Congratulations on securing your new domain name! This is the first exciting step toward building your online presence. While the registration process itself is straightforward, there are a few important actions you should take immediately to ensure your domain remains secure and your online journey starts smoothly.
After registering your domain, you’ll receive an email with a link to verify your contact information. This is a crucial, mandatory step. If you don’t verify your information, your domain could be suspended, causing your website and email to stop working. The email is typically sent to the address you provided during registration, so be sure to check your inbox (and spam folder) and click the verification link as soon as you receive it.
Don’t risk letting your domain expire by accident. Many domain registrars offer an auto-renewal feature that automatically renews your domain before its expiration date. By enabling this feature, you can rest easy knowing that your domain will stay active without you having to remember to manually renew it each year. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your online identity.
Even with auto-renewal enabled, it’s a good practice to set a reminder in your calendar for your domain’s expiration date. This serves as a fail-safe. If for any reason your credit card information changes or an auto-renewal payment fails, you’ll have a reminder to take action before it’s too late. It’s better to be proactive and have a backup plan.
An expired domain can have serious consequences for your business. When your domain expires:
Your website and email will stop working. This can lead to a significant loss of traffic and customer communication.
Someone else can buy your domain. Once the grace period for renewal passes, your domain becomes available to the public. If a competitor or cybersquatter buys it, you may lose your brand identity and online reputation.
Getting it back will be difficult and expensive. If someone else purchases your expired domain, you may have to pay a much higher price to buy it back—if it’s even for sale. It’s a costly and frustrating situation that is entirely avoidable.
With your domain secured, it’s time to start planning what you’ll do with it. Will you create a professional website, a blog, or an e-commerce store? Think about your goals and begin laying the groundwork for your online presence. Your domain is the foundation; now it’s time to build your digital home.
