My Tech Column in today’s Deccan Chronicle focuses on what happens when you forget to renew your domain names and simple techniques to not make that mistake. Before writing this column, I avoided any embarrassment by renewing my own domain names!
Here is the full text of the article:
Domain Name Essentials
================
A domain name is an important identity for your business or brand. Forgetting to renew it on time can not only be embarrassing but also expensive. Ask Yatra.com, the travel portal. A simple case of memory-loss cost the company over Rs.20 crore in lost business.
Here are some very useful tips for you to manage your domain name.
1) Take Reminders Seriously: Every domain registrar sends out multiple reminder mails to renew your domain name. Typically 60 days prior to the expiry date. Act immediately on these reminders.
2) Take advantage of the grace period: Just in case, you forget to renew it by the expiry date, don’t sweat. Every domain registrar gives you a grace period of two weeks to one month to help renew your domain name. This is equivalent to the ‘reserve’ option in your motorcycle’s petrol tank.
3) Redemption Fee: If you have been dumb enough to ignore the reminder mails and miss out on the grace period, you get one final chance to regain your domain. But this time, you will be charged a redemption fee of Rs.5000 upwards. Only when you miss all three chances will your domain name be put in the public marketplace for others to book.
4) Auto-Renewal: The best way to avoid all the heart-ache is to choose the auto-renew option. You give the registrar permission to charge your credit card and renew the domain automatically. This is your safest bet.
5) Put all domains in one basket: If you have booked multiple domain names, its wiser to book them all using one domain registrar instead of many different ones. It’s a lot easier to manage your domains.
6) Book for multiple years: The best way is to book your domain for 5 or 10 years at a stretch. Greatly lessens the risk and gives you peace of mind.
