Domain Name Renewals: Guide to Domain Name Renewals
Domain Name Renewals
Hello, my name is Mark. Domain name renewals can be confusing and daunting if you dont know what you are doing.
That's why we've created this special page within the site to advise on how to best go about renewing your domain name, what you need to know, and how to avoid mistakes
Domain name renewals are usually due every year unless you renew for more than a year at a time. Many people will renew their domain name for two years at a time so they will have more time before it is set to expire. It is just easier for them to remember.
A domain name is your .com address. When you set up a website, you will choose an address that allows visitors to access your site for the product or service you provide. It can also be an .org or .net or .info and several others. The domain does not just expire. There will be a renewal period during which you can pay a fee to keep your name.
Usually from six months to thirty days before the domain name renewal is due you will receive a notice. This gives you a period of time to renew the name and retain the right to use it on your website. It is very important that you keep up to date contact information so that you receive the notice that the domain name is about to expire. If not, you are likely to forget and your domain name will be up for grabs.
If the domain name is not renewed within the period that it is set to expire, normally it will be put on ‘hold'. During this time the domain name can be renewed for the regular charges, however after this point it will take more to retain the name. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was created to allow domain owners another chance to renew their domain name. Different registrars will charge different amounts for this service, though generally it will not be less than $70. Thus, it pays to keep track and renew your domain name on time.
When you set up a website for your business, you will choose a domain name. This is how customers or visitors will find your site. The typical domain names end in .com, .org and .net, although there are other choices. You will typically pay a fee for this domain name.
The company that you use to set up your website will generally have a list of domain names that you may choose from or you can pick your own. If you do this, you will have to do a search to ensure the name you have chosen does not already belong to someone else.
Once the name is chosen and you are the rightful owner, the name will belong to you for the period for which you have paid. Usually this is a year although you can pay longer if you wish. When the time period is up, domain name renewals are due. The registering company will attempt to contact your through the information they have on file to let you know the name is about to expire.
If you do not renew it during this period, usually the web hosting company will put it on ‘hold' status which gives you a grace period for renewal at the regular price. Not all registering companies do this. After this period you will not be able to re-register the name for the regular price.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has a second chance option to allow domain name renewals however, this option costs more. If your domain name is really important and you have forgotten to renew it, you may want to go this route. The amount charged is up to the registrar and is at least $70 and can be $150 or more. This redemption period lasts only for 30 days.
Keep your contact information up to date because this is the way you will receive notice that your domain name renewal is due. Approximately thirty days before you domain name will expire, you will receive a notice. During this time period you can renew the name for the same fee which you originally paid.
Once this period is over, you will likely spend more to retain your domain name. If you have a website that does well, you will not want to risk losing your domain name. This is the only way your visitors or clients have to find your business. If the worst happens and you forget to renew your domain name in time, you will have a second chance although it will cost more to renew the name.
Many people choose to pay for the domain name for several years to avoid this. According to ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, you can only keep the name for ten years. If you pay the entire ten years you will not have to worry about domain name renewal unless at some point the rules change on this time limit.
The practice of buying and selling domain names has become quite profitable and many people are doing this today. This is called domain flipping. According to statistics, 47,420,000 domain names are registered every year and 42,600,000 are picked up by new owners. The percentage of profit for buying and re-selling domain names can be from 1000% to 10,000%.
Therefore, if you have a domain name that is very relevant to your product or service, you should make certain that you hold on to it. Do not forget to keep your contact information up to date so that you will not lose a very important aspect of your business.
Domain name renewal is one of the most important aspects of your website. If you have an online business that is doing well, you will not want to lose your domain name. This is the way your clients or customers find your site. If suddenly the site is shut down, they do not know where to go. This would be devastating for your business.
When you set the site up to provide the service, you will either choose an existing domain name by looking it up to make certain it does not belong to anyone else or you will make up your own. It should be relevant to the service you provide. Once you choose the domain name, you will register it and pay a fee. This means the name is yours for the period for which you have registered it. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) allows the name to be registered to the same person for ten years.
If you choose the yearly option, approximately 30 days prior to the expiration you will receive a notice informing you that your domain name is about to expire. Renewing it during this time frame will cost the same as you originally paid. If however, you do not renew it during this period, you will get a second chance but it will cost more.
A couple of tips to help you retain the domain name you have chosen are to make certain you keep your contact information current. This is the only way the registrar has to let you know your domain name is about to expire. Pay for more than a year at a time and you will be covered for a little longer. Make a list of your domain names (especially if you have several) and the expiration dates so you can keep track.