Freelancer with 18+ years in web development and digital marketing. I share stories on websites, marketing, SEO, and AI, plus honest lessons from life in the trenches as a solopreneur.
Just A Minute: I Got A $300 Bill To Renew My Domain?
Just A Minute!I Got A $300 Bill To Renew My Domain?Hi Reader, One of the most common scams I've seen lately is the "domain listing" or "domain renewal" scam. My clients are getting letters (yes, actual paper letters) in the mail demanding $200 - $300, with big, scary phrases like "DOMAIN NAME EXPIRATION NOTICE" in bold and all caps. (Here's a photo of one, in case you want to see it.) What's the deal with that? If you have a website, you're already paying for this... right? Yes, you are. There's a 99% chance your domain is already registered with a legitimate company like:
These companies typically charge less than $25/year. They won’t send you paper invoices: they already have your billing info on file. So what is this $300 letter? Here's the truth: it's a scam. You don't need this service. In just the past year, I've gotten at least a half dozen emails and texts from clients saying: "I was just about to pay this bill, but I thought I'd check with you first..." That's when I think "JUST A MINUTE!" and shout "Nooooooooooooo!" and start waving my arms around in slow-mo like a goofy action movie scene. What To Watch For:
Bottom Line: Don't fall for it. Don't pay it. Just shred it. If you've already paid it, try disputing it with your bank or credit card company. Bonus Tip: Make sure your team knows, too, especially whoever checks the mail or pays invoices. It’s often the bookkeeper, receptionist, or even a helpful spouse who ends up catching this kind of thing. If you’ve received one of these scam letters recently, feel free to reply and send me a picture of it. (Yes, I collect them.) I hope you found this helpful. P.S. Got a question you’d like me to answer in a future email? Just hit reply. Yes, it’s really me, and yes, I read every response. Ron Stauffer Lieder Digital |
Ron Stauffer
Freelancer with 18+ years in web development and digital marketing. I share stories on websites, marketing, SEO, and AI, plus honest lessons from life in the trenches as a solopreneur.
Just A Minute! Hi Reader, A few weeks ago, my wife told me about a documentary that came out on Netflix called "Poop Cruise." My eyeballs popped open. "It's called WHAT?" I asked, certain I'd misheard her. "'Poop Cruise.' It's about a cruise ship years ago where the power failed and raw sewage leaked all over the ship." Ahh, yes, I thought. I remember hearing something about that. Gross. But that happened like a decade ago, right? Strange. Oh well. I wanted to remember to look it up later...
Just A Minute! Hi Reader, Whenever I build a website, I use all kinds of tools for marketing (analytics, heatmaps, click tracking), but sometimes, I add in one simple question on contact forms as well: "How did you hear about us?" The answers people give are mostly predictable: Google, Facebook, or the always-unhelpful “Online” (facepalm). But every once in a while, something surprising pops up. This week, I saw one that made me think: "Just a minute!" A user wrote: "Perplexity." Of course, I...
Just A Minute! Don't Delete This Incredibly Boring Email Hi Reader, Often, people I know (not just clients, but also friends, family, even my parents) forward me an email from GoDaddy or another domain registrar with a subject like: "Update your domain contact information" and ask: "Is this email important? Do I need to do anything?" I don't know why registrars do this: it's confusing and annoying. Okay, so I actually know why they do it... It's laid out clearly in the body of the email...