| Choosing the right company to entrust your domain | | | | ISP's SMTP servers. However, a great many ISP's |
| name registrations is vital. There are literally hundreds | | | | and broadband providers will only let you use their |
| of companies offering domain name registration | | | | SMTP servers on their branded email accounts. But if |
| services, but how do you know how reliable they | | | | you use your own email address such as dave. you |
| are? How long have they been in business? Do they | | | | won't be able to send email via their SMTP servers. |
| offer all the extra services? | | | | There are workarounds but you shouldn't have to go |
| Will they hold your domain to ransom when you | | | | to the trouble. Choose the right Domain Name |
| come to transfer away? Can you be in full control of | | | | Registration provider who does allow sending mail via |
| your domain at all times? Is the company just | | | | their SMTP servers. Also watch out, there are a |
| another reseller of a reseller of a reseller?! | | | | number of the top hosting companies that will only |
| With so many domain name registration businesses | | | | let you use their SMTP servers on premium email |
| out there how can you ensure you choose one of | | | | accounts which incur an extra charge. |
| the more reputable ones? | | | | 7. Are they a reseller of a reseller of a hosting |
| Here are a few pointers that should help steer you in | | | | company? |
| the right direction: | | | | It makes no sense registering your domains through |
| 1. Check to see how long the company has been | | | | a reseller of a reseller! This simply adds extra layers in |
| operating | | | | the ordering process that could go wrong. It is |
| The World Wide Web has been around for about 14 | | | | always better to register your domains with a |
| years or so now and so web hosting and domain | | | | Nominet member for .uk domains and an ICANN |
| registration businesses only began life about 11 years | | | | accredited domain name registrar for gTLDs. One |
| ago. Nominet, the registry responsible for .uk domains | | | | way of finding out more about your domain name |
| was 12 years old in May 2008, so most Nominet | | | | registration or web hosting provider is via Netcraft |
| members have only been members for 12 years or | | | | *See below. |
| less. However, there are only a few of the bigger | | | | By simply entering the URL into Netcraft you can |
| players who have been around for all that time. So | | | | then see lots of useful information such as the |
| check to see how long the domain name registration | | | | Nameserver Organisation, the Netblock owner(the |
| business you are considering has been around for. | | | | company that is actually hosting your website) and |
| 2. Make sure you can control every aspect of your | | | | lots of other information. |
| domain name | | | | This will tell you whether your hosting provider is the |
| Many domain name registration companies don't let | | | | actual hosting company or a reseller. |
| you make changes to your domains yourself. You | | | | 8. Make sure you always retain control of your |
| have to enter a request via their support systems | | | | domain name |
| and then wait days for assistance. Simple things like | | | | There are literally hundreds of businesses hosting |
| changing IPS Tags and changing Name Servers should | | | | their websites with a web host they're not happy |
| be possible via your control panel. Make sure you get | | | | with. Poor service, surprise invoices, unreliable uptime |
| a control panel and check out what the control panel | | | | and email issues are just some of the common issues |
| lets you do. | | | | customers are facing today. What most of them |
| 3. If you want to transfer your domain away will you | | | | want to do is vote with their feet and walk out the |
| be charged a fee? | | | | door and find another web hosting provider. However |
| Many domain name registration and hosting | | | | moving all their domains to another host is perceived |
| companies charge a release fee. This charge is | | | | to be a complete admin headache, so disgruntled |
| completely unnecessary. You should never be held to | | | | customers continue to put up with second rate |
| ransom over your domain name. Also, every time | | | | services for fear of the hassle involved in moving to |
| you change hosts and transfer your domains, on | | | | a new web hosting provider. |
| gTLDs you will have to pay a transfer in fee. This | | | | Is there another way? Yes, there is. Businesses |
| can be avoided if you make sure you use a good | | | | should be making use of a domain name registration |
| domain name registration company in the first place. | | | | company to centrally administer all their domains. |
| You'll never need to transfer a domain again! | | | | There are lots of very professional domain name |
| 4. Check to see if you get any email accounts | | | | registration companies that have been in business for |
| Most domain name registration services do not | | | | years and that provide fully functional control panels |
| include email. If you want email services with your | | | | that give their customers full control over their |
| domain name, most companies charge you for email. | | | | domain names. Then, all they have to do is change |
| In most cases you only get email forwarding. Even | | | | the name server details from their old host to their |
| for straight forward POP3 email accounts some | | | | new host for each domain. |
| companies only offer 1 or 2 email accounts. You | | | | So go through this 8 point checklist and make sure |
| should make sure you get at least 15-20 POP3 email | | | | you choose the right home for your domain name |
| accounts included free of charge with your domain | | | | registrations and renewals. There are plenty of |
| name registration. Most web hosting companies do | | | | companies who rely on hosting and domain name |
| not offer free POP3 email accounts. The reason for | | | | registration providers to look after the very life blood |
| this is they offer domain name registration as an | | | | of their online businesses. More and more companies |
| extra service. It's not the main stay of their business. | | | | are going online and a great many of them rely on |
| 5. Are they an ICANN accredited domain name | | | | their websites for more than 60% of their revenue. |
| registrar? | | | | So it makes sense to ensure that your domain name |
| You should choose a domain name registration | | | | is in the hands of a reliable, reputable and professional |
| company that is ICANN accredited. Firstly, they have | | | | company. Check to see how long they've been in |
| had to go through all the ICANN accreditation checks | | | | business, make sure you can control every aspect of |
| which is quite an in depth process. Secondly, it's not | | | | your domain, check to see if there are any hidden |
| cheap! So you know the company is committed to | | | | charges if you want to transfer a domain, check to |
| Domain Name Registration as ICANN accreditation is | | | | see if you get any free email accounts and how |
| a big investment and this should give you complete | | | | many, check to see if the company is an ICANN |
| reassurance. | | | | accredited domain name registrar and a member of |
| 6. Can you use their SMTP servers for out going | | | | Nominet, check to make sure you can use their |
| email? | | | | SMTP servers for sending email, check via Netcraft |
| Many hosting and domain name registration providers | | | | to see if they are a reseller or the actual hosting |
| will not let you use their SMTP servers for sending | | | | company and always, always make sure you retain |
| emails. They assume you can send email via your | | | | control of your domain names. |