If you lose your domain name you can lose your whole online identity.
Because you can only register a domain name for a year or so, you will need to make sure that you renew it before the expiry date. Once your domain name expires, you will no longer own that domain name. Your Registrar will then own it and be able to sell your domain name to the highest bidder. To make sure you don't lose your domain name you will need to make sure you renew your domain name at least two weeks before it expires.
Also make sure that your information is registered properly, especially if you didn't register your domain name yourself. Ensure that your information is displayed as the registrant, administrative and billing contacts; most importantly make sure that the e-mail addresses for these contacts are ACTIVE. When you receive any information about your domain name, such as renewals, price changes, etc. an email will be sent to this email address. If you can't receive any mail from the e-mail addresses listed under the domain names contact then you are at risk of not receiving important notifications about your domain names, which could result in losing your domain name.
People often miss the importance of having their own unique domain name for their web sites. A domain name represents you, your company and your online presence; as does a 'business card'. If you don't have your own domain name you won't be able to promote your own online identity and web site on the World Wide Web.
