How do I drop a domain name?

[cicgirl]

I have a domain name and want to drop it in favor of transferring my webpage over to another domain name. Do I just sell it whenever I want or what? Also, the reason I am doing it this way is because of the ramifications of the privacy on US domains being done for as of Jan of next year. I don't want my private info there for spammers. Currently I have domains by proxy handlers. Thanks

[LeChuck]

If you're getting rid of it you just tell your registrar to delete it.

You can sell it at any time. The most convenient way is if the person who's buying it gets an account with your registrar and you just push it over to him, assuming your registrar supports this.

[cicgirl]

Chuck,
thanks for responding. I would like to ask if I am right about what I'm thinking is the general process for transferring my website with current domain *the one I want to drop* to the new one that is parked as of now.

1. Transfer all of my pages and entire site via FTP to my new domain name.
2. temporarily leave redirect url on my old main index page.
3 Wait a few weeks to a month and then drop or cancel my old domain name.

Is this the way you'd do it?
I have quite a few visitors and i know this is gonna shake em up but don't know what else to do.

If you have any helpful info on what ive said, please tell me as you are very welcome.
ps.. Google has been very good to me as well as yahoo . I have the top search engine place 1st page for my search words.. How long can i expect to have a drop of visitors as a result of my actions?

[Angelis]

Why dont you get your hosting provider to change the main domain name and just redirect your old one through a 301 so you keep the links / traffic and get it all forwarded to your old name...

That would solve both your problems, if you sell your old name you will lose all the traffic and branding work you have managed to aquire so far.

[cicgirl]

Angelis,
thanks for responding

so I tell my provider to change my domain name to my parked (new one) and redirect my old name domain through a 301.... to point to new one..you're saying that I can do that right now and then in around a month or so drop my old established one? If that's what your saying I think i very much agree and am for it. No sense in selling it now that i think about it more , i see what you're saying.

Thanks for the patience with me I'm only mildly savvy on this stuff :)

I am wanting to change because my current name is .us and my parked one is .com and I think that would be better, also, i cannot have a domain proxy privacy manager for spammers, etc if I keep the old one because of new law passed. And after the first of the year all info on .us domains must be made public. I am not planning on dealing with mad spammers ever again
:)