: Blog and portfolio platform
  • Ghost: Modern publishing platform
  • Webflow: Visual web design platform
  • Squarespace: All-in-one website builder

Career Benefits

Professional Online Presence

A .TECH domain demonstrates your commitment to technology and provides:

  • Professional email addresses
  • Memorable portfolio URLs
  • Industry-relevant branding
  • Enhanced credibility with employers

SEO Advantages

  • Memorable domain names improve direct traffic
  • .TECH extension is relevant for tech content
  • Custom domains perform better than subdomains
  • Professional domains inspire more trust

Support and Resources

Getting Help

  • Tech Domains support documentation
  • Live chat support for account issues
  • Community forums for technical questions
  • GitHub Student Pack support for redemption issues

Learning Resources

  • Domain management best practices guides
  • DNS configuration tutorials
  • Web hosting comparison guides
  • SSL certificate setup instructions

Disclaimer: This offer is subject to GitHub Student Pack availability and Tech Domains terms of service. Free domain is valid for one year only.