The summer season has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. Schools are closed, and vacations are planned. During this time, business activities usually slow down, making it an ideal opportunity to take care of your domain portfolio. Here are some recommended actions for the summer:



1. Renew any expiring domains before the year ends.

I personally prefer renewing my domains in batches rather than dealing with them each month. It is particularly advisable to renew them early, especially if they are .com domains. Verisign plans to increase the wholesale cost of .com domains by 62 cents to $9.59 on September 1. Registrars will likely pass on this increase, potentially resulting in higher costs when renewing your portfolio after the price hike. Additionally, prices are expected to rise further next year. So if you have domains that you plan to hold onto for a long time, consider renewing them for multiple years now.

2. Take advantage of transfer specials.

Before renewing your domains, check if you can save money by transferring them to another registrar. Many registrars offer transfer specials to attract more customers. For instance, Sav.com charges $8.99 for transfers, which is the same price as new registrations and slightly lower than its renewal price. Similarly, Dynadot is currently offering $8.95 .com transfers until the end of this month using the coupon code COMSWITCH.

3. Verify the destination of your domains.

As your domain portfolio grows, some domains might slip through the crаcks. One common issue I encounter in my portfolio is domains pointing to the wrong location. Occasionally, I forget to direct newly-acquired domains to sales landers, causing them to default to the registrar's lander instead. This makes it more difficult for potential buyers and might result in potential issues with pay-per-click links on the lander.

There are a couple of methods to check the nameservers for your domains. If you manage your portfolio with one or two registrars, you can easily scan the nameservers using the bulk management interface. However, if your domains are spread across different registrars, consider using software like Watch My Domains Pro to check the nameservers. It is especially crucial this year if you list your domains on Afternic through GoDaddy's List For Sale system. If you opted for GoDaddy to add a for-sale lander before this month, please note that these landers do not receive the discounted 15% commission. Ensure that you point them to Afternic's or Dan's servers.

4. Review your listing prices.

When was the last time you assessed the listing prices of your domains? I recommend reviewing them annually to adapt to changing trends. Do you have AI domains in your portfolio that were priced last year? It might be a good idea to increase their prices. Do you own web3 and metaverse domains? Perhaps it's time to slightly lower their prices.

5. Follow up on dormant sales leads.

A downside of the summer season is that there are fewer people in the office. However, the upside is that those who are present tend to have more free time. Therefore, it's worth reaching out to any stale sales leads that you haven't contacted recently.

I hope these suggestions assist you in optimizing your domain portfolio. Additionally, remember to enjoy the summer and take some time off to recharge!

Saving money on domain renewals is a wise strategy for domain portfolio management. Here are a few tips to help you save on your domain renewals:

1. Renew in bulk: Many domain registrars offer discounts for renewing multiple domains at once. Instead of renewing each domain individually, consider renewing them in batches to take advantage of these bulk renewal discounts.

2. Look for promotional offers: Keep an eye out for promotional offers and coupon codes from domain registrars. They often run special promotions that can significantly reduce the renewal cost of your domains. Subscribe to their newsletters or follow them on social media to stay updated on any ongoing offers.

3. Transfer to a registrar with lower renewal prices: If you find that the renewal prices at your current registrar are too high, consider transferring your domains to a registrar with lower renewal fees. Do your research and compare prices across different registrars to find the best deal. However, be cautious and ensure that the new registrar offers reliable service and good customer support.

4. Consider longer renewal periods: Some domain registrars offer discounts for renewing your domains for multiple years. While this may require a larger upfront payment, it can save you money in the long run, especially if the renewal prices are likely to increase in the future.

5. Take advantage of loyalty programs: Some registrars have loyalty programs that reward customers with discounts or other benefits based on their domain renewal history. Check if your registrar offers any loyalty program and take advantage of it to save on your renewals.

6. Register for longer periods initially: When you first register a domain, consider opting for a longer registration period, such as two or three years. Some registrars offer discounts for longer initial registrations, which can help you save money in the long term.

7. Keep an eye on promotional pricing for new registrations: While this may not directly save you money on renewals, taking advantage of promotional pricing for new domain registrations can still be beneficial. If you have domains that are about to expire, you can register them at a different registrar offering promotional pricing and then transfer them back to your preferred registrar after the initial registration period.

8. Utilize domain bundles or packages: Some registrars offer bundled packages that include domain registrations, renewals, and other services like hosting or email. These packages often come at a discounted price compared to purchasing individual services separately. Assess your needs and consider whether a bundled package could be cost-effective for your domain portfolio management.

9. Watch out for auto-renewal fees: While auto-renewal is convenient, some registrars charge additional fees for this service. Check the terms and conditions of your registrar to understand any associated fees and compare them with the savings you might make by manually renewing your domains.

10. Consolidate your domains: If you have domains registered with multiple registrars, consider consolidating them into one registrar. This avoids potential renewal fees from several registrars and allows you to take advantage of bulk renewal discounts, loyalty programs, or other money-saving options offered by a single registrar.