Domain Name Management

Mary C. | 22 April 2005 |

Domain Name Management
Aaron Agee, Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.

What does it mean to "register" a domain name?
When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet.

How do I register a domain name?
Domain names ending with .biz, .com, .info, .net, and .org can be registered through many different companies (known as "registrars") that compete with one another. A listing of these companies can be found in a search for Registrar Directories on the internet.

The registrar you choose will ask you to provide various contact and technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar will then keep a record of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "Registry." It provides other computers on the Internet with the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to enter into a registration contract with the registrar; it sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained.

How can I find out information about my domain and who is in control of it?
Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available, to allow resolutions of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is, however, possible to register a domain in the name of a third party or to use a third party for technical and/or administrative contacts. This can be advantageous for renewals and management of the domain, but the registrant (you) still own and have complete authority over the domain name. The administrative contact has management rights over the domain. You can query all of this information for a particular domain, no matter who registered it, by going to http://resellers.tucows.com/whois.

If you type your complete domain name into the search utility listed above, it will list the following segments:

· Registrant (owner and controler of the domain name)
· Administrative Contact
· Technical Contact
· Registration Service Provider

For domains that Blizzard Internet Marketing registers, the company will never be the registrant, but will be listed under administrative and technical contacts for billing and renewal purposes.

How long does a registration last?

Each registrar has the flexibility to offer initial and renewal registrations in one-year increments, with a total registration period limit of ten years.

How much does a domain name registration cost?

Each registrar sets the price it charges for registering names, and prices vary significantly among different registrars. Blizzard Internet Marketing offers package registration services in connection with its other offerings, such as web hosting, design and promotion. Click here to see Blizzard’s hosting offerings.

Since Blizzard Internet Marketing hosts my website, does this mean that Blizzard automatically manages my domain name?
No! This is a common misconception that sometimes creates problems. The Hosting Department at Blizzard has experienced many instances of client domain names not under its control expiring. When this happens, the client website goes down until the domain name is renewed.

Our domain registrar notifies the Blizzard Hosting Department when any domain that we manage is close to expiration. In response, Blizzard sends client e-mail notifications at 90, 60, 30, and 5 days prior to expiration. Each domain name renewal is also invoiced at 30 days before expiration. This value-added service is part of all hosting plans at Blizzard when we manage a client’s domain.

What if I’ve already registered my domain name? Can Blizzard Internet Marketing manage it for me?
You can contact Blizzard and request that the company take control of your domain name and manage it in the future, beginning no less than 60 days after initial registration. For details on the transfer process, contact the Blizzard Internet Marketing Hosting Department.

I have seen advertisements for domain registration by companies not in the accredited registrar directory. Are these legitimate?
Only registrars accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) are authorized to register domain names. Some of these accredited registrars offer their services through resellers like Blizzard Internet Marketing, which provides assistance in completing the registration process, managing the domain name, and assisting with domain renewals. Your registration may be managed by Blizzard, but it will be registered through Tucows, our ICANN accredited domain registrar.