Domain Name Management

Is the domain name you want available? If not who owns it? Find out here using our domain name availability checker.

Please note that on certain domain suffixes the result may take longer to display, please be patient.

Domain Transfer Information

Transferring Out (away from Web Equip)
For UK domains, simply send us an email with your new providers IPS tag. We will invoice you £20 by return email and once this is settled we will immediately change the tag and send you an email to confirm. Your domain will be available to your new provider straight away but it may take 24 hours for the DNS to refresh meaning your website (and email) could be unavailable during this time.
For non-UK domains (.com, .net etc) your new provider will need to submit a transfer request. We will then receive instructions for the transfer, at which point we email an invoice to you for £20 and once this is settled we will carry out the transfer instructions. Non UK domains can take up to 10 days to transfer and they must not be close to renewal otherwise the transfer will fail.

Transferring In (to Web Equip)
For UK domains, (we can sometimes handle all this for you) you will need to contact your existing registrar and tell them you want to change the IPS tag on your domain. You may be able to do this via a control panel, or you may need to fax them on letterheaded paper depending on who the registrar is. Transferring UK domains in to us is free but your existing provider may charge an admin fee.
For non-UK domains (.com, .net etc) there is a £20 admin charge up front. This is because we will need to submit a transfer request to the existing registrar, and there will be a domain renewal fee payable.

TO SUMMARISE

UK DOMAIN TRANSFERRING IN: FREE. Have your existing registrar change the IPS tag and let us know when it's done.
NON-UK TRANSFERRING IN: £20 FEE. Simply ask us to initiate a domain transfer request.
UK DOMAIN TRANSFERRING OUT: £20 FEE. Advise us of the new IPS tag.
NON-UK TRANSFERRING OUT: £20 FEE. Have your new provider initiate a transfer request.

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Tips on Choosing a Domain Name

Choosing a domain name for your website is quiet a big decision as you will use it in so many different ways. Your domain name will appear on all of your business stationary, in your emails and be used in conversations over the phone and in meetings so it's worth giving your choice some thought. Below are some top tips for making the right decision choosing your website domain name...

Buy more than one domain name?

If you plan to buy the .com version of a domain name then it's advisable to purchase the .co.uk ending as well. This ensures that people will find your website regardless of the ending they type into the address bar. Buying both (or even more such as .net) domain names also protects your brand and prevents competitors from cashing in on you business.

Use your business name

Your business name should be included in your domain name as it's what most people will type into a search engine to find your website. Don't be tempted to choose a quirky domain name instead of your business name as this will confuse your customers. If your business has a different name to your website address then your visitors may wonder if they have landed on the correct website.

Keep it short

Shorter domain names tend to be easier for visitors to remember and they are certainly quicker to type into the address bar. If you have a long business name then you could abbreviate it but only if the letters are easy to remember and flow well. Also, the shorter and simpler the domain name, the less likely people will be to spell it wrong.

Consider search engine optimisation

Domain names which include keywords related to your website do tend to fare better in search engines. However, your domain name should be chosen with the bigger picture in mind rather than just to please the unpredictable search engines. You could consider buying a separate domain name (as well as your main domain) which contains your preferred keyword to make the most of this SEO tactic.

Hyphenated options

If your desired domain name isn't available then you could consider opting for a hyphenated version of the name. There is great debate over whether it's a good idea to use hyphens. On the plus side they make the domain name easier for some search engines to read but on the negative side they can make it harder for people to remember and spell correctly. If you do opt for using hyphens then keep them to a minimum to avoid an overly long and complicated domain name.

Use your full domain name

You may end up having to choose a domain name with a prefix or suffix such as thedomainname.com instead of domainname.com. If you go for this option just make sure that you use the full domain name in all your literature and conversations so people include the prefix or suffix when they search for your business online.

Where possible make sure you choose your domain name before you choose your business name if you are setting up a new business. This will mean that your business can be tailored around your website rather than adding a website to your business as an afterthought as you may have trouble securing the name you want and you could lose or confuse visitors as a result.

For more advice on domain names, hosting and website design contact Web Equip today on 0114 221 3804.

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