Negotiate Without Emotional Attachment
Whatever you do next, dont become emotionally attached to the asset, or transaction. Ultimately, this would add headache, stress and more money to the equation. When buying your domain name, you must not become emotional with any owner. Emotions should be checked at the door when entering into any active negotiation. Remember that a negotiation is a give-and-take and should always try to create a win/win for both buyer and seller.
Once you agree on terms in most instances you would then either enter into a contract or Purchase and sales agreement with the prospective seller, or simply move right to one of the formidable escrow providers such as Escrow.com.
Contracts and documents can become tricky and need to be completed diligently and professionally if necessary. You will also need to have proper legal representation to make sure you are protected accordingly. Documents can get stuck in legal, or need board approval and can certainly slow down the overall acquisition process.
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How Do You Buy A Domain That Isnt Available Anymore
If your desired domain is already taken, you generally dont have the option to buy it from the provider even if the address isnt being actively used. However, you can try to locate the domain owner to make an offer to buy the domain. For information on the entire process, from locating to purchasing to the final transfer of the domain, see our article Domain already registered? Heres what to do.
Connecting Your Domain Name To Mailchimp
Whether youve bought your domain through Mailchimp or a third party, you can transfer your domain name and connect it to your Mailchimp account. Once connected, you can use that domain with a custom landing page or Mailchimp-hosted website. If you dont already have a website, Mailchimp offers a free website builder that you can use to make your brand stand out with no coding skills required.
Also Check: How Do I Set Up My Own Domain
Find Out Who Owns The Domain Name
Once youve determined that the domain isnt being used for an active website, your next step is to find out who owns the domain. The easiest way to do this is by using a WHOIS service. Theres a number of websites where you can do this sort of lookup, but, most of the time, youll get a set of standard information from any of them:
- when the domain was registered,
- who the domain was registered by,
- how to contact that person or company,
- and even when the domains current ownership expires.
You may also see other information related to the purchase, but for the purposes of getting that domain, the owners email address is really what you want.
Example results of a WHOIS lookup:
Some domain owners will have purchased privacy protection and their names wont appear in a WHOIS search. In these instances, it will be difficult to purchase the domain unless you can find it on a domain auction site or marketplace like Sedo, Namecheap, or Flippa.
Purchase Your Domain Name And Complete Its Registration
Once you settle on a domain name, its time to purchase it. When you buy through Mailchimp, well let you know the annual cost of the domain name as well as any available discounts.
During the checkout process, youll be required to enter your contact information, including an email address, to register the domain.
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Choosing A Reputable Domain Registrar
The allocation of all available domain endings has been the responsibility of ICANN since 1998. The organization manages all established and new top-level domains and sells the allocation rights to registries, which in turn work together with domain registrars . So, if you want to get a suitable address for your website, the first step is to choose a suitable registrar. Here you should not only pay attention to the costs, but also make sure that the desired top-level domain is available.
In addition, it is important that you choose a serious provider. Otherwise, you run the risk of the purchased domain not being registered correctly or not being available at all. In our big domain provider comparison, we took a closer look at the best domain startup sites like IONOS and united-domains for you.
You dont necessarily have to register a domain just for your own website – the domain trade has been booming for years now. You can find out more on this topic in our article Domain trading: How can you make money with domains?.
$1 Domain Names
What To Do If The Domain You Want Already Has A Website
If a domain name already has an active website connected to it, your chances of being able to buy it are slim. The more active or popular the site is, the less likely its owner will want to sell it.
On the other hand, if you find a domain name with a website that looks abandoned, or seemingly without much traffic, you can always try making an offer for it. In this scenario, there are two ways you can go about contacting the owner.
Most websites include a contact form or email that you can use to reach out to whoevers in charge. If the website in question doesnt although this is rare your next best bet is to run an ICANN lookup:
In theory, domain name registration data is available to the public. However, most reputable registrars offer WHOIS protection as a cheap or free extra when you purchase a domain. That means, in practice, ICANN lookups often wont return any contact information that you can use.
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How To Buy A Domain Name That Is Taken
Last updated on March 26th, 2021 by Editorial Staff | Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded, why it matters, and how you can support us.
We often hear from readers who want to buy a domain name thats already been taken.
If youre in that position, then you might be wondering how to go about getting hold of a domain name that someone already owns.
The easiest solution would be to find another suitable domain name. However, sometimes this may not be the best option.
In this article, were going to share our expert tips on how to buy a taken domain and give you some insider tips on what to watch out for. We will also cover few proven strategies that you can use if your domain isnt available.
Note: Unlike other guides on the internet, this resource is based on our actual collective experience of buying premium domains. We have spent anywhere from few hundred to few million dollars in buying premium domains and established website businesses.
The Basics of Buying a Domain Name Thats Already Taken
All websites need a domain name. It is your websites address on the internet. See our beginners guide on how domain names work if youre not 100% sure what a domain name actually is.
But what if the domain name you want is already taken?
In that case, you have two options: come up with a different name or buy the one you really want from its current owner.
Contacting The Owner Of The Domain Name
Buying a domain name from someone is different than using a registration service.
This is an important step, you need to ask yourself a few questions before considering to approach the person with the domain name you want to purchase, these questions include:
How important is the specific domain name to your new venture?
The importance of the domain name should be the very first question in your mind. If the domain name is for a service or product that you are to launch, then a name of the product as a domain name may be very important. This is because it will be the primary and most intuitive domain name for the venture.
- You can also read our comparison of Hover and Namecheap
For example, if you are planning to launch a new product called tasty it may be important to buy a domain name matching this name.
That is tasty.com, this will help increase the traffic to your site as people will find it in the first position in Google and other search engines.
How much money are you willing to spend on this domain name
Before you purchase a domain name from the owner, you should consider the pricing as its important. You dont want to spend thousands of dollars on nothing. In fact, that depends mainly on the budget of the entrepreneur or business.
For some, purchasing a $1000 domain name will lead to a great hit on its marketing budget. For a larger company, a $10000 domain name may be a bargain.
How much does it cost to buy a domain name?
Can another domain name work for you?
Also Check: How To Buy A Domain Name Outright
How Much Is The Domain I Want Worth
That depends on a lot of factors. There is no service you can check to see what a given domain should be worth. Any site that claims to tell you what your domain name or social media account is worth is just using some arbitrary calculation. They are just for fun and have no legal use or bearing on actual domain value or prices.
Any domain is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it . Note that some domain owners have pretty grandiose ideas about what their domain is worth, or think they can get rich quick off some desperate buyer.
There are many things that can influence the cost of a domain name. Some examples:
How Important Is A Domain Name For A Website
A domain name is an identification string that locates an organization or any other entity on the internet. For example, www.arsenal.com locates an address for arsenal.com at the internet point 199.0.02and a host server named www.
The com part of the domain usually shows the purpose of the organization. For example, commercials in the above domain name, this is a top-level domain name.
One of the key aspects of establishing yourself online is choosing the right name for your website.
The domain must be eye-catching and easy to recall for anyone who sees it. However, there might be a glitch in that after picking your perfect domain name and selecting a hosting provider you find that the name is already registered by someone else.
If you are fixated on this name, then you will have to enter the world of after=market domains.
Speculators have been known to purchase registered domains with no website associated with them and to bank on making a profit by selling them later on to future buyers.
This makes buying an already taken domain name thats not used a tricky process, however, this doesnt mean all hope is lost. In reality, it requires you to go about it in the right way to increase your chances of getting the domain.
We have come up with a step-by-step guideline that will help you increase your chances of getting a domain name thats already registered and not available for registration.
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How To Purchase A Domain That Is Already Taken
Jeffrey is the Co-Founder of Saw.com, focusing on domain sales and acquisitions. Visit www.Saw.com if you want to purchase a domain.
getty
Youre starting a business or undergoing a rebrand, and youve come up with the perfect domain name. The only problem is that the domain is already registered. In this case, you have one of two options: You can either choose an alternative domain name, or you can fork over the cash to the current owner. If your heart is set on your first choice, this article will explain how you can go about acquiring that domain.
Beware of buying the same domain with a different top-level domain.
One unfortunate occurrence I see all too often is when buyers decide to go with a different top-level domain of their first-choice domain. At first glance, this strategy makes sense. After all, its the same name, and its much cheaper! Registrars like GoDaddy.com and Domain.com will often suggest this option when you search for a .com domain that is already taken.
It is a fact that internet users typically enter .com at the end of the domain name when they type into the URL bar. This means if you decide to go with a .net or a .biz, users who end up at the .com could have a much harder time finding you. All in all, I believe its a better decision to pay up for your first-choice domain, and if that doesnt fit your budget, go with a different name altogether.
Visit the domain to see how its being used.
Find the owner of the domain.
Registration date.
# 2 / The Diy Do It Yourself Method:
1. Type the domain into the address bar and see if there is an active website or it a page with ads coming up. See if you can make an offer on the parked page for sale link.
2. Marketplace listings: Many domain owners list domain names for sale with various marketplaces. If the owner of the domain you want has done this, youll see that the domain is available for purchase though usually this is at a premium price. This may not be the best price but it will be the fastest, especially if there is a BIN price.
4. If going at it on your own starts to become too cumbersome or outright fails go back to Method #1 and Hire a Professional Domain Broker:
For more information visit DomainAssets.com or email JohnDomainAssets.com 786-586-9324
About DomainAssets.com:DomainAssets.com is an international company specializing in the acquisition and sales of Premium Domain Names and Digital IP Assets. We work with large Enterprise level accounts, small and medium size corporations, start-ups, entrepreneurs, technologists, and investors from Silicon Valley to around the globe.
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Choose A Domain Registrar
First, you need to select an ICANN accredited registrar to register your name through. This registrar isnt the same as your web host.
Your DNS host connects visitors to your website through your domain name, while your website host gives you a space for your website. Your DNS host is like a phonebook, while your website host is like your landlord.
When selecting a registrar, consider:
- Fee structure: Each registrar has its own fee system. The average domain name costs $10$20 a year .
- Any additional services your registrar offers: These may include domain parking and domain privacy. Domain privacy hides your name, contact details, and business details from your websites public listing.
- The registrars expiration policy: Youll need to check you can secure your domain long-term.
- The registrars transfer policy: You may want the flexibility to change registrars or sell your domain later.
- Whether the registrar offers aSecure Socket Layer certificate: This digital certificate encrypts your website connection and protects visitors.
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Begin Negotiations With The Domain Owner
Once you have the registrants information, its time to reach out. If you landed on a domain for sale page, you might be able to enter a bid for the website directly on the landing page.
Otherwise, contact the owner via email, find out if theyre willing to sell, and then ask for a price or make an offer.
If the owner uses a domain broker or domain broker service, you may need to negotiate with a middle man. A domain broker buys and sells domains for other people. Like real estate agents, domain brokers assist with connecting buyers with sellers and negotiating a fair price.
Recommended Reading: What Is Web Hosting And Domain
Modify The Domain Name
Your first and maybe most obvious option if the domain name you want is already registered is to change it slightly to try to get around the exact domain name you wanted being already taken.
There are a few ways you could change your domain name to change it enough that it doesnt significantly compromise the meaning of your domain name but still makes it different enough to register.
Expert Advice: How To Buy A Domain Name Thats Taken
Creating a website is an exciting project, whether its for a small business, blog, or personal use. But, it can be frustrating when you have your heart set on a domain thats already taken.
Unfortunately, there are already over two billion websites on the internet. So its not uncommon to think of the perfect domain name only to find that its already taken.
Heres the good news:
You can still buy a domain name thats been registered by someone else.
Keep reading to learn:
- How to check domain name availability
- How to buy a domain that is taken
- Tips for buying a domain name from its owner
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Make It Brandable Not Generic
Creative, memorable domain names are always better than generic ones. After all, your domain name is how people will find, remember, and spread the word about your business on the internet. Its much better to have something that aligns with your brand instead of a domain name thats made up of a bunch of general keywords.
For example, can you tell the difference between cheapcarinsurance.com and affordableautoinsurance.com? Which one would you trust when it comes to buying insurance? Probably neither. Both sound a little spammy, and theyre terribly generic.
On the other hand, youll probably know where the domain names progressive.com or geico.com are going to point you to. Those companies have invested in their brands, and theyve used them in their domain names. You can trust that these sites are legitimate.
Even if you havent built up trust and loyalty yet, you can start by choosing a strong domain name that fits your brand.