Domain Registration Checklist

Eleven checks to run before you click Buy, and a few to run afterwards.

• Say it out loud. Ask a couple of people to write down what they hear. If they spell it differently than you intended, think again.
• Check trademarks and handles. Search company registers and social platforms so you do not build on something you cannot use.
• Look at the renewal price. Year one is a promotion. The renewal is the real cost.
• Enable auto-renew. And make sure the card on file will not expire before the date.
• Turn on registrar lock. It prevents unauthorised transfers.
• Use a contact email that people actually read. A shared role address beats one person's inbox.
• Turn on two-factor authentication. The registrar account controls the whole domain, so protect it accordingly.
• Check what WHOIS shows. Many registrars now redact personal data by default. Confirm yours does.
• Decide who handles DNS. Registrar, host or a separate DNS provider. Write down who has access.
• Consider DNSSEC. Only if both your registrar and DNS host support it properly. A mistake can take the domain offline.
• For used domains, check the history. Look for past spam, penalties and unwanted backlinks before buying.