Domain Names Held For Ransom

Don’t Let Your Domain Name Expire

GoDaddy, a popular domain name registrar says, “You can’t have a website without a domain.”  They don’t say this, AND without a domain you won’t have a website.

Your domain name is your insurance agency’s website address like www.independentinsuranceagency.com  When you register your domain name with a domain name registrar like Go Daddy, NameCheap or HostGator you are renting the domain.  Domain registrars default the term to one year and usually offer a better deal if you purchase a plan for 2 or more years.

When you purchased your domain name you probably incorporated the name of your insurance agency into the website URL.  You put your website address on your business cards, brochures, possibly your outdoor signage and more. Your website address is special and is part of your brand.  You have to protect and maintain that brand.

Held For Ransom

It is up to you to renew your domain.  If your domain expires there will be a an auto-renew grace period for 0-45 days followed by a 30-day redemption grace period.  Once that grace period is up, your domain name will be released to third parties. These third parties may scoop up the domain and possibly hold it for ransom.

We recently had a customer let their domain expire.  It is now available from a third party for $495. If they had renewed it in time, it would have been less than $15 for another year.  Now they have to decide if they want to pay the price or get a new domain.

If this customer gets a new domain, they will have to change all of their documentation, marketing materials, update all of their SEO and fall in organic search until their web marketing efforts are cleaned up and reestablished.

Set A Reminder AND Watch For Renewal

Do you know when your domain name is up for renewal?  Log in and check the expiration date. Set up a reminder at least 30 days in advance of the expiration date to go in and renew your domain.  Ensure your email address is up-to-date so you won’t miss emails regarding your domain.

Don’t fall prey to domain kidnappers!