If you have been online for very long, you've probably clued in to the way online reviews often work. At least half the time, a review is really just a sales pitch. It seems that scores of people are willing to talk about how wonderful a product or service is, simply because they stand to make money if they can get you to sign up. This is as true for things like tooth-whitening products and weight-loss gadgets as it is for things like web hosting and domain registrations.
So how do you cut through the sales pitch and figure out which domain registration reviews are on the up-and-up? And what should you really look for in a domain registration?
Domain registration review and ratings pages put up by well-established sites are much more likely to be real reviews and not just a way to generate sales. C-Net, Wired and any established name in technology or the Internet have a stake in their reputation, so they strive to put out the best information. If you don't recognize the site that's giving every registrar a glowing review with an affiliate link below it, then you'll probably want to look elsewhere for information.
Even reading domain registration reviews might not make you feel confident that you're picking a good company. Look for the following features in a good domain name registrar:
* Go to ICANN and check it out. If your registrar isn't specifically accredited or it's not a company that has authorization to resell for an ICANN accredited registrar, look elsewhere.
* Read the fine print. Make sure you know the exact cost of registering your domain, and exactly how much it will cost to renew it when the time comes. Some sneak you in with a low price and hit you with a much higher renewal fee in a year.
* See if they offer private registration, if you're interested in keeping your name and address private. This just protects your identity, and can range from free to over $10 a year per domain name, depending on where you register.
* Make sure there's a phone number you can call, not just an email address, with clear hours for customer service help. And it should go without saying that a company that offers round the clock support will probably be far preferable to one that you can only reach 3 hours a day, Monday through Wednesday.
* Before you register a domain, look into the cost for transferring the name to a different company. You never know when service might be lacking or you want to switch for some reason. Some registrars require transfer fees and built-in long delays to keep people from wanting to do this. Know up-front and avoid nasty surprises.
No matter how glowing a domain registration review might be, it pays for you to look into these things yourself before giving any company your money.
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