Domain Renewals

A new year is here and it is time to check your domains !!

It is important that everybody check their domains to see if they expire this year. If they do expire, I highly recommend you renew your domains for a period of 2 years or more.

CAUTIONS:
There are several companies that are notorious for mailing out Domain Renewal forms in the mail. These mailings make it appear that they are the domain registrant, but if you read the fine print, they are advertising to "TRANSFER" your domain. In most cases people mail a check and assume their domains are renewed and end up losing the domain name.

If your domain expires, you can be facing fees of $150.00 - $450.00 to get it back and that is if your lucky. In most cases they are quickly renewed by off-shore registrants and you'll have to register a new domain name, which can cost companies thousands of dollars (New E-mail Accounts, New Print Material, Loss of all search engine listings, etc..)

Needless to say, this is VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HOW TO CHECK YOUR DOMAIN:

1- Go to any whois query (Below is one I use)
http://www.domaintools.com/

2- Enter your domain name (DO NOT ENTER www.)
EXAMPLE: mydomain.com / mydomain.net / mydomain.org

3- Click Search, The page that will come up contains your whois record. Scroll to the bottom of the page and check your contact information as well as your expiration date.
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OTHER ITEMS TO CHECK

1- Verify your contact information is correct, such as mailing address, phone and most importantly your E-Mail Address.

2- Make sure you are the registered owner / administrator.

3- If you do not have your login information for your domain registrant, contact them and GET IT !!
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In closing I cannot stress enough the importance of your domain name and keeping track of it, as well as the details that go with it.