3 Most Common Domain Registration Mistakes

Your domain name is your business branding. It’s your main marketing collateral that allows you to be found, remembered and many times stand out from the rest. Unfortunately, all too often these three same mistakes are made in the registration and maintenance of business owners domain’s and their associated records.

Use this list to ensure your domains are protected and properly setup:

1. Your domain record should be in a Registrar account that only you have access to. Do not allow an an inexperienced or sneaky consultant/developer to register your domain(s) for you under or in their account. They aren’t doing you any favors.You won’t have access to that account to make any changes you desire and you won’t have control over renewals or the ability to take advantage of discounts or other offered services you may need. Registering your domains under their account indicates they don’t know any better or may intend to use your domains as leverage down the road if you want to move on. You need to have your own account, that only you have access to, that if you do allow access to a developer or consultant, you then change your password when their work is complete.

   I’ve lost count of the number times clients have lost domains or were unable to legally acquire them when a developer disappears, refuses to transfer to the rightful owners account or neglects to renew on the legitimate domain owner’s behalf. There is no up side here!

2. Your domain name should have your contact information down as the “Registrant”. If your name and contact information is not noted as the Registrant — you are not the legal owner of your domain!The person (consultant, hosting company, developer) listed as the Registrant owns the domain. No reason for your contact information to not be noted as the registered owner. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
3. When your credit card expires you need to remember to update your domain account with your new credit card information. Same goes if you cancel a credit card account and begin using another. Or, if you move and your physical address, phone number or even e-mail address changes. Add your domain account to the list of your utility companies and friends that you notify of any contact information changes. By all Registrar’s Terms of Service, you are legally bound to keep that info updated.If you don’t keep that CC info updated, your domain cannot auto-renew and you risk your domain becoming available for purchase to outside parties or worse — your competitors. I see this happen several times every year! If you don’t keep your e-mail address updated, you won’t get the warning e-mails that your domain is going to expire or released to the public.

   Download my Domain Tracking Worksheet [PDF] and check all your domain records today!

As a courtesy service to my legacy clients, I have an e-mail address specifically used for client domain monitoring. While I instruct them to setup their own accounts through my DIY Center, and have their contact information down as the Registrant as it should be, it has become invaluable to them that I am the one that receives renewal, expiration and credit card problem notices so that I can get involved on their behalf.

Unless you are working with a consultant that you can trust with your first born; you simply should not trust them with the registration and maintenance of your domains. It is really that important.

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