There are quite a few things you will need to do before you can officially launch your site so it can be used by the masses. One of the first things that you will need to get out of the way is the registration of your site’s domain name. It can be tough to think of a good name that hasn’t already been chosen. There is also the question about where your domain name registration should take place. There are a wide variety of registrars out there for you to choose from. Where should you register your domain name? Here are some tips that will put you on the right path.
Length of contract
You can choose from many different registration contracts of various durations. However, you need to be sure that the registrar you choose offers the specific contract duration you are interested in. Not all registrars offer contracts that are the same length. You might need to go to several different registrars until you find one that offers a contract that is the ideal length for your needs. It is imperative that you carefully read the contractual agreement before you officially enter into it. It is always better to be safe than sorry where domain agreements are concerned. You should look for how much you will have to pay if you decide to switch to a different registrar at some point in the future. There might also be some restrictions you need to be aware of. You should also find out how much your renewal fee will be if you want to keep your domain name.
Accredited by ICANN
Many sites give you the ability to register and buy a domain name. However, you need to make sure that the site you are doing business with has been officially accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This is the organization that monitors the industry of registering domain names. They make sure that all of the sites involved with this process are following the rules that have been given to them. Domain name registrars without ICANN accreditation will not have to follow the same rigid set of rules. Therefore, you could be opening yourself and your business up to some potential problems.
Easy to contact
Some registrars are much easier to get a hold of than others. You want to avoid registrars that have a poor track record when it comes to customer service. It is important that you are always able to get them on the phone quickly if there is an issue you need to resolve. Needless to say, you will need your registrar to take immediate action if your site is ever knocked offline. This could be very damaging to your business if your site remains down for an extended period of time. Every second that it takes you to get a live representative on the phone is another second that your site is offline. Call many registrars to see which ones are the easiest to reach.
