On the surface this seems like a silly question. However, it is not unusual to have a client’s site that is finished and ready to launch get delayed because the site owner has no idea where the domain is registered. Now instead of the site launching, they spend weeks tracking this information down and trying to get a hold of the last web guy who is long gone.
The Domain Registrar is where your domain name was purchased. When you purchase a domain, that name is yours for as long as the contract period, which is typically one-two years. Before it expires it must be renewed or that domain will become available for sale again to anybody. This is different from web hosting.
Many are unaware how important this information is. What I hear most often is that “the web guy” or “last employee” handled it and they have no idea where this information is. As a business owner this is your responsibility. It baffles me sometimes how much control business owners give away when it comes to their website because they simply don’t want to deal with it. It’s like hiring a cleaning service to clean your studio and letting them hold onto or walk away with the only key to the studio.
Here are some of the things I’ve run into with lost domain information, which can be a nightmare for a business owner.
- The domain or web company went out of business and trying to track them down is almost impossible in some cases.
- The business owner has to spend time “proving” they own their own site since it was registered by someone else
- The domain expired because the owner was unaware it needed to be renewed.
- The business owner finds they don’t even own their own domain name – the last “guy” who registered the site is the one who actually owns it. The project goes on hold until the business owner can track down the guy and get it back. The best case scenario is that the guy releases it. The worst case is that the guy won’t release it to the business owner, or forces them to buy the name back.
Do not let this happen to you.
How do you find where your domain name is registered?
You can find out who the registrar is for your website by going to www.whois.com. Enter your site and Whois will pull up the information for your site. It will show the name of the Registrar and when it expires, along with contact information.
A few final tips
Don’t let someone else register your domain name.
The process is very easy and takes less than 2 minutes. This is something you need to do. Simply go and sign up and renew for at least 3 years. Name Cheap and I Want My Name are two that I use. (both affiliate links)
Don’t purchase your domain name from your web host.
That way it will be easier if you want to change web hosts down the road.
Go with a well known registrar.
Many registrars will also provide instruction if you’d like to switch from your old one.
Be aware of domain renewal scams.
Sometimes people receive letters or emails telling them their domain is about to expire and they need to renew. Always double check this by going to your registrar’s site and logging in to your account.
