By Erich Mueller, Key Accounts Manager/Transfer Consultant
If domain names were considered food, then registrars would be comparable to restaurants in which domainers dine. A domain name registrar is a company accredited to register domain names by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and/or by a national country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD). There are literally thousands of registrars to choose from when starting out in assembling a domain name portfolio, so how does one distinguish between them? In my opinion, there are a few factors that should be considered when deciphering which registrars would be considered a worthwhile dining experience:
1. Are there any hidden fees?
2. How easy is the customer account to navigate?
3. How easy is it to change ownership within the registrar?
4. Do they have the features you want or may want in the future? You may want to choose a host who gives you a free custom homepage, email and web forwarding, or search engine submission.
Perhaps the biggest factor in choosing a registrar when multiple registrations are sought is the cost of registration. The ubiquitous saying of ‘less is more’ duly applies when registering domain names in bulk. If selling is on the horizon for portfolio holders, then the ease of changing ownership should be considered carefully before choosing a registrar. Many registrars make it quite easy to change ownership for free, while others restrict it quite a bit. When you really break it down, you should consider how easy they make the process for you and how willing and open their customer support is to answering questions regarding their cost and other terms.
If you still aren’t sure what registrar to choose after considering the above factors, then I suggest checking out some customer reviews of the registrar you are interested in. Hearing what your fellow domainers think of a specific registrar can help you determine if they are worth checking out.