An In-Depth Guide to the Domain Renewal Process

Considering how much the internet has changed, it comes as no surprise then that more and more people are developing their own websites. From online resumes and portfolios to a simple blog; website ownership is more accessible than ever.

But what a lot of people forget when it comes to site ownership is the various steps that we have to take. Things like domain registration and renewal are often left as a problem for their future selves.

Don't let that be you. Since this article will be talking about how and why you should renew your domain, we'll be assuming you've already gone through domain registrations.

Ultimate Guide to Domain Renewal

How to Renew Your Domain

For the most part, this will depend on the domain registrar you chose for your site. There should be a few options as well on the system of your domain renewal.

Typically, domain registration includes options for your domain's lease. This could range between a year and ten years, often the deciding factor there is your perceived need. Depending on your registrar, you may receive renewal notices ahead of time.

That being said, it would be best to renew your website before it even expires. Renewing your domain shouldn't even be that hard.

The best practice here is to stay up-to-date on the process and/or the instructions given by your chosen registrar. As long as that information is available to you, things should be as simple as renewing your driver's license.

Setting Up Auto-Renews for Your Domain Name

Of course, the easiest thing you can do for yourself is to set up an auto-renew function for your domain. This, of course, depends on the options available to you on your domain control panel.

Assuming your dashboard does offer these services, you should be able to enable domain auto-renew by clicking the domain link on your screen. Look for the option that allows you to manage the domain's settings.

From there, the process is as simple as clicking on "Enable" or a similar button, depending on the checkboxes available. After this, you shouldn't need to manually renew your domain unless an unrelated issue occurs.

Why You Should Renew Your Domain

For this section, we'll dive into why we need to be punctual with domain name renewal. For one, a domain name is registered only for a specific period of time.

This is why you might have read, "leasing a domain" before. While you remain as the site owner, the domain name itself is "rented" and registered by the domain registrar. Then, depending on the choices you were offered, you could select the period for that lease.

What Happens if You Let Your Domain Name Expire

Now, the problem only really begins once you've become too complacent with your site. In our experience, most sites find themselves in a mess when they let the expiration date on their lease lapse.

The impact could vary. Some Top Level Domains (TLD) offer a grace period between the expiration date and the payment. This could range from 12 days to 1 month.

Conversely, some domains don't offer that grace period. In these cases, you either lose access immediately after or are given a short redemption period to recover that domain.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I renew my domain? 

Domain renewal should be patterned on the renewal options that your chosen domain registrar offers. Let's say you register a domain and the expiration date is for exactly a year after. You should then renew before that 12 month period is up.

So it basically depends on the expiration date given to your domain. If the services you purchased are good for 10 years then the next renewal should be accounted for before the end of those 10 years.

Fortunately, there have been a couple of payment options available for long-term leases. Again, this will depend on your domain registration conditions but the general consensus is that long-term leases see a variety of payment method solutions.

How much does it cost to renew my domain? 

The information here might vary on your registration process and registrar. This is because different registrars might have different registration steps.

Generally, though, the average renewal price hovers around $9.99. The types of domains might affect this price as well as the registrar's fee.

Note that payment should be done directly with the registrar as well unless stated otherwise. That's because they're in charge of dealing with the customers (you) and connecting them to the world of the internet.

Additional Resources

As you do your research on renewing your domain, the terms might start to confuse you. To help you out, we've got a few sources of information that might act as a useful tool in your journey.

ICANN

ICANN is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency and fairness on the internet. They host content that discusses issues revolving around the internet and have articles on every bit involved in the process of domain registration.

OBERLO

Oberlo is a site that focuses on proving help towards those interested in starting a business. Fortunately, this includes domains as these provide a platform for those interested in domain names and the like.

At the end of the day, owning a domain is an easy enough job. The important thing is to remember to renew that lease of yours to make sure your service doesn't get cut. If you find yourself interested in these topics, you can visit PageKits.com to learn more!

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