This wasn’t a pro-active step on the part of Directi or Snapnames; I had contacted Snapnames after winning the auction requesting their assistance to get the credentials. When I logged into Directi I noticed that auto-renew was conveniently turned OFF.

Here are the lessons I learned (again) from this experience:

1. Keep track of the domains you win at auction.
2. Ensure you are sent the credentials – if you don’t get them, follow up with the auction/backordering company.
3. Have your default DNS settings (at the auction company) point to your favorite parking company.
4. Add the domain name to your parking company a few days after you win the auction.
5. When you get the credentials, transfer the domain to your favorite registrar – that way you dont have domains spread everywhere.

Points 3 and 4 will ensure that when the transfer happens, you start earning $$$ immediately. The domain I won had traffic and was directed to my favorite parking company. Unfortunately I did not add it to my portfolio! As such, the parking company has made 4 months of revenue from it. This makes me wonder; what is the % of names pointing to a parking company that don’t have an owner? Must be a nice little earner for the parking company!

I eneded up transferring the name to NameCheap. While doing that, I tested out a few coupons. Here are the ones that work today:

SWITCH2NC – $6.99 transfers
7TULIPS – $6.99 transfers

Happy Easter!

• FREE .biz domain name and private registration with 1 and 1 hosting. Apparently you can get up to 25 of these for FREE. Although there is the $6.95 per year hosting cost. Not bad if you want to develop just one site.
• Register an .mx for $6 if you register for 5 years.

Godaddy Codes

I have tested all of these and they currently work.

Code: WEASEL33 or OYH3
Gets You: $6.95 .com renewals

Code: goxt2001cc
Gets You: $6.85 .com renewals

Code: test99
Gets You: one 99 cent .com

Code: goox3004at
Gets You: $6.95 .com registration

Code: gdm1126a
Gets You: $6 .net

Code: gdm1106g
Gets You: $7.99 com, net, biz, name and mobi

Code: SAVETEN or gb1 or WEASEL1
Gets You: 10% off

NameCheap

Code: summerends
Gets You: $8.41 domain names

Please post a comment if it saves you some $$$$ or if you know of any others.

Transfer your .com and .net domains for $5.99 and you get FREE WhoisGuard and a FREE Positive SSL certificate. Just use the coupon code TRANSCHEAP.

You won’t find a cheaper price anywhere.