You’re at the checkout for a new domain, and it asks how many years you want. Most people click “1” and move on without thinking about it.
Here’s a quick way to decide.
Ask yourself three questions
- Is this the name I’ll use for years? If it’s your business or church name, the answer is probably yes.
- Am I still testing the idea? If you might change the name next month, one year keeps things light.
- Would I notice if a renewal email got lost? Be honest. Renewal notices end up in spam folders all the time.
What to do with your answers
- Name you’ll keep: choose a longer term. Check what the checkout shows for each term before you pick one. That way you only have to remember the renewal less often.
- Name you’re testing: register for one year and turn on auto-renew.
- Not sure: one year with auto-renew is a perfectly good middle ground.
Do these two things either way
- Turn on auto-renew for the domain in your account.
- Make sure the card on file is current, and that the contact email on the domain is one you actually check.
A longer term won’t save you if your contact email is dead. An annual term with a working card and a working email is safer than a long term nobody is watching.
Add a calendar reminder
Put the expiration date in your calendar with a reminder 30 days before. It takes one minute, and it’s your backup plan if everything else fails.
Stuck? Call 763-CGRAPES (763-247-2737) any hour. Real people, 24/7 sales and support.
Chris, Cyber Grapes