Domain Name Management: Everything You Need to Know
Your domain name is the core of your online presence—it’s the unique web address for your website on the internet. Choosing the right domain name and registering it are essential steps in domain acquisition, but just acquiring the domain isn’t enough.
A domain needs ongoing maintenance to stay updated and secure, whether it’s a single domain owned by a new entrepreneur or part of a large domain portfolio owned by a large corporation. Every domain name owner needs to practice some form of domain management, and a wide range of domain management services and tools can help with tasks ranging from updating and securing domain names to tracking performance with sophisticated analytics.
This guide can help you kickstart your domain name management journey. Let’s read on and learn more.
Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.
What is domain management?
Domain management involves the tasks necessary to maintain and control a domain name, ensuring it stays stable, secure, and functional. Site owners may end up focusing all their attention on setting up and upgrading the website itself, ending up neglecting their domains. However, managing the domain is also a key factor in keeping the website live and accessible.
Domain portfolio management
Individual users and small businesses may only need one domain name to establish an online presence and build a brand, but larger corporations or entrepreneurs with multiple business interests might require several domains.
Registrars also suggest buying various related domain extensions to prevent competitors from using them and to capture potential search variants, including misspellings. This can lead to a large portfolio of domains, some of which may never be used.
Regardless of the number of domains owned, all of them still need ongoing management to keep them updated and functional for their respective websites.
Why is domain management important?
Domain management is crucial for several key reasons. Firstly, it ensures website availability by maintaining proper domain settings and DNS records so your website remains accessible to visitors without interruptions.
Secondly, effective domain management is essential for brand protection; it helps safeguard your brand’s online identity by preventing unauthorized use or changes to your domain name. Because a domain establishes its owner’s online identity, you need to check for similar names that might be harmful to your brand’s reputation or authority, or tracking analytics to see how it performs in searches. Additionally, if you use a custom email address linked to your domain (such as [email protected]), proper management ensures that your email functions correctly, avoiding disruptions in communication.
Lastly, good domain management practices strengthen security by protecting your domain from theft, imitation, and unauthorized alterations, which helps maintain the overall stability and trustworthiness of your online presence. This can include validating IP addresses associated with the domain and checking for suspicious access to the domain.
How does domain management work?
Domain management can take various forms, depending on a domain owner’s individual goals and needs. But generally, a domain owner needs to be able to perform essential tasks such as:
Domain name registration
Domain registration is the initial process of choosing and purchasing a domain name from a domain registrar (like Domain.com). You pay for a domain name for a specified period (usually a year), and this gives you the right to use that name.
During the registration process, you’ll need to check the availability of your desired domain in the domain name search tool, as it must be unique and not already in use by someone else. Once you find an available name, you provide your contact information and payment details.
After completing the purchase, you will receive a confirmation email, and the domain will be registered in your name. You can then manage your domain settings, such as configuring DNS records and setting up website hosting, through the registrar’s control panel.
DNS management
Domain Name System (DNS) is like a phonebook on the internet. It translates your domain name into an IP address that computers use to find your website.
Managing DNS involves setting up and updating records to ensure that your website and other services function correctly. Key records include:
- A records. Points to your website’s IP address
- MX records. Used for email routing
- CNAME records. Aliases one domain to another, often used for subdomains
Proper DNS management ensures that any changes to your website’s IP address, email server, or other services are reflected accurately, keeping your site accessible and your email functioning properly. This process can typically be managed through your domain registrar’s control panel or a dedicated DNS management service.
Domain renewal
Domains are leased for a certain period, usually a year. To keep your domain active, you need to renew it with your domain provider before the registration period expires.
This ensures that you maintain ownership and prevent it from becoming available for others to register. If you don’t renew in time, you risk losing your domain, which could result in losing access to your website and associated email addresses. Most domain registrars offer reminders as the expiration date approaches and provide an auto-renewal option to simplify the process and avoid accidental lapses.
Domain transfer
If you want to move your domain to a different registrar (perhaps because you found a better service or a lower price), you’ll need to initiate a domain transfer. This process involves unlocking the domain and obtaining an authorization code from your current registrar.
Once you have the authorization code, you provide it to the new registrar to start the transfer. The new registrar will then communicate with the current registrar to complete the transfer, which typically takes a few days. During this period, it’s important to ensure that your contact information is up-to-date and to monitor emails for any transfer confirmation requests.
Once the transfer is complete, the new registrar will manage your domain, and you can update any necessary settings or configuration.
Domain security
Domain security involves protecting your domain from unauthorized changes or hijacking. Key security measures include setting up domain locks to prevent transfers without your permission, enabling two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of protection to your account, and regularly checking your domain’s WHOIS information to ensure that the ownership details are correct and up to date. These steps help safeguard your domain against potential threats and ensure that it remains under your control.
WHOIS management
WHOIS is a public database that provides information about the owner of a domain name. Managing WHOIS information involves keeping your contact details current to ensure you’re recognized as the domain owner and to receive important notifications, such as renewal reminders or security alerts.
Domain management tools and options
Effective domain management involves using various tools to handle tasks related to maintaining and controlling domain names. Depending on your needs, there are several tools and options available to help you manage your domains efficiently.
These tools can range from those provided by your domain registrar to specialized online services. Here’s an overview of the main types of domain management tools and options you can use:
- Registrar tools. These tools are available through the domain registrar’s platform or integrated into the web hosting service’s control panel. They offer a user-friendly, graphical interface to manage domain settings without needing technical expertise. Users can handle essential tasks such as renewing or terminating domain registrations, validating IP addresses, and configuring nameservers through these tools.
- Online tools. Both paid and free domain management tools are accessible online. These tools support various essential tasks, including registering and renewing domains, managing multi-domain portfolios, and tracking domain performance. Some tools offer additional features like domain name generators and functionalities for managing multiple registrars and nameservers, as well as enhancing domain security.
- Cloud-based and desktop tools. Domain management tools are available as cloud-based services or downloadable applications for desktop use. These tools provide users with the flexibility to control all aspects of domain management on their own, offering convenience and autonomy.
Domain management services
Several businesses buy multiple related domain names with different extensions, resulting in a large portfolio of domains. Some may lie dormant for long periods of time or never be used. Others may be associated with different nameservers or hosting accounts that have varying terms of renewal.
To manage all the domains they own, corporate users may turn to domain management services, which offer a variety of service plans for tracking and maintaining all the active and inactive domains in the portfolio.
Domain management services use their own suite of domain management tools to handle domain registrations and renewals, review the portfolio and delete unused and unneeded domains, and maintain domain security. With sophisticated analytics for tracking unauthorized uses, site performance, and other key metrics, these services can work with clients to address issues and change existing domains or the portfolio.
While larger businesses widely use domain management services, they can also be a useful solution for busy domain owners running small- or medium-sized – businesses, or even individuals who don’t want to manage domains themselves.
Maintain your domain to keep your brand online
A domain name is crucial for establishing your online presence, whether you’re a solopreneur, a small business, or a large corporation. Just as managing your website is vital, so is managing your domain or domain portfolio. For users of all kinds, domain management tools and services are essential for keeping your domains secure and stable long after they’re purchased and registered.
Take control of your online presence with ease—choose Domain.com for all your domain management needs. With their robust tools and reliable support, you can ensure your domain remains secure and your brand stays strong. Get started with Domain.com today and experience hassle-free domain management.
Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.