Managing .co Domains on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- .co domains work well for Colombian businesses but follow special Squarespace rules
- Not included in Squarespace's free domain offer
- Domain locking and Whois privacy are both available for security
- Renewal rules vary by registrar after expiration
- Free transfer to Squarespace but requires a mandatory one-year extension
Registration and Transfer
You can register .co domains directly through Squarespace, though they're not eligible for free domain offers. The registration process works the same as other domains.
Transferring an existing .co domain to Squarespace is free, but you'll need to pay for a mandatory one-year extension. This extension gets added to your existing registration time, so you don't lose any months you've already paid for.
Domain Expiry and Renewal
The renewal process depends on which registrar handles your domain:
Tucows domains: Once your domain expires, you can't renew directly through Squarespace. You have 30 days to contact Tucows for renewal, which usually includes additional fees on top of the standard renewal cost.
Key-Systems domains: You can use the Renew button in your Squarespace domain dashboard for about 30 days after expiration. If the domain disappears from your dashboard completely, contact Squarespace support to check if it can still be recovered.
Security Features
Domain Locking prevents unauthorised transfers of your domain. This stops someone from moving your domain to another registrar without your permission.
Whois Privacy hides your personal contact information from public domain searches. Both features are available for .co domains and worth enabling.
Pixelhaze Tip: Turn on both domain locking and Whois privacy when you register or transfer your .co domain. It's much easier to enable these features from the start than to deal with security issues later.
Managing Your Domain
Your .co domain works exactly like other domains once it's connected to Squarespace. You can point it to your site, set up email forwarding, and manage DNS settings through your domain dashboard.
The main differences only show up during registration, transfer, and renewal processes. Day-to-day management is straightforward.
FAQs
Can I get a .co domain for free on Squarespace?
No, .co domains aren't included in Squarespace's free domain offer with annual plans.
What happens if my .co domain expires?
This depends on your registrar. Tucows requires contacting them directly, while Key-Systems allows renewal through Squarespace for about 30 days post-expiration.
Can I hide my personal details with Whois privacy?
Yes, Whois privacy is available for .co domains through Squarespace to keep your contact information private.
Do I lose time when transferring a .co domain to Squarespace?
No, the mandatory one-year extension gets added to your existing registration time.
Jargon Buster
ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domain): A two-letter domain extension like .co for Colombia, intended for specific countries or regions.
Domain Locking: Security feature that prevents unauthorised changes to your domain registration details.
Whois Database: Public database showing domain ownership details. Whois privacy keeps this information hidden.
Registrar: The company that manages your domain registration (like Tucows or Key-Systems).
Wrap-up
.co domains work well on Squarespace but come with a few special rules around renewal and transfer. The key things to remember are enabling security features early, understanding your registrar's renewal process, and budgeting for the mandatory extension if you're transferring an existing domain.
Once everything's set up, managing your .co domain is no different from any other domain on Squarespace.
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