Domain Names Room

By Lisa Rae Preston

You've decided to put up a website and have registered the perfect name! Congratulations! Did you choose private domain registration? Most people don't, due to the extra few dollars it adds on to the price. Many folks naturally opt for the cheapest domain registration. But there's one important point you're going to want to take note of immediately.

There's a rotten little deal going around in which professional scammers ferret out personal contact information from the Who-is database and call unsuspecting domain owners to peddle their wares at take-total-advantage-of-you prices.

A client of mine had registered her domains, and in a few days received a phone call from someone who found her contact info on Who-is. This time period was just long enough for her to realize that setting up her own website was more frustrating than it appeared to be initially. The guy "John" was full of promises and wanted to "sell" her his website design deal, even offering to host her site for a mere $94 a month.

My heart sank to my knees as she was talking. I thought, "Oh, no! You didn't!"

Thankfully, she said she'd think about it and hung up.

If you've just registered a domain, be aware that unless you bought the additional private domain registration, your personal contact information will be available for the world to see.
In some cases, there may actually be a reason not to want the private registration - and
that was the case with my client. Hers was a non-profit which she wanted to promote and for which she wanted to be contacted.

In general, you can stave off most of these vultures by purchasing a private registration when you buy your domain. It's normally only a few dollars extra, and may well be worth the headache, even for experienced webmasters.

So just beware that some people may find your contact information online and try to offer you loads of "deals" - from hosting and design to SEO work - all at "break-into-your-wallet" prices. I've gotten emails from "companies" shortly after registering my domain, assuring me that they can drive tons of traffic to my new site, or rank me on Google's first page, etc.

I make it a habit to ignore all calls and emails from folks trying to sell me things about which I did not inquire in any fashion.

Just wanted to let you know about this in case you haven't had this experience - yet!
Since the cheapest domain registration may cost you a lot more in the long run, choosing a private domain registration can save you a headache and a half!

Lisa Rae Preston is the creator of Instant Niche Emails, software that helps you create a year's worth of relationship building, follow-up marketing messages in any niche! Discover how to create your highly profitable email series by reading her free report, Insider Secrets to Follow-Up Fortunes at http://www.instantnicheemails.com