Domain Forwarding
Click here to go directly to instructions on how to set up domain forwarding
Domain forwarding or otherwise known as URL forwarding, web forwarding or domain redirection is a service that you can activate after you register a domain or transfer your existing domain to Passion Computing. Domain forwarding allows you to redirect a domain name to another URL. This service is FREE, though some Australian registrars may charge as much as $99 per year per domain for this service. Even if your registrar is charging you $20 per year for domain forwarding, if you calculate the total cost of registration and services, you'll find that our prices may be cheaper than cheap domain name sellers.
If you are currently with another registrar and you want to use this free domain name forwarding service, all you need to do is transfer your domain name to us and once this process is complete, you will be able to make use of domain forwarding at no charge. Domain transfers are also free, though if you are transferring a global domain name, you will just need to renew your domain name for an additional year. Please read Domain Transfers for full instructions on how to transfer your domain name.
Email forwarding is not included with domain forwarding. We however provide a better alternative; full email account from $39 per year that will allow you to both send and receive emails from email accounts associated with your domain name. Email forwarding will allow you to receive but not send email. Please see Email Accounts with Domain Forwarding
What is domain forwarding ?
Domain forwarding is when you redirect your domain name to point to another URL. (You are able to choose either framed forwarding or standard forwarding - see explanation below). Some common uses for domain forwarding are to
redirect domain name to an ebay store URL or Oztion store
redirect domain name to free space on your ISP's network
redirect domain name to a blog
redirect additional domains to a URL on your main website - you can choose to redirect it to the homepage or any other page on your website
redirect domain name to .Mac or iWeb website - once you set up your free dot Mac website, you can easily redirect a domain name to point to the .mac Website
redirect domain names to a company website or homepage to protect trademarks, common misspellings, product names, etc
Domain forwarding is not to be confused with Advanced DNS Management (a service that is also free but with slightly different configuration), which allows you to redirect a domain name to a static ip address. Common uses of DNS services, include
- redirecting a domain name to a computer located in your office or home. This computer must have a static ip and your ISP must allow you to utilize your static ip in this way. Business broadband plans usually allow for a static ip. A static ip will allow you to redirect a domain name to a local computer or server, which may be beneficial especially if you you want your computer to be remotely accessible by a domain name for the purposes of an intranets, databases and accounts or if you want to host your own website.
Why use domain forwarding?
It is much easier to remember a domain name than to remember a URL. If you have a website hosted at a subdomain within your ISP network or a blog at blogspot, then URL that your blog might be XYZ123abc.blogspot.com or your subdomain at your ISP might be www.optus.com.au/members/~fireflywebspace/index.html . These are difficult domains to remember or enter into a browser. The best solution is to buy a domain that is easy to remember and forward that domain to the URL where your website is hosted. This means that when someone types in your registered domain, they will be automatically forwarded to your website address. If you register ABCwebdesign.net.au and forward this to your www.optus.com.au/members/~fireflywebspace/index.html, when people go to ABCwebdesign.net.au they get automatically redirected to your website at www.optus.com.au/members/~fireflywebspace/index.html
The second reason for registering a domain name is having some control over your branding. If you are an ebay store owner and you send out flyers with the URL of your ebay store, if for some reason, you decide to no longer sell through ebay, you have no way of redirecting the traffic from your flyers to your new website address. It also means that people associate your business with ebay. If you had a domain name, your customers could recommend their friends to go to your website address to buy your product but if you have an ebay website address, it is unlikely that you will get a lot of "word of mouth" referrals because people will inadvertently type in the wrong URL.and you have no legal rights over your ebay URL. Your domain name is highly transportable and an excellent marketing tool and if you decide later on to have an ecommerce website built, then you can simply redirect your domain name from your ebay store to your store website.
The third reason why you would want to use domain name forwarding is to protect your trademarks and names associated with your business. Rather than just register the domain name for a trademarked product, why not automatically redirect that domain name to the URL on your company website. The URL would have information about that product and service and this will make it easier to direct people to the right area on your website.
Don't Pay for domain forwarding
As unbelievable as it may seem, two major domain name registrars in Australia are selling web forwarding for $99 per year per domain or charging management fees on domain names. If you buy a domain name from Passion Computing, domain name forwarding is FREE.and can be activated after you buy a new domain or transfer a registered domain name to our domain name shop . There are no hidden fees or charges and you are free to choose a hosting plan, or website service that suits you. Please note that domain forwarding, does not come with email forwarding. If you want to use mail associated with your domain name, please see Email Accounts with Domain Forwarding.
Domain forwarding comes with the choice of standard domain forwarding or frame forwarding. Standard domain forwarding will change the domain name to the destination URL. eg. ABCwebdesign.net.au will redirect to www.optus.com.au/members/~fireflywebspace/index.html and the URL www.optus.com.au/members/~fireflywebspace/index.html will be visible in the URL address bar. If you choose "frame forwarding" or otherwise known as URL masking, the destination URL will not be visible. ABCwebdesign.net.au will always remain in the address bar.We do not recommend URL masking and in most cases, standard domain forwarding is the better choice.
Click here for instructions on how to set up domain forwarding
Cancelling domain forwarding
There is no charge to cancel domain forwarding and if you decide to discontinue forwarding your domain and want to set up a website with your domain name, you will need to cancel domain name forwarding and edit your name server records . To do this, login to your domain name administration with your username and password, click on "cancel domain forwarding". You can then edit your name server records.
Why Passion Computing ?
Are you a smart shopper? Domain names are provided by an established domain name registrar, who is trusted by major Australian corporations. You get a comprehensive selection of domain names and domain name services and technical support that won't drive you crazy, all at a competitive price. We are here to help you. Unfortunately many domain name providers lack the ability to provide real customer support. We decided to provide domain name services to provide a service on the internet that would help people navigate the technical maze of internet jargin.
Register your domain or transfer your domain to receive:
- A top quality product and service. Our wholesale partner is an accredited domain name registrar, who is trusted by major Australian and international corporations and Passion Computing provide you with a generous discount on domain name registration and we also make the process easy to understand, that even the most novice users can manage their own domain names.
- FREE access to online management system that allows you to update your domain name records and keep track of all your domain name registrations. Login at any time and keep your details up to date
- FREE domain name forwarding or advanced DNS services. Domain name forwarding will allow you to buy domains for your trademarks and products and redirect them to your website for FREE. Forget paying $99 for this service elsewhere.
- Buy from a full suite of domain names and international domain names at competitive prices, with no hidden extras. Our prices are about half the price of the major Australian domain name sellers depending on the domain name registered..
- Freedom to buy a website hosting plan that suits you or use advanced DNS services to point your domain name to any server with a static ip.
- Free Australian domain name transfers and for all other domain names, you simply need to pay for another year of registration to transfer your domain name to us.
- Personal service - domain name registration systems are far from perfect and we are here to assist you. Read more.