discuss Ever lost a good domain just because you forgot to renew it?

[nicenic]

We've seen it too many times, someone forgets to renew a domain, and boom, it's listed on an auction site the next day.

From a business side, sure, it's "legal." But is it right?
Did you get it back or someone else took it?
Any tricks you use now to make sure it never happens again?

 

[Eric Lyon]

I think it happened once back in 2006 (Never got it back) and ever since, I have auto-renewal set (The trick).

That should be a mistake that only happens once. if it happens more than that, well, the person may simply be a slower learner.

We all learn at a different pace.

 

[nicenic]

I think it happened once back in 2006 (Never got it back) and ever since, I have auto-renewal set (The trick).

That should be a mistake that only happens once. if it happens more than that, well, the person may simply be a slower learner.

We all learn at a different pace.

Totally agree, Eric! Do you use registrar alerts or third-party tools to track renewals these days?

 

[xwat]

Yes, I would have to dig back but I let a few I really liked expire because at the time I was not as into domains as I was and am now. Now I have all my registered domains renewed for at least 8 years. But I still have the domains I like the most.

 

[Eric Lyon]

Totally agree, Eric! Do you use registrar alerts or third-party tools to track renewals these days?

Registrar alerts is the only thing active, besides the auto-renewal feature. The alerts just allow me the opportunity to check and make sure there's enough credit in the account they pull from to cover the automated charges (I like to keep all credit related accounts under 29% utilization as part of my optimal scoring methodology).

I generally use a 2% to 10% CashBack or points business credit card for business related registration and renewal costs (As well as hosting, SSL, email, etc.) to save a little or to stack points to trade in for something cool later (Depending on the cards rewards structure).

 

[nicenic]

Yes, I would have to dig back but I let a few I really liked expire because at the time I was not as into domains as I was and am now. Now I have all my registered domains renewed for at least 8 years. But I still have the domains I like the most.

Sounds like a solid approach, xwat. How do you decide which names are worth long term renewal?

Registrar alerts is the only thing active, besides the auto-renewal feature. The alerts just allow me the opportunity to check and make sure there's enough credit in the account they pull from to cover the automated charges (I like to keep all credit related accounts under 29% utilization as part of my optimal scoring methodology).

I generally use a 2% to 10% CashBack or points business credit card for business related registration and renewal costs (As well as hosting, SSL, email, etc.) to save a little or to stack points to trade in for something cool later (Depending on the cards rewards structure).

Makes sense, and pairing that setup with registrar APIs could streamline renewal tracking even further, right?

 

[xwat]

Sounds like a solid approach, xwat. How do you decide which names are worth long term renewal?

I just use what I feel. I keep single word dictionary words, short pronounceable names that are not real words but could be used for branding and or are close to a properly spelled dictionary word, tech jargon, and brandables.

I have a pronounceable misspelling of a very large and well known city that is both an old time spelling and now a growing in popularity baby name. I could use it for a company of mine or I could sell it. I mostly have .com's for the good ones I have the .net a lot of times.

Some of the names have now become small companies. I am in the process of selling one that I feel I know who is buying it.

 

[Donmarick]

Few times that was my problem using many register companies at once and not handle them well.

 

[pb]

Yes. Next postbait please!

 

[nicenic]

I just use what I feel. I keep single word dictionary words, short pronounceable names that are not real words but could be used for branding and or are close to a properly spelled dictionary word, tech jargon, and brandables.

I have a pronounceable misspelling of a very large and well known city that is both an old time spelling and now a growing in popularity baby name. I could use it for a company of mine or I could sell it. I mostly have .com's for the good ones I have the .net a lot of times.

Some of the names have now become small companies. I am in the process of selling one that I feel I know who is buying it.

That’s a sharp portfolio strategy and congrats on the upcoming sale!

You’ve clearly got a great eye for names that can grow into real brands.

Few times that was my problem using many register companies at once and not handle them well.

Yeah that juggling act can get messy, makes me wonder how you’re organizing things now?

 

[Donmarick]

That’s a sharp portfolio strategy and congrats on the upcoming sale!

You’ve clearly got a great eye for names that can grow into real brands.

Yeah that juggling act can get messy, makes me wonder how you’re organizing things now?

using just 2 registrar

 

[nicenic]

using just 2 registrar

Using two registrars can be smooth, especially when your management tools keep everything organized.

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

Troll feeds troll. Are you incapable of thinking fro yourself or is it the issue english reason is you say what chatgpt says.
10 registrars can be smooth when your management tools keep everything organized

 

[byte]

Luckily that has never happened to me!

 

[nicenic]

Luckily that has never happened to me!

Oh, poooor Bart looooool

 

[Joshh71390]

We've seen it too many times, someone forgets to renew a domain, and boom, it's listed on an auction site the next day.

From a business side, sure, it's "legal." But is it right?
Did you get it back or someone else took it?
Any tricks you use now to make sure it never happens again?

No what happens is this... when a domain expires (from your standpoint) you have a grace period to pay where it is yours if you so chose to pay (call this 20 days for simplicity)

During this grace period your the only one who can renew it.

Then after this period the registrar still (owns*) the domain name on paper for another period of time( well call it another 20 days for simplicity) -> In this period the registrar still possesses the name and trys to auction it off to another person.

After this period if noone else choses to buy it it will reach the DROP DATE which is when it is dropped from the registrar...

At this point in time it becomes available from the registry.

When you let it expire -> the registrar (godaddy, namecheap) is trying to sell it again before it deletes it from it's databases.

** edit **
At the end of the day... if your name wasn't flying off the shelves while you owned it, chances are if you wait till the drop date (you can look up a domains drop date) you can just re register it...

I know if feels crappy when you tyhink someone else snatched it from you** but chances are it hasnt fully expired yet.

 

[nicenic]

No what happens is this... when a domain expires (from your standpoint) you have a grace period to pay where it is yours if you so chose to pay (call this 20 days for simplicity)

During this grace period your the only one who can renew it.

Then after this period the registrar still (owns*) the domain name on paper for another period of time( well call it another 20 days for simplicity) -> In this period the registrar still possesses the name and trys to auction it off to another person.

After this period if noone else choses to buy it it will reach the DROP DATE which is when it is dropped from the registrar...

At this point in time it becomes available from the registry.

When you let it expire -> the registrar (godaddy, namecheap) is trying to sell it again before it deletes it from it's databases.

** edit **
At the end of the day... if your name wasn't flying off the shelves while you owned it, chances are if you wait till the drop date (you can look up a domains drop date) you can just re register it...

I know if feels crappy when you tyhink someone else snatched it from you** but chances are it hasnt fully expired yet.

You summed the lifecycle well, and the only extra angle worth noting is how registrar auction pipelines shape most outcomes long before true deletion.