Protect Your Domain Name or Risk Losing It

Your domain name is an important part of your brand and identity. Losing it could be disastrous! Yet, month over month we see people lose their domain name, either because they ignore or forget to renew them, or do not keep their contact information - especially their email address - current and up to date.

A whole new industry has been created out of lost and neglected domain names. It is now common place for an expired domain name to be snagged the moment it is released back to the 'available' pool. These poachers will grab any domain name that has a decent search engine ranking and forward it to anything from a competitors web site, to a pay per click advertising site. They are hoping to have you pay a big ransom to get your domain name back or to capitalize on the residual traffic left over by your domain name's high search engine ranking.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself from these tactics:

• Activate the 'Domain Lock' feature with your registrar. This prevents changes in contact info, DNS servers and most importantly, blocks transfer away requests that could be sent by a poacher trying to steal your domain name
• Keep your contact information, especially your email address current and up to date. Be sure to white list the domain name of your registrar so renewal and other important email notices don't get caught in your Spam filters. If you are worried about listing your email address in the public Whois database, ask your Registration provider about Whois Privacy Service
• Most registrars send out occasional Whois Confirmation emails to domain owners, giving them the opportunity to double check and correct any invalid or outdated information. Do Not ignore these emails, double check the information and correct any errors
• Be on the lookout for fraudulent renewal notices that arrive both in email and especially by regular paper mail. There are a few companies sending very officially looking paper mail renewal notices that look very much like invoices. They are not! They are carefully crafted marketing documents designed to fool an accounts payable clerk into thinking its a bill that has to be paid!

Your domain name registration provider should be more than a domain name clearing house. They should help you manage your domain name with locking and privacy solutions and most of all, help you protect your name and brand, the one you worked so hard to create. Talk to your domain name registration provider to be sure you have done everything you can to protect yourself today!

About the Author: Robert Schwartz has helped thousands secure and manage their Internet identity and is President of LaneChange.net a Total Domain Management solutions provider. Find out more at http://www.LaneChange.net

---

Better Links Directory

Dot Com or Dot Net, Which is the Best Domain Name to Settle for?

When seeking domain names most people get confused over whether... Read More

ICANN Registrar: Great promotion by is-domains!

ICANN accredited registar Secura is announcing today, that the company... Read More

Domain Name Registration Explained

Registering a domain name is a pretty straight forward process.... Read More

A Very Simple 3 Step Process To Find That Perfect Domain Name Using Some Free Online Tools

So you finally decided you want your very own home... Read More

8 Million de-Domains

DENIC, the registry of the German Top Level Domain (TLD)... Read More

42 Killer Domain Secrets Exposed!

The Basic StuffEvery website needs a domain name. Example "WebBootCamp.com"... Read More

Domain Name: Why Do You Need One Anyway?

I come across sites all the time that are obviously... Read More

8 Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

If you're just starting out on the Internet, choosing a... Read More

What You Need to Know About Choosing A Domain Name

Aside from the nuts and bolts of where to register... Read More

Sub Domains - An Inexpensive Solution to Grow Traffic

Read this brief article that reflects what we learned about... Read More

1-800-Get-Rich Can Toll Free 800 Number Domains Pay Off?

The toll free number 1-800-Get-Rich belongs to the Resorts Casino... Read More

Cheap and Easy Domain Name Registration

Just like any business, your identity is very important. On... Read More

Earn Money With Parked Domain Names

Do you have domain names that you are not currently... Read More

A Little Secret About Public Domain Treasures

I bet this little secret is going to get YOU... Read More

Choosing a Domain Name - One of the First Stops for Your New Website

So, what is a domain name, or simply a domain?... Read More

The Power of Domain Names in Marketing

Purchasing your own domain is inexpensive and very effective for... Read More

How to Conduct a Domain Name Search and Why Your Domain Name Matters for Long Term Branding

Creating a website is not just about designing your pages... Read More

Choosing Your Domain Name ? Internet Marketing

This is actually an important key to your business and... Read More

Domain Name Trademarks

As your Internet business grows, the value of your domain... Read More

Your Domain Name, Your Business Address

Would you purchase anything from someone with a "@yahoo.com" or... Read More

Deleted Domains Can Kickstart a New Website

Are you getting ready to launch a new website online... Read More

Warning: Your Domain Name Could Infringe On Trademark Rights!

If you have or are about to purchase a domain... Read More

How to Sell your Website

There are hundreds and thousands of websites on the internet... Read More

Five Ways To Profit From Public Domain Information

Ever wondered why Walt Disney never got sued for intellectual... Read More

Domain Names

Domain names are relatively straightforward! Or at least that's the... Read More