| If you have been online for very long, you've | | | | specifically accredited or it's not a company that has |
| probably clued in to the way online reviews often | | | | authorization to resell for an ICANN accredited |
| work. At least half the time, a review is really just a | | | | registrar, look elsewhere. |
| sales pitch. It seems that scores of people are willing | | | | - Read the fine print. Make sure you know the exact |
| to talk about how wonderful a product or service is, | | | | cost of registering your domain, and exactly how |
| simply because they stand to make money if they | | | | much it will cost to renew it when the time comes. |
| can get you to sign up. This is as true for things like | | | | Some sneak you in with a low price and hit you with |
| tooth-whitening products and weight-loss gadgets as | | | | a much higher renewal fee in a year. |
| it is for things like web hosting and domain | | | | - See if they offer private registration, if you're |
| registrations. | | | | interested in keeping your name and address private. |
| So how do you cut through the sales pitch and figure | | | | This just protects your identity, and can range from |
| out which domain registration reviews are on the | | | | free to over $10 a year per domain name, depending |
| up-and-up? And what should you really look for in a | | | | on where you register. |
| domain registration? | | | | - Make sure there's a phone number you can call, not |
| Domain registration review and ratings pages put up | | | | just an email address, with clear hours for customer |
| by well-established sites are much more likely to be | | | | service help. And it should go without saying that a |
| real reviews and not just a way to generate sales. | | | | company that offers round the clock support will |
| C-Net, Wired and any established name in technology | | | | probably be far preferable to one that you can only |
| or the Internet have a stake in their reputation, so | | | | reach 3 hours a day, Monday through Wednesday. |
| they strive to put out the best information. If you | | | | - Before you register a domain, look into the cost for |
| don't recognize the site that's giving every registrar a | | | | transferring the name to a different company. You |
| glowing review with an affiliate link below it, then | | | | never know when service might be lacking or you |
| you'll probably want to look elsewhere for | | | | want to switch for some reason. Some registrars |
| information. | | | | require transfer fees and built-in long delays to keep |
| Even reading domain registration reviews might not | | | | people from wanting to do this. Know up-front and |
| make you feel confident that you're picking a good | | | | avoid nasty surprises. |
| company. Look for the following features in a good | | | | No matter how glowing a domain registration review |
| domain name registrar: | | | | might be, it pays for you to look into these things |
| - Go to ICANN and check it out. If your registrar isn't | | | | yourself before giving any company your money. |