Owning the domain name for your business is important because it serves as your online address, just like your physical business address. It’s how people will find you on the internet and remember your brand. If you don’t own your domain name, someone else can register it and use it for their own purposes, which can cause confusion for your customers and harm your brand reputation.
Having control of the registrar account is also important because it allows you to make changes to your domain name settings, such as updating your contact information or changing the server where your website is hosted. If someone else controls your registrar account, they could potentially make changes to your domain name settings without your permission, which could disrupt your website or email service.
If you allow another company to own the registration of your domain name, there are several risks. For example, they could increase the renewal price or transfer the domain name to another owner without your permission. They could also hold your domain name hostage if you ever decide to switch to a different provider. This could cause a lot of frustration and harm to your business.
This is why we don’t register your domain name for you. Once you’ve registered your domain, you can delegate access to us, so we can configure it correctly for your website and email. This is a much safer approach for you because you can revoke the delegated access at any time.
We recommend using one of the following quality domain name registrars:
How to transfer your domain name into your own account
The basic steps for transferring a domain from a provider’s registrar account into your own account:
- Verify that you’re eligible to transfer the domain name. Most domain names have a 60-day transfer lock period after they’re registered or transferred, during which time they can’t be transferred. Also, make sure your new registrar is able to handle the domain extension you’re transferring.
- Obtain the authorization code or EPP code from your current provider or registrar, if you have access. This is a unique code that’s needed to transfer your domain name. Your current provider shouldn’t have any problem getting this for you.
- Set up an account with your new registrar and initiate the transfer. You’ll need to provide the authorization code, and pay any transfer fees.
- Wait for the transfer to be processed. The time it takes for a transfer to be completed can vary, but it usually takes around 5 to 7 days.
- Confirm the transfer. Your new registrar will likely send you an email to confirm the transfer. Follow the instructions in the email to complete the transfer process.
Once the transfer is complete, you’ll have control over the domain name and be able to manage it through your own registrar account. Keep in mind that it’s important to make sure your domain name settings are configured correctly at the new registrar, such as your name servers and contact information, so that your website and email continue to work as expected.
It’s important to set up your DNS settings before the transfer completes to avoid any downtime. We can help you with this or do it for you through a delegated account access.
What to do if your domain name is being held hostage by another provider
If your domain name is being held hostage by another provider, the first step is to try to communicate with them and resolve the issue. Ask them what the problem is and try to work out a solution. Be persistent but polite, and document all your communication with them.
If that doesn’t work, you can file a complaint with the domain name registrar that the provider is using. The registrar is the organization that manages domain name registrations, and they have policies in place to protect domain name owners. You can find the registrar by doing a WHOIS search on your domain name.
If you still can’t resolve the issue, you may need to seek legal help. A lawyer who specializes in intellectual property law or domain name disputes can help you navigate the legal system and protect your rights as a domain name owner.
In any case, it’s important to act quickly and not let the situation drag on for too long. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to recover your domain name.
Photo by Shazaf Zafar on Unsplash
