Guides & Domain Blog

Short, practical write-ups on the things people ask us: DNS records, .htaccess rules, Cloudflare settings and what actually happens to a domain when it expires.

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68 guides on DNS, .htaccess, Cloudflare and expired domains.

8 guides in General

All topics

How to do 301 redirect in .htaccess

Understanding the importance of 301 redirects in your .htaccess file is crucial for seamless website transitions and maintaining SEO ranking. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another, guiding search…

Guides 5. June 2024 5 min read

How to Force HTTPS using .htaccess file

Ensuring secure connections on your website is crucial. By using the .htaccess file, you can force all HTTP traffic to be redirected to HTTPS. This process involves adding specific directives to the file located…

Guides 1. June 2024 5 min read

How to create wildcard subdomains with .htaccess and Apache

Creating wildcard subdomains using .htaccess and Apache is a strategic move for website developers looking to manage numerous subdomains efficiently. Firstly, ensure that your DNS settings are configured to direct all potential subdomains to…

Guides 27. May 2024 6 min read

How to Block IP by Country Using the .htaccess File

Enhancing your website’s security is crucial in today’s digital landscape. One effective strategy is to block traffic from specific countries using the .htaccess file. This powerful configuration file enables you to restrict access by…

Guides 17. May 2024 3 min read

How to Disable Hotlinking on Your Website with .htaccess

Hotlinking can significantly strain your website's bandwidth and server resources, impacting performance and increasing costs. In our latest blog post, we explore How to Disable Hotlinking on Your Website with .htaccess. This essential guide…

Guides 17. May 2024 2 min read

What is .htaccess file? and how to leverage it?

The .htaccess file is a powerful tool for managing and enhancing your website’s functionality on Apache-based servers. This configuration file allows you to control various server behaviors, from URL redirection to security settings, without…

Guides 17. May 2024 8 min read

How to Redirect an expired domain using the htaccess file

When your domain expires, don't lose the valuable SEO equity you've built up. Our latest blog post guides you through the process of redirecting an expired domain using the .htaccess file, ensuring that the…

Guides 20. January 2024 4 min read

About Guides & Domain Blog

What is in the guides and where to start.

What do the guides cover?

Two broad areas. First, domains: how the domain lifecycle works, what happens when a name expires, whether expired domains are worth buying and where to buy them. Second, the practical work that follows: reading a WHOIS record, adding DNS records at common registrars, redirecting an old domain, and configuring .htaccess, caching and Cloudflare.

Who are these guides for?

People registering or buying a domain and then having to make it work. That covers first-time buyers who want to know what a nameserver is, domain investors sizing up expired names, and site owners doing their own DNS, redirects and caching. The guides assume no prior knowledge and show the actual steps rather than describing them in the abstract.

Do I need an account to read them?

No. The guides, the expired domain lists and the lookup tools are open to everyone. An account is only needed for the parts that have to remember something for you: saving favourites and setting up match rules that alert you when a name you want becomes available.

How current is the information?

Every guide carries its publication date, so check it before following a walkthrough. The domain concepts — expiry, redemption, DNS record types — barely change. Registrar and control panel screens change often, so a screenshot from an older guide may no longer match what you see, even when the steps are still right.

Where should I start?

If domains are new to you, start with the lifecycle of a domain name and what happens when one expires — almost everything else here builds on those two. If you already know the ground and want names, go straight to the expired domains list or the WHOIS lookup.