| At the risk of making some web hosting companies | | | | from one registrar to another because users are |
| angry, I am about to expose a misuse of | | | | under the impression that since they are changing |
| terminology that has caused too much confusion | | | | hosts, they have to TRANSFER. But they don't. All |
| over something that should be simple. So, you may | | | | they need to do is POINT their domain to their new |
| ask, why would this upset hosting companies? | | | | host. This is accomplished by updating the DNS |
| Because, for the most part THEY are the culprits in | | | | record (sometimes called changing the name servers). |
| making this issue confusing! | | | | The sad part is that some of these transfers are |
| During the web hosting sign-up process, often the | | | | moving to more expensive registrars, which not only |
| web host provider will ask its customer if he or she | | | | incurs extra annual cost, but delays the transition |
| want to "transfer their domain". What they MEAN is, | | | | from one host to another. (Ignorance is expensive.) |
| "will you be using a domain for this hosting account | | | | Since transferring a domain means MOVING it to |
| that is already registered?" (which is an important | | | | another place to be registered, (which should have no |
| question to have answered.) | | | | bearing on where it is hosted), then most domain |
| The problem with the phrasing of their question is | | | | transfers never need to occur. |
| this: If you go to your favorite registrar's site and | | | | In fact, unless you are transferring your domain from |
| you click on any of their links or instructions that say | | | | an expensive registrar like Network Solutions to a |
| "transfer a domain"...you will most likely be given the | | | | less expensive one like GoDaddy, there is RARELY A |
| opportunity to MOVE YOUR REGISTRATION from | | | | NEED TO EVER TRANSFER YOUR DOMAIN. |
| another registrar to them. But that has nothing to do | | | | When you transfer your domain to another registrar, |
| with hosting a domain. | | | | you are changing NOTHING about your domain or it's |
| So when a host talks about TRANSFERS and a | | | | DNS record. The only change you are making is that |
| registrar talks about TRANSFERS - they are usually | | | | your annual renewal fee will likely be different. But |
| not the same thing. That's a huge problem. The | | | | once your domain is registered, (no matter WHERE it |
| solution? Let's define ... | | | | is registered) - you can manage its DNS record no |
| TRANSFERRING A DOMAIN | | | | matter WHERE you HOST that domain. |
| Transferring a domain (as you will learn at any | | | | The bottom line on the issue of domain transfers is |
| REGISTRATION site), means to move your domain | | | | this: |
| to a different registrar. I would venture to say that | | | | Where you HOST your domain should have no |
| about 60% to 80% of domains that are transferred | | | | BEARING on where you REGISTER your domain....and |
| are done so unnecessarily, due to the confusion of | | | | vice-versa. In fact, if the host you are doing business |
| what a domain transfer accomplishes. | | | | with REQUIRES you to register your domain at a |
| At Teknon Media and Teknon Domains, we see | | | | specific registrar, then change hosts quickly. That is a |
| hundreds of unnecessary transfers every month | | | | bad sign. |