Domain Registrars

A domain name registrar is an organization that manages the reservation of internet domain names. Registrars sometimes additionally provide hosting, DNS, and email services. If your site is using our services, we only provide the hosting aspect of your website. 

Should You Pay Your Domain Registration Fees?

Yes, AspireSoft only hosts your website, so you need to pay the registrar - the company you bought your domain name from in order to keep the domain name registered in your name/your business' name.

The fees are generally yearly, but you may choose to pay for multiple years if there's some special discounts when you renew for multiple years.

How to Make Sure Your Domain Stays Yours?

Always pay your registrar in time.

It's a good idea to do automatic renewals to prevent your domain from being snatched from you by someone else.

Find out if your registrar has any grace period if you miss a payment due to some reason. Many registrars like Godaddy or Network Solutions will send you many reminders way in advance of your domain's registration expiry or will hold the domain for you even after expiry for some time giving you final notice to reclaim your domain. If your domain registrar does not have such grace period, you may want to transfer the domain to a registrar where you don't have to worry about losing your domain to someone else. See more in the Drop Catching section below.

Scams

Be alert about unsolicited emails - always check the from email address. If it doesn't end with your domain registrar's name after the @ sign, it might be a scam. 

If you are doubtful, email your contact at AspireSoft to help you figure out what the email is about. 

Dubious sounding emails with odd looking links shouldn't be clicked on.

Emails with attachments can also be scams, take precaution if choose to open one that claims to be from your domain registrar.

Do not send payments or agree to pay for any services that you did not request. Every trustworthy registrar has a my account section that should list any expiring products. They would not ask you to send payments through Paypal or to a bank account.

Drop Catching

It's quite common that a domain which becomes even briefly available for purchase due to non-payment for whatever reason will be quickly snatched by a competitor or someone who may have never want to use your domain for a website. Therefore, check that your domain registrar will send out ample reminders before the domain actually expires.

In our experience, 1AND1, is one of those rare registrars who do not handle their domains well. One of our clients' domain was registered with them and despite having renewed in time, their domain ended up with some domain squatting company who then demanded an exuberant amount to give the domain back. It took several emails and sending of proofs by our client to convince 1AND1 that they had actually renewed in time, so they should get their domain back without any extra charges being paid to the third-party. Despite being initially told that nothing can be done, 1AND1 was suddenly able to restore the client's domain in her name after proof was given of the error being on 1AND1's side.

Most Popular Registrars

BlueHost

DreamHost

Godaddy

Gandi

HostGator

Hover

Name

Namecheap

Network Solutions