There is always some excitement to the idea of moving from one place of residence to another. The excitement though turns when you realize that there is a lot to consider even before moving. The same is true to transferring your domain name.
The question then becomes… What does it mean transferring your domain name? The simple answer is, changing the registrar with which your domain name is registered. If you have already tracked down and purchased that perfect domain name for your business or project, but find yourself displeased with the level of service provided by your current registrar, then just as it is moving from one house to another transferring your domain to a registrar that better suits your needs is a relatively simple process.
There are plenty of reasons one might become disgruntled with one’s current registrar and choose to switch to another. After all, not all registrars are created equal. Most will offer packages that include different features, with different prices and different levels of reliability. Some offer superior customer support, while other user interfaces are easier to navigate.
So what are the things that one needs to consider?
- Features
Every registrar offers a suite of features and services, such as privacy protection, web hosting, and email. If you don’t have all the features you want with your current registrar, you may wish to take advantage of a better package offered by a different registrar.
In addition to comparing features, it’s also important to look at how the features and services are priced and implemented:
Price: Do the features you need cost extra or are they included as part of the package?
Ease of use: Are the features you need easy to implement? Will they require manual effort on your part, or does the registrar offer some simple tools to make things like domain management easier for you?
Support: Will customer support be available when you need it?
Provider: Who provides the features they’re selling? Some registrars offer all their own services for email and web hosting, while others partner with third-party providers.
- Price
It might sound redundant but… Look critically at the price structure of your domain registrar, because each one is different. Some registrars might charge extra fees for services you consider critical, while others may offer the same services at no additional charge. Some may offer a low price for the first year, but then have much higher renewal rates. If your domain registrar is charging you more than you would be charged elsewhere, you may want to look for a less expensive registrar.
But remember: Price alone may not justify transferring your domain. Saving a few shillings per year on a domain name is much less valuable than having a domain registrar that suits your needs. Before making a transfer, consider the pros and cons of each registrar.
- Changing ownership
If you need to change the ownership of your domain (either from you to another person, or another person to you), you’ll need to do a domain transfer. For example, if an employee registered your domain under a personal account, you may want to transfer the domain to an account maintained by your business. In some cases, you may choose to transfer to another registrar at the same time you transfer ownership.
- How to transfer safely and easily
With so many registrars out there, it’s very easy to transfer your domain. While every registrar’s transfer process is different, they all have some useful features in common to ensure that transfers are safe and secure:
Transfer locks prevent your domain from being transferred without your knowledge.
Authorization codes help make sure you have permission to transfer your domain from one registrar to another. They are sometimes called “EPP codes” or “Transfer codes.”
Confirmation emails make sure you are transferring your domain to the right person. You can’t make the transfer without verifying your identity.
The technical details involved in a transfer can seem overwhelming, but many registrars have excellent online help articles that can walk you through the process. At Google Domains, we make it super easy by guiding you through each step with simple instructions.
So… just as one gets to love the adventure of moving once all the boxes are ticked, transferring your domain name could be an adventure in the online world.