How To Avoid Paying Domain Renewal Fees

If you've started the process of building a website you have to start with picking a domain name, this is the URL users will be using to access your content and is where you will host your site. Traditionally you would need to order a domain name; once it is approved, you will need to attach it to a hosting provider and then renew the name of your domain each year.

Should you fail to renew your domain name, it will be placed on the open market for purchase. This means that another person can put a bid in to get that domain name and if approved they will now have that name to place their site on and your site would either be forgotten or you would need to move to a new domain.

Alternatively, you would need to negotiate with the new owner to purchase the domain name once again.

Don't be fooled; this is a stark reality for thousands of site owners around the world. Even Google themselves had a lap in renewing their domain in 2015 and had it purchased by another person. Granted it was for $12, and ownership lasted for 1 minute, but it just shows that anyone can lose the right to their domain due to this archaic system.

So if you're fed up with paying for your domain name or want a website but don't want to have to fork out cash each year to claim the name, then here are a couple of options for you to explore.

A free website builder

If you don't want to pay for a hosting provider to keep a domain, you can use a free website builder like Google Website Builder, WordPress.org, Blogger, dBlog, Wix and a host of other CMS"s that allow you to build a free subdomain under their main domain.

These free options will enable you to bypass paying for a domain hosting, but you will have less control over your website, and you're at the mercy of any changes the company makes to their site and CMS.

These sites are great for those who want a simple blog or want a place to host their content online.

A blockchain domain

A blockchain domain is a new concept that has started to gain traction since the release of variable TLD extensions. There was a time when TLD extensions were limited to regions like .com. co.uk, etc. but now its been oped up to have domain names like .anything, .city or whatever you like.

Blockchain domains have taken this concept and run with it to open up a new brand of domains such as .crupto, .zil and. Eth domains are now available for purchase with services like Unstoppable Domains.

Blockchain domains allow you to purchase a domain outright and own it for a single fee and you will never need to pay for renewing costs since you have the ownership of the domain.

Sadly browsers and Google do not yet fully support blockchain domains which makes the barrier to getting traffic a bit tough when compared to traditional domains.

I still recommend having your traditional domain if you're a business that relies on getting traffic. Yet, for those who are looking for a place to have a personal blog or someone who has a strong social or dark social following where people don't mind the additional barrier to entry then this is an excellent option for you.

Additionally, if you fear censorship or you have been censored for your views, then a decentralised domain could be an option to host your content without the fear of being taken down by authorities in your part of the world.

Make your domain a home

Building a site and watching to row due to your efforts can be a rewarding exercise once you have a domain to call your own. You are free to express yourself and attract users who resonate with your ideas and want to get in contact with you, your products or services.

If you're interested in building a website or migrating your site to a crypto domain, then let's have a chat.

Domain drama

Have you had issues with losing a domain in the past or securing a domain name? Let us know in the comments below; we'd love to hear from you.

Contact us

If you're having trouble getting started with a purchasing the right domain then feel free to contact us and let's see how we can help you get a domain to get started.

Are you looking to promote your business?

South African Business owners can create your free business listing on nichemarket. The more information you provide about your business, the easier it will be for your customers to find you online. Registering with nichemarket is easy; all you will need to do is head over to our sign up form and follow the instructions.

If you require a more detailed guide on how to create your profile or your listing, then we highly recommend you check out the following articles. 

• How to create a nichemarketer profile 
• How to create a nichemarket business listing 

Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have a little extra time to dive deeper down the rabbit hole, why not check out the following posts about website domains.

• 9 Steps To Take Before Picking Your Domain Name
• Moz Launches Domain Authority Version 2.0 To Bring SEO Metrics Into 2019
• 6 Ways to Promote Your Web Hosting Company
• Everything you need to know about web hosting
• Does Web Hosting Affect SEO?

Tags: Domain Names, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency