Advice

It’s important that you keep your credit card information updated at your domain registrar. Some people and companies who don’t actively monitor their domain names’ status, may not log in to their domain control panel very often since it’s unnecessary once a website is set up. Because credit card numbers change over time as do email addresses, a domain name could be lost if it isn’t renewed in time.

One example of a possible problem has to do with Cisco. Via Sahar’s Blog, I read a post discussing Cisco.com’s upcoming expiration date of May 15, 2009. Ordinarily one month+ is plenty of time to renew a domain name. However, after looking into this a bit, I see that they originally registered the domain name in 1987, and the expiration date of May 15, 2009 is the same as it was from day one. This means they’ve never had to deal with renewing their registration on this domain name.

Although Cisco owns many other domain names, all with the same admin email address, this could have been problematic for them had they used an employees’ email address, who may have departed the company sometime in the last 22 years. They also may not have had a valid credit card number on file. Both of these issues aren’t applicable in this situation for Cisco, but I am sure it happens to others. Long term domain registrations are great, but they could be problematic down the road for some who aren’t vigilant.

While it is highly unlikely that Cisco will forget to renew their primary domain name, it is important for all domain owners to keep credit card and email information accurate and updated. If a company only owns one domain name, and it has an invalid email address and an expired credit card on file, there is a good chance the domain name will expire and be sent to a drop auction.

Yeah – that would suck, right?   Well, what would happen to all of your domain names?   How would all of your Internet-based colleagues and friends find out about your demise? There’s an article on Yahoo News discussing how some online gamers have dealt with death, and how their families had to inform friends and colleagues about a death. Now is the time to start thinking about this type of stuff while you are alive (and healthy).

There have been a couple of websites established that can help family members notify friends and colleagues. One thing I strongly recommend to domain owners is to   extend the registration on the top 10-15% of their domain names for as long as possible.   In the event something happens (even if it’s injury and not death) the extended registration will ensure that domain names do not accidentally expire.   Most of my best domain names don’t expire for 10 years, and I extend it every time I can.

Secondly, on a flash drive that will either be stored in a bank vault or in a safe place within your home, write out all of your domain accounts and/or passwords.   If this scares you, you probably won’t need passwords if something happens to you and you at least give control of your possessions to a family member.   It’s important that they know where your domain names are registered at the very least.

Thirdly, on this emergency flash drive, add the names of your forum ID, email address, friends’ names and contact information, and other vital information.   It might also be smart to list a domain attorney or someone trusted within the domain community. Oftentimes a trusted family member or a friend won’t have much of a clue about domain names.   Since you won’t want your domain names to be a burden to them, put them in touch with a trusted person who can give them unbiased advice. If it’s difficult for you to sell a 5 letter “brandable” .net, do you really want to make it tough for a loved one to do it?   Give them an idea about what you think are your best names if they really don’t have a clue.

Think about some of these things and start planning, because you never know what tomorrow brings.