SAVE 40% on Domain Names cost!
Hi, my name is Charles Morrison. I run several websites and a few years ago, I discovered a way to SAVE money, and get BETTER service on my domain names. I'll share what I've learned with you today.
I found I needed my own domain name account in 1996, way back in the beginning of the internet. At that time, there was only one place to register dot.com names from: Network Solutions, who also go by the names, NSI, netsol, and lately Verisign.
The monopoly in domain name registrations was held by Network Solutions. The trappings and results of a monopoly were evident. I remember being on hold for an hour and a half, waiting to make a DNS change. When the customer service rep came on the line, they spoke like I was the problem and a nuisance to them. Doesn't make you feel good. There had to be a better way!
The price for domains in those days, also reflected a monopoly. $35 per year USD, minimum 2 year order. That was well over $100 Canadian. For a beginning webmaster, the price was a lot, but a price that had to be paid, to get to the big leagues of owning your own domain name.
De-Regulation - A Better Way
I don't recall the exact date, but ICANN de-regulated domain registrations, which basically means that it wasn't only Network Solutions registering domain names anymore.
Well, at first people wondered, are the other guys reliable and trustworthy? Will they be around in 5 years? I hadn't tried another domain registrar, so why bother.
There was an era for about a year, during the dot.com boom when price was the only consideration, and prices dropped to $12 / year for a domain. So I took the plunge and tried another registrar.
You won't believe what I found!?!
Price. Features. Friendly Customer Service. Control.
I know that price is what brought me over to the non-Network Solutions side, so that's what I'll mention first. $35 per year, 2 year minimum vs. $20 per year, 1 year minimum. It wasn't a real fair contest.
I shaved 40 per cent off my annual domain bill instantly!
Unless you're in business, you don't often look at annual budgets and stuff. But I wanted to grow to a number of domains, and eventually my domain bills would grow. I needed a discount. If you're in business, and want to grow, consider moving to another domain registrar, ASAP, just because of the COST DISCOUNT. And that's not just this year, its every year, because the renewal price is the same $20.
Friendly Customer Service.
While there are a variety of other registrar's out there, as a webhosting provider, I've been on hold with a variety of them, in handling customer domains issues. I had found a registrar that is responsive and friendly, offers and delivers 24 hours support, 7 days a week. Wow! I had to tell people about this.
My first personal customer support person was Desiree. Helpful, friendly, returned my calls, and when I had to call - it was a toll-free call. Email was responded to on the same day. Every issue that has come up has been responded to and resolved. This was a company that is worth doing business with.
Features plus Control.
I also found that the my new domain registrar had a control panel, where I could adjust my own DNS settings, update email addresses, and take care of my own needs.
Later on, after the dot.com crash, when price was no longer the only consideration, and features counted for something, my registrar added things like: free parking, one page mini-site while parked, domain email forwarding, and domain forwarding to current websites! Some places charged extra for this stuff, but my registrar included it for free.
And I know that they're continuing to work on new features and domains extensions. They've added the ability to register the new domain extensions, such as dot.CA, dot. BIZ, dot. INFO, dot.US, in a timely manner.
Another aspect of the company, that is on my list of important things, is that the company also be in Canada,
I like companies that understand my needs. I love Americans. I have a few American cousins. But in business and customer service, I prefer to deal with Canadians, being one myself. I find they understand my minor patriotic inferiority issues :-), and we tend to have common sensibilities - the subtleties. The company that I recommend is Canadian based with world-wide offices, and is listed on NASDAQ, and is profitable. Because they're Canadian, I can also register dot.CA names.
I liked the company so much that I wanted to be a sales person for their great service. I signed up as a reseller, and now offer their customer service, and domain registrar services. The great service you still get from them, but I get a dollar or two from everyone I send their way.
Continuous Service - No Interruptions.
So what's involved in a domain name registrar transfer?
First of all, its not the same as a webhosting DNS change. If you've been through the sometimes messy business of changing webhosts, you've perhaps had DNS changes take days, and have your website down. THIS IS NOT THAT.
Your website won't go down.
You won't know, that there's a change, except for a few emails.
You will get an additional year of time on your domain registration.
You'll have a new better registrar.
My First Transfer from Network Solutions
Here's how my first Domain Registrar change happened.
1. I clicked a link to Transfer Domain.
2. I filled in my domain name. Filled in Credit Card info. Hit Send. ( When this happened the owner of the domain was sent an email, confirming this request.)
3. Network Solutions, sent me a confirmation email, that required me to read very carefully and respond. I sent confirmation email.
4. About 5 days later, I found out the transfer was approved, and my credit card was charged for $20 for an additional year. Renewals are the same price $20.
Normally, it takes about five days to go through. And the company provides a automated way to check to see if its gone through.
On one particularly interesting situation, I've had Network Solutions, disallow the transfer, and re-requested 3 times, but that was somewhat unusual, and it did eventually go through. I was especially happy to be done with Network Solutions, and their continuing monopolistic manners.
What's in it for me?
Why am I doing this? A number of reasons: I found a better way, and I want to share this. Better features, better price, better way. I make a couple of bucks off each transfer, and in the long run, I pay for my own domain names with the money I make from selling domains. It's that simple.
The Company
The registrar that I recommend is DomainPeople.com. I also recommend that you buy from my affiliate link, because as a reseller, I offer their services at a LOWER PRICE that they do. I do this because I believe in their service, and I'm in it for the long haul.
Are you READY?
If you're ready to SAVE 40 % this year, and next year, and the next. and get better service, please check to see if your domain is expiring soon. Here's a handy link to check your whois information, including the expiry date on your current domains.
Step 1: look up your current whois infomation for the domain using the link below. Keep the window open.
WHOIS Info
If you are ready to transfer, please click here:
PS. Many people don't think about changing registrar's until the renewal notice from Network Solutions arrives. If Network Solutions has already issued you an invoice, you can still request to transfer registrars, but they don't like to approve transfers then. I've had one go through after the invoice was issued but its not a sure thing.
We want your business, and we'll treat you that way!
