5 Common Domain Name Issues — and How to Solve Them

| Updated on March 27, 2024

A website’s success significantly depends on its domain name; however, various errors can harm its reputation over time. As such, being familiar with these predicaments is essential while implementing solutions for managing them. 

This article offers an outline of recurrent domain name issues and practical measures to tackle or avoid them altogether.  

Renewal Gotchas: How to Avoid Auto-Renewal Issues

If you’re tired of dealing with auto-renewal issues when it comes to your domain name, you’re not alone. Every website owner has experienced this problem at some point. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure your domain is always up and running on time.

First off, make sure that all automatic renewal settings for your domains are enabled properly in order for the system to do its job. This way, if a payment fails or something goes wrong during the process, you’ll be notified right away so that proper action can be taken.

Also, keep an eye out for expiry notices from either hosting companies or registrars. They usually send out emails well ahead of time as a reminder about upcoming deadlines, so check that those don’t get lost in spam folders or overlooked in your inbox.

Finally, keep track of renewal dates and payment information in a spreadsheet or on a calendar app to ensure that all domains are renewed on time each year without fail.

What to Look Out For When Choosing a Domain Name

Choosing the right domain name is an important step when creating any website. It’s essential that you choose one which accurately represents your brand, as well as being memorable and easy to find on search engines. But it also needs to be available! Here are some tips for finding the perfect domain:

  • Brainstorm potential names, then use a tool like Whois to quickly check if they’re available.
  • Explore alternative extensions (e.g., .net instead of .com) as this can help with availability while still allowing your desired choice of words in the URL address bar.
  • Ensure there’s no trademark infringement before registering. Try searching through databases such as the USPTO just in case someone else has already claimed ownership over similar terms or phrases.

Managing Your Domain Names Like a Pro: Tips for Making it Easy

If you’ve got multiple domain names that need managing, it’s worth going the extra mile to avoid this admin becoming overwhelming.

Start by creating an inventory list of all the domains, including both active and inactive ones. This will help with organization, as well as assist with the aforementioned tracking of renewal dates or expiration times.

Next, consider using a hosting provider that offers integrated management tools. For instance, NameHero lets you experience seamless domain management and lets you sidestep many of the issues we’ve talked about so far.

Lastly, consider whether it makes sense to outsource this to a third-party agency, especially if you’ve already got a packed schedule. Paying for a bit of assistance is better than trying to keep all of these plates spinning on your own.

URL Forwarding Mistakes That Can Kill Your Traffic Flow

When using URL forwarding to direct your visitors from one website address to another, there are a few common pitfalls that can hurt your traffic if not taken into consideration.

First of all, make sure the ‘forward path’ is set up correctly in the control panel. This should include both HTTP and HTTPS versions, as some users may still be accessing websites via older protocols.

Also, keep an eye on any errors when redirecting. These might indicate malicious activity or point to other issues which would prevent customers from reaching their destination page.

Finally, avoid creating too many redirects, as they tend to slow down loading times and increase bounce rates significantly. Try limiting yourself to between 1 and 3 at most for optimal performance.

Protecting Yourself from Cyber Squatters and Domain Protectors

Malicious third parties who register domains containing brand names, product names, and trademarks in order to make money from the traffic that these generate are still around today, and can hurt your bottom line. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself against these malicious activities:

  • Proactively search for any existing domains with similar terms. This will help identify if someone is already trying to use them before it’s too late.
  • Register all possible variations of your domain (.net, .com, and so forth) so as not to leave any gaps.
  • Make sure you have updated contact information listed on each domain registration. This way, should anything go wrong with one particular site or title, the owner can easily reach out directly to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Final Thoughts

The key to all domain name issues is to know what they are and take action to mitigate them rather than twiddling your thumbs until disaster strikes. It’s an approach that will keep costs down and free up more of your time as well.





Leena Ray

Digital Marketing Writer and Editor


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