Articles by Swift Image
Domain Renewal Automation
Up to now, Swift Image has manually renewed client domains each month. It used to be a twenty minute process. The advantage of renewing manually was that some clients have multiple domains that I know won’t necessarily be renewed and in those cases, I could check with the client prior to renewing.
Two things have changed.
- The new .uk domains that many clients went for in 2019 (quite rightly in my opinion) have increased the number of domains we manage significantly.
- The registrar I use (LCN) has completely revamped their system and the changes have not been helpful to someone managing numerous domains. (It’s probably fine for someone managing just a few domains.)
These two changes, particularly the latter one, have increased the time spent each month to around two hours. More importantly, they have also caused us to make some uncharacteristic errors.
Therefore, from January 2021, we will be automating the process for domain renewals.
Clients with an upcoming domain renewal will get an invoice from us on the 20th of the month concerning the following month’s domain renewals. If, for any reason, you don’t want to renew, it is essential that you let us know before the start of the following month, otherwise it will be renewed.
For example, if you have domains that are due to renew in January, you will get an invoice from us on 20th of December. If you do not wish to renew the domain advised in the invoice, you must email us prior to 1st of January.
What can you do to help?
To further assist with automation, if you don’t already use our direct debit system, please set up an account with GoCardless. (Most clients already have an account.)
It only takes a couple of minutes to do. We will be notified that you have done this and will be able to set the direct debit up accordingly, adding a reference to make it easy for you to identify on your bank statement.
The direct debit for the domain will be setup for the 7th of the month in which the domain renews. So in the example above, the 7th of January.
Automation should work fine for the majority of our clients, but if you would like to manage your own domain renewals, please contact us and we will help you set this up.
Article by Chris Addams of Swift Image Web Design, written 10 December 2020.
swift image
the website design company
for Ampthill, Baldock, Bedford, Biggleswade, Flitwick, Hitchin, Letchworth, Luton, Sandy, Shefford, Stevenage and Stotfold