Savvy Domain Expiration Date Management

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A domain expiration date comes as a surprise to many site owners. The completion date of a domain name is part of the contract you sign when you choose domain names.

It is akin to “renting” the domain name from a willing registrar or host, and all domain name registration includes an end date.

Unexpected domain termination is the quickest way to lose years of hard work. If your domain name has expired it could go on auction for purchase by someone else, taking all that progress with it.

Let’s explore how you can safeguard all the effort you have put into building your site.

Why is Retaining Domain Names So Important?

The “name” of any website is the Internet Protocol (IP) address. The domain name acts as the showpiece to grab the attention of potential site visitors, and an enticing domain name is a huge factor in driving traffic.

Assigned names typically give the user information about the business or play into the site’s niche. Domain names also brand a business online, so preserving its following is essential to your success.

How is it Possible to Miss a Domain Expiration Date?

If your first reaction is that you would never let your website fall prey to a simple domain date lapse, you are not alone. Yet, expiry dates often come and go before site owners realize it because it is not high on the priority list.

Complacency about the date is also easy because there is a grace period that allows you to re-register if you miss the window.

Here are a few reasons why it is still important to check domain expiry date details carefully:

Lengthy terms

If the agreement for domain names is a long-term agreement, your site might be active for up to ten years.

If your registration expires that long after you start using the domain, you are extremely likely to misplace the domain’s date of expiry.

Changes in Details

Have you changed your email since you set up your website? These forgotten changes are how most people missed the renewal reminders from their host before their domain expired.

Renewal notices go to the address on file from the original agreement unless you update the information.

Distractions

About 200,000 websites expire daily. Life is busy, and you may let one site slip through the cracks, especially if you manage multiple portals.

What to do After You Notice Your Domain Expire

What happens when you miss the domain registration expiration date?

If you are a registered domain owner, your registrar will probably provide a renewal grace period before your domain heads to the auction block. Typically, you have 30 days to renew your general registration.

The registry grace period will allow you to re-register after the expiry date of domain name details, usually through a redemption fee. You will also sign a new agreement with the registrar (with an updated date).

If you miss both the website domain expiry date and the redemption period, the host will sell off your domain name to the highest bidder. When your domain expires, it can mean losing years of hard work and starting from scratch.

How to Avoid Losing Your Domain to the Domain Expiration Date

There are a few ways you can avoid losing domains to expiration and avoid paying a renewal fee. The first suggestion is to keep registered names in a single file with the relevant dates and domain registrar contact details.

You can also organize your websites as follows:

  • Opt-in for the auto-renew feature. Tick the auto-renew box to protect your domain name from lapsing in the future. Payment will come off your account automatically.
  • Run a Whois lookup. The Whois database can deliver detailed information for your records—you only need your IP address for the Whois search.

These are excellent tips for keeping your site active, but the easiest way to avoid losing domain names is to use a domain expiration date checker.

A checker for expiring domains helps you hang on to that perfect domain, even when administration is not a strong point.

The Right Domain Name Registration Tools Make a Difference

A domain expiration date does not only interest those who want to keep their sites operational; expiration dates also represent opportunities to snap up a popular domain name.

An expired but established site could be a valuable SEO tool. It could also be sold for a profit if you have the right skills.

When the domain name expiration looms, you can watch for soon-to-be-expired domain names that look like a great investment for you.

Staying informed about certain domains you want is also easier with the right tools and other services, like crawlers.

It can help you track the current owner, due date, time zone, and other personal information you might need if you want to swoop in as the new owner before it hits the open market.

Never Miss a Domain Expiration Date Again

Whether you are trying to protect your domain name or find popular domain names for sale, our top suggestion is to use a domain date checker.

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