Domaining Guide
I’ve compiled a simple 10 point checklist which helps me in my domain name management. I would be the first one to tell you there is a whole lot more in managing your investment, but these are some of the most crucial steps that need to be reminded. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in this chronological order, but they should be reviewed often.
- Use domain name search tools – find out if someone registers a domain similar to your own, check different TLDs, whether plural or singular is available, how much traffic, search frequency and results, etc.. etc.. etc..
- Monitor new domain registrations and deletions – going through the daily drop lists and keeping up to date with latest trends is the best way of staying competitive.
- Track prior domain name usage – illicit domain name useage always leaves some sort of a footprint, find out if the domain has been blacklisted, used as a adult site or banned for spamming.
- Check for trademark infringement – you don’t want to regret your purchase by giving up your domains. Always look to see if a phrase within a domain name has a registered trademark.
- Complete domain registration and renewal packages – protect your investment, don’t loose your valuable domain. Be sure to keep track of renewals. Some registrars are not so forgiving and will take advantage of you if not renewed in time.
- Keep your domain contact information updated – keep you name, address, and phone up to date. Including your credit card information for those automated scheduled renewal registrations.
- Monitor your domains – monitor your traffic, downtime or if someone has redirected or hijacked your domain.
- Consolidate your domain names – putting your domains in the same place would be the best way to manage them, instead of having them spread all out with multiple registries.
- Determine which names should be registered… or dropped – track to see what type of income the domain is producing or its’ value, stay within your budget.
- And last but not least - develop, develop, develop…
I’m sure some of you have other priorities in domain management. Feel free to tell us about them in the comments section below. Thank You for visiting my domaining blog.
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To add to #7, I’d suggest using the free Domain Monitor tool http://www.domaintools.com/monitor/ at DomainTools. It will send you email alerts when anything changes in your Whois, so you can quickly respond if your info was changed or if your domain has expired or been extended if your registration company did a temporary auto-renew. Such an email saved me just the other day when a domain in 1 of my old accounts had expired the previous day that I had forgotten about.
John,
Thanks for the tip, will definitely put it to good use.
Dan,
Nice post – all are excellent points, including Johns’….
Thanks Steve.. I appreciate that
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