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You know how a business owner hires someone to create a website for their company and then after a few years, the person (or company) who created the website disappears for whatever reason? The person or company may have moved out of the area; the person might get another job; or they may be out of business.
Then unknowingly, the web domain registration expires and is automatically, electronically gobbled up by opportunistic domain squatters. These domain squatters then register the expired domain in hopes that the original owner will be highly motivated to purchase the domain name at a much higher asking price. Usually, squatters might ask for $200 to $2000. Sometimes, it could even be much more.
So what should you do instead if you have not registered the domain yet? Just go to one of the best domain registration services below and register the domain yourself.
Namecheap – one of the cheapest with free domain privacy for first year.
Godaddy – the most popular and trusted domain registrar.
Did someone else register your domain name for you? A webdesigner or web host perhaps has done it for you. That’s fine, but you’ll want to check a few things. Find out what you should do next.
Mistake #2: Forgot to Renew Domain Name on Time
You are working real hard to beat your online competitors, search the entire internet for your targeted audience, calling all your suppliers bargaining for the lowest cost price so that you can have a much competitive pricing, but be sure you have not missed your domain renewal notice, you should always renew your domain on time to avoid loosing your business.
You only should pay extra for a premium domain name, i.e the domain has been registered by somebody else so they can sell at higher price. A domain name is a domain name. You pay to reserve the name on yearly basis. By paying $35/year instead of $12/year does not give you:
a top placement in Google's search result. You still need to work on your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
a website. You still need a website built!
a hosting space. A reliable hosting like Hostgator is recommended and should cost only around $10/month. The Hostgator coupon codes 2012 could save you more for your first invoice.
visitors to your website. You still need to do some marketing and promotion to get visitors.
Mistake #4: Not Aware of Registration Scams
Registering your domain name is usually safe, but as with anything, there are some folks who may try to scam you. Here are two things to watch out for:
You might receive offers (email or snail mail) from other registrars who may lead you to believe that you need to renew your domain name with them. While you can do that (you can transfer registrars at any time), these offers usually are at high prices. Don't fall for it. Know who your registar is. If the notice isn't from your registrar, pitch it in the trash.
"Lock" your domain name. Registrars offer a feature called "domain locking" at no extra cost. It prevents your domain name from being transferred to another registrar unless you authorize the transfer by first "unlocking" the domain. It's a good safeguard, and you can do it online in just a couple steps.
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#SOPAsucks
As you may have heard, last month Namecheap took a big stand against SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act proposed in the US. Namecheap leads “Move Your Domain Day” with a special $6.99 transfer and an additional $2 donation to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
Use these amazing Namecheap coupon codes to save more:
Use coupon code HNY12 for discounted registrations and transfers for com/net/org/biz domains.
buy or transfer a .CO domain at Namecheap this month with the same code and enjoy an $11.88 registration price or $21.49 transfer price
limited to 30 domains per account
Use coupon code NEWYEARVPS to get get 10% off a new VPS
Use coupon code 2012ROX for 10% off shared/reseller/business hosting
p.s: We usually do not recommend you to register your domain and get your hosting at the same company. A company will have less control over your website if you do not let them host both your domain and website. If you need a cheap hosting account, try the Hostgator coupon 2012: FTPHOSTING, that lets you try the 4500 website templates and web hosting for only $0.01 for the first month.
backing up your files using a web hosting account and get your hosting account suspended?
If your answer is yes to any of the above, then we highly recommend you to use SOS backup.
Losing your laptop is very hard especially if you have some important files stored out there. On the other hand, it is recommended not use web hosting account as backup space for non-website files to avoid getting in trouble with the web host. Use a proper back solution instead.
Using the Hostgator coupon 2012 code such as WEBSITELAUNCH may give you access to unlimited FTP space for only $0.01, but do not abuse it for using as a backup because the web host will suspend your account very quickly.
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. .co.uk domains £2.69, .com’s £6.99 or buy them both and save 12%
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Who else wants unusual last-minute gift ideas for the special occasion?
Our favorite gift idea, if the Someone You Love does not already have one, starts with a domain name. From there, you can make it into a web photo gallery, beautiful custom website, personalized email address and much more. It can be a great gift by itself or can be combined with a nice-looking website to become the most amazing unique gift.
Here are the top ten reasons to give a domain name as a present:
No instructions in Chinese to fumble through. No assembly required.
It is easier to find a good domain name than an iPhone 5.
It’s surely hypoallergenic.
Enables someone personalized, cool, and permanent, photo gallery.
Save a tree — you don’t have to wrap it!
Give someone the secret identity they’ve always wanted.
Domains are cheap; you can register one for a year for as little as $6.95
No storage space required
It can be passed down from generation to generation like a great framed portrait.
You can buy it at 11:59pm on the day before the birthday, wedding, anniversary or any special day, and still have it in time.
Owning a domain only gives you the rights to the name, e.g., johnandmary.com. It is like a declaration that the name is yours. You can go to any of the web domain registration companies such as Godaddy or Namecheap to purchase a domain name.
Making the Domain More Personal and Useful
But in the event you in fact need to use the domain name for a website, email, etc., you should have the domain hosted. Owning one with no hosting it can be known as “parking” the domain. Less than $10 a month gets you hosting for that domain. We have been using Hostgator for more than 8 years and it has been the best one out of 30+ hosting companies that we have tried. So bottom line, $120 (or less) buys a hosted domain for a year.
Now once you have a domain hosted, you can create a pretty website based on the templates given at the hosting company. You can also get an online photo album for the domain. You can even help that special someone to have an online photography portfolio. But you need to get the right hosting service. See further below about how to choose a good host.
A domain is so techie that you may want something solid to go along with it. And the apparent option might be a set of gorgeous business cards using the new domain details on them. VistaPrint will print 250 business cards in color for 20 bucks (or totally free for new clients, with a sub-$10 shipping-handling charge).
Recommended Sites to Use
You will discover about 92 gazillion websites that let you register domain names, and another 92 gazillion that can host that name for you. And there is a lot of overlap. There is a huge number of of sites that will help you find a hosting company; check out Cheap Web Hosts and best hosting services.
If you do not have the time to research for the best domain registration company or web hosting, then here is our recommendations:
Hostgator for most comprehensive DIY hosting including Sitebuilders with 4000+ unique templates, one-click-installer for lots of web applications, shopping cart, forum, and much more. You can easily install the photo gallery application such as 4images, Coppermine, and Piwigo or choose a more popular platform such as WordPress, Joomla or Drupal to create an online photo gallery. Click here to try for a penny.
Weebly for simple website builder with beautiful templates. Nothing fancy but straightforward easy-to-use website creation tool. Click here to try for free.
The longer you wait, the higher the chances you will lose the name you want. Go to Godaddy, Netfirms or Namecheap to purchase a domain name now.
Domain Name Suggestions
What do you do if the name you want is taken? Be creative. Change the word order. Use .net, .org, .name, & others. Try synonyms. Here are more ideas:
Use names: www.PamsPlace.com or www.CarlysCreek.com
Small business owner name: www.PeterPawnShop.com or www.SallysStudio.com
Use nicknames: www.RockRhumney.com or www.AwesomeAthur.com
Incorporate job: www.LouiseaLawyer.com or www.DrDawsonCowell.com
Incorporate a persons interests: www.GolferGeorge.com
Incorporate a quirks: www.ScreaminSamantha.com
Make a statement: www.ILoveLucy.com or www.BewareOfChristian.com
Do you need to get a perfect gift for someone? Here’s an easy solution- get a Flickr Pro Account for your loved ones!
How does this work?
When you buy a Pro account for someone, they will give you a gift code that you can either email or print out in a gift card. The recipient of your gift then goes to the gift activation page and types in the code. Very easy!
Who else wants some unusual gift ideas for that special someone?
Are you looking for something inexpensive, personal, and can be pretty useful? Give a domain name.
Here are some reasons why it is a good idea:
It is easier to find a good domain name than an iPhone 5.
It’s hypoallergenic.
No assembly required. (No instructions in foreign languages to fumble through.)
Save a tie! Your dad will be ecstatic when he doesn’t see that rectangular box under the tree.
Save a tree — you don’t have to wrap it!
Give someone the secret identity they’ve always wanted.
Domains are cheap; you can register one for a year for as little as $6.95
You won’t shoot your eye out with it!
It can be passed down from generation to generation like a fruitcake.
You can buy it at 11:59pm on the day before the birthday, wedding, anniversary or any special day, and still have it in time.
Owning a domain only gives you the rights to the name, e.g., johnandmary.com. It is like a declaration that the name is yours. You can go to any of the web domain registration companies such as Godaddy or Namecheap to purchase a domain name.
Making it a Better Gift
But in the event you in fact choose to use the domain name for a website, email, etc., you should have the domain hosted. Owning 1 with no hosting it is known as “parking” the domain. Less than $10 a month gets you hosting for that domain. We have been using Hostgator for more than 8 years and it has been the best one out of 30+ hosting companies that we have tried. So bottom line, $120 (or less) buys a hosted domain for a year.
A domain is so “virtual” that you may want something solid to go along with it. Plus the obvious choice may be a set of beautiful business cards using the new domain details on them. VistaPrint will print 250 business cards in color for 20 bucks (or free for new buyers, with a small $10 shipping-handling fee).
Recommended Sites to Use
You will discover about 92 gazillion sites that let you register domain names, and a further 30 gazillion that will host that name for you. And there is certainly plenty of overlap. There are also plenty of sites that will help you find a hosting company; check out Cheap Web Hosts and Multiple Domain Hosting.
If you do not have the time to research for the best domain registration company or web hosting, then here is our recommendations:
Hostgator for most comprehensive DIY hosting including Sitebuilders with 4000+ unique templates, one-click-installer for lots of web applications, shopping cart, forum, and much more. Click here to try for a penny.
Weebly for simple website builder with beautiful templates. Nothing fancy but straightforward easy-to-use website creation tool. Click here to try for free.
Domain Name Ideas
What do you do if the name you want is taken? Be creative. Change the word order. Use .net, .org, .name, & others. Try synonyms. Here are more ideas:
Use names: www.MatthewsPlace.com or www.DawsonsCreek.com
Small business owner name: www.JohnPlumbing.com
Use nicknames: www.RockRobbert.com or www.ChefIsmail.com
Incorporate a persons interests: www.GolferAndrew.com
Incorporate a quirks: www.SreaminJessy.com
Incorporate job: www.JillsALawyer.com or www.DrWilliamStevens.com
Make a statement: www.ILoveBetty.com or www.BewareOfObama.com
We strive to give unbiased and independent reviews or comparisons based on price, company reputation, previous customers satisfaction and our own experiences of using certain products or services. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided on this site is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are made.
We may receive compensation from purchases made via links on this site. Some links do not have any affiliation or compensation whatsoever, but are included for their merit to readers.
It can be a great gift by itself or can be combined with a nice-looking website to become the most amazing unique gift. 