Something I hear a lot of in the field is  that a domain is a domain. No matter who you purchase your domain name(s) through, it is still a domain name. While I do agree that the domain itself is the same from company to company, I do have a slightly different point of view on the subject. One which I think everyone should keep in the back of their minds next time they make their purchase(s).

To me, when you are purchasing a domain name from a particular company, you are investing in them. You are investing in a company that you expect will deliver you a service at a reasonable costs that will bring you more in return without worry about a break in your service. What am I as a domain owner looking for as potential return on my investment? Well for starters I expect prompt, courteous, customer service via phone/email/chat in my local language. I expect that my provider is looking to provide me all the tools I need to grow my presence online and that they are also supported as previously mentioned. If I am an affiliate or reseller for the company I also expect that I will not be competed against by my provider or that my provider will never over step its boundaries and target my clients. At the end of the day, I expect to be treated as if I am a VIP client (whether I am or not). Last but not least I expect that my provider is going to be in business for years to come.

In order for a company to remain in business and sustain its business for years to come, it needs to turn a profit. It needs its customers to see the value in its services and to be willing to pay above costs for the service. When both the client and the company are in sync, it is a beautiful thing. It is win-win for everyone.

In 2007 we saw the destruction of a fairly popular registrar, Registerfly.com, who fell victim to the practice of undercharging its customers, therefore decreasing its ability to provide really good service to its clients over the long run. I don’t believe it will be the last such provider we see fall over the coming years.

A domain is a domain is a saying that is true. But at the end of the day I think that “you get what you paid for” still trumps it in the long run, even in this industry. And what you are paying for is not the domain name, it is an investment into the longterm health of your provider.