Registering Your Domain Name
The Do's and Dont's of Domain Name Registration
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Registration, Reputable Registrar
- Going Live, Point Your DNS Record
- Domain Name Transfers
- The Administrative COntact
- Summary
Introduction
Unfortunately there are website design firms out there that will take advantage of unknowing small business owners. This article will guide you through what to avoid and also provide you with solutions should you have unknowingly been a victim of these traps when registering your domain name. As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions, or questions regarding this article or any other service that Allmar Technologies provides. We would be delighted to provide any additional information and assist you with your particular situation.
Registration, Reputable Registrar
Registering a domain name is a very simple process and Allmar Technologies recommends that small business owners register their domain name(s) on their own, this way they avoid being taken advantage of by a third party. We also suggest that you register your domain name with a reputable registrar such as Network Solutions. Network Solutions was the original domain name registrar and they were the ones that developed the Internet's domain name registration service that is widely used today. Of course there are hundreds of other domain name registrars and some do offer their services for less, however, remember that you get what you pay for.
Going Live, Point Your DNS Record
After registering your domain name(s) the next step is to find a web hosting provider. Once you have found a web host that meets your requirements for your website installation, you simply edit your DNS settings so that your records now point to the DNS servers of your web host. In a couple of days, or sooner, the change to your record will be fully propagated throughout the Internet and your site will be available for general viewing by the rest of the world. If you are not certain how to edit your DNS settings, your registrar will be able to walk you thru the process.
Domain Name Transfers
Under no circumstance should you ever transfer your domain name to some other third party! There is an exception to this rule. If you are not satisfied with your current registrar then transferring your domain name(s) over to a reputable registrar would be practical. Otherwise, absolutely, never ever transfer your domain name(s) over to somebody else! Some website design / web hosting providers will try to convince you that in order for them to do business with you that you will need to transfer your domain name over to them for technical reasons. This is not true! There is no technical reason to transfer your domain name over to a third party so that they can design your website or host your website! In order to get your website up and running all you need to do is simply point your DNS record over to their DNS server, see above paragraph.
The Administrative Contact
Some website design companies, as part of their service, will register your domain name on your behalf. Which is fine, however, you need to ensure that the "Administrative Contact" information reflects your information not some other company. The person/company that is the administrative contact on record controls the domain name. If some other business besides your business is listed as the administrative contact for your domain name, you have essentially relinquished all control of your domain name to the other party. If you find yourself in this situation you should immediately contact the person/business listed as the administrative contact and request that they change the information to reflect your contact information. It will take them 5 minutes to make the change and the results are evident immediately after making the change. If they are not willing to make the change, you will find yourself in a struggle to get control of your domain name and will most likely have to consult an attorney in order to get the change made.
Summary
We hope you found this article informative and if you require any assistance with your current situation, contact us and we would be more than delighted to assist you.
