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Frequently asked questions

  • I am looking for a domain name registrant. Where can I look it up?

    The Whois is an easy-to-use tool for checking the availability of a .nl domain name. If the domain name is already taken, you can see who has registered it.

    On the page looking up a domain name you will find more information about what a domain name is, how the Whois works and how the privacy of personal data is protected. Alternatively, you can go straight to look for a domain name via the Whois.

  • I would like to transfer my domain name to another registrar. What is the procedure?

    To get your domain name transferred, you need the token (unique ID number) for your domain name. Your existing registrar has the token and is obliged to give it to you within five days, if you ask for it. The procedure for changing your registrar is described on the page transferring your domain name.

  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date. How can I get them updated?

    To update the contact details associated with your domain name, you need to contact your registrar. Read more about updating contact details.

  • Why is my domain name in quarantine?

    When a domain name is cancelled, we aren't told the reason, so we can't tell you. You'll need to ask your registrar. The advantage of quarantine is that, if a name's cancelled by mistake, you can always get it back.

    One common reason is that the contract between you and your registrar says you've got to renew the registration every year. If you haven't set up automatic renewal and you don't renew manually, the registration will expire.

  • Ik heb een klacht over mijn provider/registrar. Kan ik daarvoor bij SIDN terecht?

    Wanneer je een klacht hebt over of een geschil met je registrar dan zijn er verschillende mogelijkheden om tot een oplossing te komen. Hierover lees je meer op pagina klacht over registrar. SIDN heeft geen formele klachtenprocedure voor het behandelen van een klacht over jouw registrar.

  • What conditions do I have to meet as a registrar?

    Would you like to be able to register domain names for customers or for your own organisation by dealing directly with SIDN? If so, you can become a .nl registrar. Read more about the conditions and how to apply for registrar status on the page becoming a registrar.

More frequently asked questions

More than a third of businesses unhappy with their online visibility

Four tips for getting more out of your website

Working from home stressed businessman with hands in hair
  • Wednesday 15 June 2022

More than a third of businesses are unhappy with their online visibility, according to business search service Trustoo. A survey of 861 businesspeople found that young entrepreneurs in particular think they aren't getting a good return on their internet findability. Their biggest concerns are the power of big platforms and players with much more marketing muscle. To a significant extent, Trustoo's findings echo the results of the surveys we've done in recent years. However, the new data suggests that the pandemic has made online competition fiercer than ever. What do the survey findings tell the business community? We've picked out four key takeaways for start-ups.

1. Work smarter, not harder

Investing more time in online marketing isn't ultimately the answer. Trustoo found that inexperience often led young entrepreneurs to devote excessive capacity to online marketing activities. Similarly, our results indicate that the small traders and independent professionals who do best online are the ones that know how to generate a lot of business from a modest input.

2. Get the basics right: design matters

Although many businesspeople tend to focus on online marketing, getting the basics right matters at least as much. That means a memorable domain name and an attractive, search-engine-optimised website. More often than not, it pays to invest in those areas. Successful entrepreneurs tend to pay a lot of attention to the basics when they set up their businesses.

3. Small investment, big return

Don't be daunted by the big players' deep pockets. For a modest outlay, a small business can reach a wide audience. A lot of start-ups spend many hours trying to raise their profile with social media posts, when a small investment in advertising on the same platforms will have much more effect. A budget of less than €75 a month may be all it takes.

4. Big numbers aren't everything

Another common mistake made by start-ups is to focus on maximising indicators such as numbers of leads and conversions. Our research results point to website investment having more influence on order value than on order numbers. Businesses with strong sites tend to attract bigger customers.

Want to know more about raising your online profile? Visit https://www.sidn.nl/online-success-with-nl