1. Typos in the Name
Once you pay, the spelling is carved in stone. A missing letter can force a rebrand or expensive aftermarket repurchase. Read the name backwards to spot errors.
2. Wrong Registrant Email
Using your domain email (admin@yournewdomain.com) as contact creates a chicken-and-egg problem if DNS breaks. Always use an external email you control.
3. Disabling Whois Privacy Too Soon
Public Whois exposes your personal address to scrapers; within hours you’ll get spam calls and fake invoices. Leave privacy on until you legally need it off.
4. Forgetting to Lock the Domain
Leaving “Transfer Lock” off allows anyone with your EPP code to move the domain. Enable both registrar lock and 2FA the minute checkout completes.
5. Buying Every TLD Variant at Once
Snagging .net, .org, .co, .biz, .info for “brand protection” can add $200/year before you’ve validated the project. Start with one, add others only after revenue appears.
6. Ignoring Renewal Price
A $0.99 promo that renews at $80 is a predatory model some new gTLD registries use. Multiply renewal by 5 years and decide if the name is still attractive.
7. Letting a Friend Register It
Legal ownership sits with the registrant listed in Whois. If your friend holds it and you break up, you have zero ICANN recourse. Create the account in your name and add them as admin if needed.
8. Not Checking Trademarks
A quick USPTO search costs nothing; a UDRP lawsuit costs $1,500 minimum plus potential statutory damages. If the name matches an active trademark in a related class, walk away.
9. Falling for Fake Renewal Notices
Scammers mail snail-mail letters that look like invoices for “SEO domain listing.” Read the fine print: “This is not a bill.” Only renew through your registrar dashboard.
10. No Backup Payment Method
Cards expire, banks freeze accounts, and crypto wallets crash. Add a secondary card and keep $50 prepaid balance inside your registrar account to cover unexpected auto-renew failures.
Post-Registration Sanity Checklist
- Spelling correct ✓
- Privacy on ✓
- Lock enabled ✓
- External email in contact ✓
- Renewal calendar reminder set ✓
Tick these boxes and you’ll sidestep 90% of domain headaches.