It might sound like a non-issue for most inn owners, but - in my opinion - it’s one of the most important.

Your domain name.

“What’s a domain name, Peter?” It’s your website address, or - sometimes called - hostname, or URL (For me, it’s ‘planetbnb.com‘.)

Domain names are odd birds, though. Folks, or businesses, can register domain names, but they truly don’t “own” them. They’re simply renting them - so to speak - for a specified amount of time. As long as you continue to re-register your name, you’ll continue to control it - and control where users are lead. They’re kinda like cell phone numbers - you’re assigned your own unique id, and if you fail to pay your bill, your account will get canceled and the number released for re-registration.

Domain names are registered at what are called ‘domain registrars’. Registrars have the authority to register and house your name, keeping it safe and sound over your registration period. (Sample registrars I recommend are Go Daddy, Moniker, and eNom)

So, with all that in mind, here are some important aspects to keep in mind regarding your bed & breakfast domain name:

• Your domain name can expire. If you manage it yourself, or entrust a 3rd party, ensure they’re on top of the registration period. You’re able to register your domain name, typically, for as long as 10 years. If anyone falls asleep at the wheel, and fails to re-register, your domain *will* expire, and will be re-registered by several aggressive domain acquisition companies. If they get their hands on it, expect to spend thousands of dollars to re-acquire.
• If you have the interest or ability, consider controlling the management of the domain yourself. You never know when you’ll encounter a website management company that runs out of cash, goes bankrupt, or disappears. Or worse, a company that changes their business practices, charges more money, or provides less value. In these cases, if you control the domain name, you’ll simply be able to re-point your name to your new management company, with little or no effort.
• Consider registering mis-spellings, or alt versions of your domain name. Personally, I own PlanetBedandBreakfast.com, for the rare instance when users might type my site name in full. It only costs around $10 a year to do this, and tends to be a wise business decision in the long run.

Still confused about domain names? Have any follow up questions? Drop me a line in the comments, or shoot me an email. I’ll be happy to try and help.

: )

Tags: Tips & Tricks //