Can I Buy A Domain From One Company And Use It At Another Web Host
Question:
I’ve been out of the loop of this kind of stuff for a while but can someone please explain to me how buying a domain name and then getting it hosted works. Let’s say if for example I bought a domain namexyz.comfromgodaddy.com.
Could I then purchase the hosting services from a different hosting company and still use the domain I bought fromgodaddy.com?
Solution 1:
From Setting Nameservers for Your Domain Names :
Solution 2:
DNS and hosting are different things. It goes something like this:
- Domain Register– sells domains and specifies DNS servers for the domain.
- DNS server– holds the DNS zone and allows clients to ask what is the IP address for a certain domain or subdomain.
- Web Host– whoever answers when clients connects to the resolved IP address.
These three are completely separate, and even though one company might fill all three roles, there is no limitation why it can’t be changed.
Solution 3:
yes you can buy domain and hosting from two different providers and link them to see the website online.
When you purchase the hosting account or domain name they will provide you with control panel to manage your domain or hosting account. The hosting account provider will send you the nameserver details while you are purchasing the account.
The Upside To Buying A Domain Name Anonymously
Anyone can conduct research and dig into tools to understand exactly who somebody is and what their intention might be.
And if the seller can understand what their motto is, what theyre all about, where they came from, how they got to you, and what theyre trying to build thats going to raise the value of the domain name.
Whereas if theyre getting contacted by a , they really dont have any visibility into who the buyer is. The seller only understands that someones interested in their domain.
They dont know where that persons coming from. It could be someone in the US could be someone internationally. Staying anonymous when buying a domain name is really critical.
In many instances, the buyer or seller could become emotionally attached to a transaction.
But, the problem is when people become emotional, that is when transactions tend to blow up and go to the wrong way.And all of those parts are really important when youre going out to try and buy a domain name.
Using A Domain Name Broker To Buy A Domain Anonymously
Domain brokers are intermediaries facilitating domain name sales between buyers and sellers. Theyre similar to real estate brokers but doing a relatively tougher job.
Its more challenging to track domain name owners than real estate owners. Likewise, domain names are intangible assets, so its harder to value them accurately.
Domain brokers take the responsibility of pursuing a domain name sale on your behalf. They can help you track the owner, perform due diligence on a domain names value, and negotiate the best price.
Domain brokers typically charge a flat fee or a percentage of the domain sale. Some even charge both.
The typical domain broker commission is between 10 to 20%. Anything above that, and youre likely overpaying.
Some domain brokers charge fees to only a buyer, while some take a cut from the buyer and seller. Some may also charge a fee regardless of if the domain name negotiations result in a sale. Just be sure to find an affordable one.
We advise you to choose a domain broker offering valuation services. Its hard to estimate your domains value as a seller, but some brokers have teams dedicated to this activity.
Hence, theyre likely to find you a better offer than those without valuation teams.
Using a domain marketplace to buy a domain anonymouslyYou can buy anonymous domain names through a specialized marketplace, especially for lower-cost domains.
There are many such marketplaces, such as Dan.com, Flippa, and Sedo.
Also Check: How To Transfer Domain To Another Host
How To Buy A Domain That Is Taken
Youve decided to start a new venture and youve come up with the perfect name. But when you search for the domain you want, you discover that someone already owns it. So what do you do? Do you give up and change your business name, or do you figure out how to buy a domain that is taken? If you want to choose the latter option, youve come to the right place.
This guide will share not only why its so important to get the exact domain you want, but also give you step-by-step instructions on how to buy a domain that is taken.
Find A Marketplace Or Middleman To Facilitate Your Purchase
There are many different places from which you can purchase your desired domain name.
Owners whose domain names do not expire in the near future can sell their domain names on marketplace sites like Sedo, GoDaddy Auctions, or NameJet. More specifically, these options are auction sites you can think of them as the eBay of domain names.
Generally, you can search for a domain name which you are interested in. If available, you can place a bid, and if yours is the highest when the auction ends, you become the domain names newest owner.
Escrow.com
Escrow offers buyers and sellers a safe way to conduct domain name transfers. Escrow holds onto the funds until the transaction is complete, protecting both the buyer and the seller against fraud.
Recommended Reading: How To Find Domain And Range Of A Function
How To Backorder A Domain
The process outlined above is the easiest way to buy a domain name that is taken, but sometimes that isnt possible. If you still cant get the domain you want, your other option is to backorder it.
Backordering means that you wait for a domains ownership to expire and purchase it the moment it becomes available.
However, keeping track of a domains expiration date manually can be tricky, so youll want to use a backordering service.
Some of the popular options:
However, even if you use a backordering service, theres no guarantee that youll get the domain you want. The current owner still has to let their ownership of the domain expire, and many hosting services give owners an extra grace period where they can renew after the official expiration date. Typically, thats 75 extra days.
How To Buy A Domain Already Owned By Someone
There are over 200 million domain names that are already registered. Domain names have been available to purchase for over 30 years, and just about all of the best domain names have been long-registered. The only way to buy a domain name that is already registered is to buy it directly from the registrant.
There are many ways to buy domain names that are already owned. Some of those ways include the following:
- Buying on an aftermarket site like Sedo, Dan.com, or Afternic
- Buying a premium domain name via GoDaddy, Namecheap, or other registrar
- Contacting the domain owner through a form on the domain name landing page
- Contacting a domain registrant using the Whois records
- Hiring a domain broker to reach out to the domain registrant to buy a domain name
Even with domain buying experience, it can be difficult to get in touch with someone who owns a domain name. It can also be a challenge to negotiate the purchase of a domain name without knowledge about domain name values and buying domain names.
GoDaddy posted a video to share advice about buying domain names when they are already owned by someone else. The advice shared by Joe Styler is helpful to a domain buyer who is looking to buy a domain from someone else.
Sponsors of DomainInvesting.com
Recommended Reading: How To Access Google Domain Email
Where To Buy A Domain Thats Taken
From a branding and marketing perspective, its especially important to choose the right domain name for your website. For many people, its a truly personal decision. The domain just has to feel right and you dont want to settle for an alternative.
If this is the case in your search for the perfect domain, take heart. You might be able to buy your ideal domain name in the domain aftermarket. You can find most of the domain names from the aftermarket listed directly on auctions.godaddy.com.
If your dream domain isnt listed on the aftermarket, you can attempt to buy it directly from its current owner. However, youll want to keep a few things in mind before you take the plunge and contact the domains owner, namely budget and timing.
Set your budget
Its important to think about the budget you have for acquiring the domain. Put yourself in the other domain owners shoes for a minute. They spent time and money to get the domain, and they might be actively using it. Offering them $10 or even $100 probably wont even get you a response.
Think about what the domain name is worth, and be prepared to make a fair offer.
Editors note: Need help determining the value of the domain? As the largest reseller of aftermarket domain names, GoDaddy has access to extensive data that we use to analyze millions of historical domain sales. Try GoDaddy Domain Appraisals to determine the value of the domain so you can make an educated offer.
Give yourself enough time
Get Contact Info For The Decision Maker
Once you have the email contact, do some basic research to learn more about the domains current owner. You want to get in touch with a decision maker. Chances are, if you email a companys website administrator, they will ignore you.
Youll have better luck if you can get in touch with the business owner or a domain investor.
If you can only find the general email box of a medium- or large-sized company, dig around some more for ways to contact the decision maker of the company about the domain.
Recommended Reading: How To Buy Existing Domain
Is It Legal To Buy Domain Names To Harass Your Enemies
Tuesday, Business Insider reported that Martin Shkreli has spent the last several months buying up domain names associated with at least eight journalists who have criticized him. The pharmaceutical entrepreneur, who was convicted earlier this month of securities fraud, has now begun to customize the sites with the goal of mocking the reporters.
On a site associated with CNBC reporter Caroline Moss for example, Shkreli wrote “Everything you need to know about this CNBC safe spacer.” A similar site bearing Vanity Fair writer Maya Kosoff’s name sarcastically reads “Here we honor one of the most vibrant Social Justice advocates today.” A WHOIS lookup confirms that both websites were registered with domain provider GoDaddy by Martin Shkreli earlier this year.
Shkreli offered to sell a domain connected to NY Post reporter Emily Saul to her for $12,000, according to Business Insider. On a phone call, Shkreli told me the proposal was a joke. “I’m a very rich guy. I don’t need $12,000,” he said. “I would never sell any of these domains for any price.” Saul declined to comment, citing company policy.
What’s working against Shkreli, according to Steele, is that he has purchased numerous domains. “You can show a pattern of abusive registrations,” he said.
Steele outlined for me three main ways domain disputes like the one Shkreli started can be legally resolved:
1. An administrative proceeding
2. The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act
3.Cyberpiracy protections for individuals
The Price Of The Domain Name
Of course, you’ll also need to consider the price of the domain name. The cost will vary depending on several factors, like the age of the domain, its SEO value, and its branding potential.
To get an idea of what a domain name might cost, you can use third-party tools to help you evaluate the domain name.
Recommended Reading: How Much Does Squarespace Domain Cost
Transferring From One Registrar To Another
The exact steps youll need to take will vary depending on which registrar your domain is currently registered with and where the domain is being transferred to, but it will consist of these essential steps:
1. Disable WHOIS/domain privacy.
The new registrar will need to verify who owns the domain name, which wont be possible if you have WHOIS privacy enabled so make sure that privacy setting has been switched off.
2. Ensure admin email is up-to-date.
Double-check that the domains current registrar has the most up-to-date administrative email address so theyll be able to contact its owner during the transfer process. Note that changing this field can result in a 60-day transfer lock on the domain , so having an outdated admin email could delay the transfer process.
3. Unlock the domain.
The domain likely has a transfer lock applied to prevent unwanted or accidental transferring of the domain. In this case, it will need to be unlocked.
4. Get the transfer authorization code.
This is like a password that, in theory, should only be accessible by the true owner of a domain name. Some registrars may use a different term, like EPP key, secret code or auth code.
5. Request a domain transfer.
Have the new domain owner request a domain transfer. This will typically involve purchasing an additional year of registration, which will begin once all the remaining time on the domain name is used up. The authorization code from step 4 will be needed in order to request a transfer.
Follow The Registrars Checkout Process
Next, use the registrars tool to see if it can sell you your desired domain and TLD.
If you can buy your domain, select a plan, and follow the registrars checkout process. Some registrars will offer a base plan with add-ons like a professional email address tied to your domain. Others offer methods that scale with your needs.
Many registrars will also offer you multiple TLDs as a bundle deal . These plans are perfect for anyone concerned about visitors struggling to find the correct address or competitors buying the domain.
Once you reach the checkout process, youll need to provide your registrar with your:
- Contact details
- Payment information
If you dont want your contact information to be public, make sure you purchase domain privacy.
You should also check the duration of your registration carefully. Many registrars will allow you to buy your name for several years at a time, but you may want to select a shorter plan if you havent used that registrar before.
Choosing a shorter plan to start with will allow you to switch if you arent happy with your registrars speed, security, service, or anything else.
Don’t Miss: How Can You Buy A Domain Name
Search On Namecheap To See If Its Listed For Sale
Many domain owners list domain names for sale with services linked to Namecheap. If the owner of the domain you want has done this, youll see that the domain is available for purchase at a premium:
You only pay the premium price once for .com domains. The domain renews for regular prices after that.
Buying a premium domain on Namecheap is secure and the domain name is transferred to your account almost instantaneously.
Research And Measure Domain Value
Image by 1shots / freedigitalphotos.net
You need to be very careful when you buy a pre-owned domain name. Its just like when you want to buy a used car you get it checked, find out if it has ever been involved in an accident etc. Its the same with pre-owned domain which is why its important to look at the history.
Your perfect domain mightve been penalised by Google, flagged for spam, malware, hacking or other illegal activities. When you get that web address, it comes with all the baggage which means youll get everything it stands for good and bad.
Theres actually a great video from Googles Matt Cutts with things to look at when researching a domain to buy. Here are his top tips:
- Search for the domain name without the .com and see what people wrote about it. Has it been criticised for being spammy or doing anything illegal? Does it have a good or a bad reputation?
- Ask the owner to see Google Webmaster Tools and look for messages and stats there.
- Ask the owner to see to get some insights on traffic and more.
Here is the video:
If you want to go back in time and get a historical record of how the site looked in the past, go to archive.org and type in the web address in the WayBackMachine search box.
Next you will be able to browse through snapshots of the site dating between its registration up to just a few days ago.
Heres how IMDb.com looked in 2001:
Don’t Miss: How To Buy A Parked Domain From Godaddy
How To Handle The Transaction
There are a couple of paths here based on your level of trust of the other party. The big decision is whether or not you will use escrow or not. My general rule of thumb is anything over $500 I typically use escrow unless I can verify the other party through some other means.
If you dont use an escrow service, generally you should pay half up front and half when the domain is fully transferred. Send half the money when the domain is unlocked. The other party has demonstrated good faith by unlocking the domain, so you demonstrate good faith by sending part of the money. Send the rest of the money after youve received the domain and locked it on your registrar.
If you use an escrow service , you pay the purchase price plus a transaction fee to the escrow service, and then they will hold the cash until you verify receipt of the domain. You can negotiate who pays the fee as a part of transfer. You generally either split it or the buyer pays the fee.