The domain name of your website is not just a way to be found by the visitors, but also your brand, your first digital impression, and a footmark online. It’s not only essential to get it right, but also incredibly important to make sure you will be able to maintain it properly. Your standing, brand recognition, revenue, profits, and even the market share may be on the line if the domain name is not maintained well. Domain name registrar may seem like an insignificant factor when it comes to the beginning of your online journey, however, there are a few things to consider before jumping into buying your domain name. By making sure everything is done well, you will avoid a lot of possible troubles.
ICANN Accreditation
There are a lot of domain name registrars you can buy your domain from and ICANN – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers – is an excellent indicator of a good one. ICANN is a corporation that oversees domain registrars by providing regulations and parameters for them to pursue this way assuring the quality and integrity of the registrar. It’s not easy to become a member of ICANN, therefore, you can trust domain registrars that are registered and trusted by ICANN. There a lot of good domain registrars with ICANN accreditation, for example, Namecheap, GoDaddy, Hostinger but it also useful to read some additional information about them and choose the one that will suit your needs.
Contract/Duration
Reading the fine print behind the flashing discount fonts and all the add-ons advertised can turn out to be very important. The chances are that the name of your website, which eventually may become your brand, will represent you for a very long time, therefore, the duration of the contract you’re signing with the registrar is essential. The options usually vary between 1 to 10 years. Choosing a shorter term if you’re not sure whether the registrar will fulfill your needs, might be a good idea. If you’re confident that the registrar you chose to register your domain name fits your needs perfectly, you might be saving a lot of money by registering it for an extended period of time as the registrars make discounts for such cases.
Transfers
Ability to transfer your domain to another registrar is essential. Before choosing the registrar, read what kind of transfer options does it provide, as there is a number of various reasons why you might need to change the registrars. Usually you’re able to transfer your domain within 60 days of registration, but some registrars won’t permit it until later on in the contract, or it might even put a charge to it. Your domain name carries a lot of meaning, it’s important to make sure you will be able to move it if needed.
Pricing & Customer Support
No matter how tech savvy you might be, when it comes to a service purchased, at some point you definitely might need some help. Whether it be setting your domain up, changing DNS settings along the way or simply transferring it to another registrar, knowledgeable and easy to reach customer support will come in handy. When choosing the right domain registrar, make sure they provide 24/7 professional customer support and not just community forum, as you will want a quick and concise response from them when, for example, your site is down.
The actual domain pricing amongst the registrars might not vary much, after all, what you’re paying for is the extension of your domain name. However, some might charge you for all the extra services you get for the price, like transfers, administration, privacy protection, etc. Make sure you know exactly what services you’re getting for the price prior choosing the domain registrar for your business.
Recommended for you:
Top Tips for Picking a Domain Name for Your Blog
Privacy services
Some of the registrars often offer privacy registration or so-called “whois masking” upon the purchase. This means that on the whois record, registrar’s name will show up noting the owner of the domain as opposed to yours. While it might seem like a good idea to hide your personal details, however on the record you might want to be cited as the owner of your domain, in case some issues arise.
No matter where you are in your online journey, in the beginning, middle or the end of it, the right domain name and registrar is just as important as a good web hosting. As mentioned above, not only does your reputation or brand image depends on it, but also the revenue. The downtime of your website, domain transfers and many other factors lay upon the domain registrant, and you definitely want to make sure you and your business is in good hands.
