How To Buy A Domain Name That Is Already Taken

Use An Escrow Service To Pay For The Domain

Buying a domain name isnt as simple as purchasing a product in a store. You have to pay the current owner, and they have to transfer the domain to you.

But who goes first?

Should you pay first and trust, the owner will transfer the domain? Or does the owner transfer the domain and hope you pay the agreed amount.

Theres no guarantee that the owner will transfer the domain after they receive your payment. Thats why you should always use an escrow service to manage domain sales.

An escrow serviceis a third party that ensures everyone sticks to the agreed transaction.

You pay the escrow service, and they hold on to your money until the domain transfer is complete. Then, the escrow service gives your money to the original owner.

If a domain seller doesnt want to use an escrow service, this could indicate a scam. You shouldnt agree to buy a domain if this is the case.

What Are The Advantages Of A Wildcard Ssl

Protects multiple sub-domains

Wildcard SSL certificates are a popular type of SSL protection that provide protection for one main domain and an unlimited number of sub-domains. For instance, if you have the website www.mybusiness.com and you want to create the following sub-domains for it:

• payments.mybusiness.com

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 To Choose The Right Domain Extension

With a variety of domain name extensions to choose from, how do you know which one is the best for your business? The simple answer is to use the .com extension if its available. I say this because .com is by far the most valuable and used domain extension. According toThe GrowthBadger Blog, its 33 percent more memorable than websites with other top-level domains.

If youre unable to secure the .com extension, the next best alternatives are .net or .org. The latter is traditionally used for non-profit companies, so if that isnt appropriate, you should opt for .net. Alternatively, if you are a smaller company in a certain location, registering a country domain extension like .ca or .uk might be a logical move.

You can also get creative and try some of the newer domain extensions instead of .net or .org. For example, registering the .STORE domain extension would immediately make your ecommerce store stand out from the rest. Whether you have an online store or a brick-and-mortar outlet, newer extensions like these can be a crowd-puller for your business. You can view the list of all available extensionshere.

How Do I Search for a Domain Name? When learning how to find a domain name, there are several things to look into to help you figure out what the best domain name for your brand is. Here are a few tips for finding the perfect domain name:

Set Your Domain To Auto

Generally, when you register your new domain name, you get to choose the registration period the time span during which the registrar keeps the domain active on your behalf. Most commonly, everyone registers their domain names for either 12 or 24 months.

After that initial period, your domain name needs to be renewed . Otherwise, it becomes inactive. And then, after a short while, if you miss your window, the domain goes back to the pool of available domains, which means anyone will be able to register it.

What usually happens in case someone doesnt make it in time with renewing their domain is that the domain gets snatched by a domain broker or someone similar. Basically, aged domains are valuable in the domain market, plus theres higher chance that the person who originally failed to renew the domain will want to buy it back at some point.

In the end, stay safe by opting to renew your domain name automatically whenever the time comes. Nearly all domain registrars give you this option. Heres what it looks like with Namecheap:

Also Check: What To Do After Buying Domain

Valuation And Figuring What To Spend

This is another important step you should consider before you buy a domain that is already registered. Valuation is difficult as there are no comparable to go by. This means that the domain name seller determines what they want to sell the domain for.

As we mentioned above, the number of letters in a name will determine the worth of the domain name. Three to four-letter names are the most expensive, and if the name is easy to spell, then it may cost more.

It is also important to check if the domain names go naturally together. The more naturally they go, then the higher their valuation will be.

For web hosting options, read our list of monthly hosting providers that should work hand in hand with reliable domain name registration.

If All Else Fails Try Registering A Different Extension Or Top

If you really need to use a specific domain because it matches your business or personal name, but you cant get the owner of the .com version to agree to sell it to you, consider a different top-level domain. For example, rather than fruitcobbler.com consider registering fruitcobbler.recipes or fruitcobbler.cooking. If you need help, you can read also how to register a domain or how much is a domain name.

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How To Select The Best Domain Registrar

Domain name registrars are companies that manage the purchase and sales of generic top level and country level domain extensions. Hundreds of companies have been authorized by the ICANN to act as domain name registrars. However, no two registrars are alike with some offering benefits and services that others dont. So, how can you identify the best domain registrar for your business?

With a domain name search, youll discover that there are a few key areas in which leading registrars tend to shine:

• Pricing: The best domain name registrar is the one that offers excellent deals on registrations and renewals. Sometimes you can find deals for as low as $5 per year.
• Control panel: Ideally, you want to opt for a registrar who offers a simple user panel to help you control your domains. Maybe you want to transfer your domain name to someone. Perhaps you want to modify the domain names CNAME records. An intuitive control panel can simply such tasks.
• Privacy protection: At the very least, the domain name registrar should give you the option to conceal your personal information from those who would to peak at your website records.
• Payment methods: Popular registrars allow you to pay for domain name registration online by bank transfer, PayPal, or credit card, and that is what you should do. While some give the option to send checks via mail, that could be risky in the fast-moving world of the internet.

Use The New Top Level Domain

Without compromising the integrity of your domain name, you can simply change the end of the domain . Of course, the most used top-level domain is .com, but you have a variety of top-level domains at your fingertips, including .net, .biz, .co,. business and more. Using the top-level domain that applies to your business will help increase the communication of your brand and the products or services that you offer.

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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.

S To Your Dream Domain

Now that you are ready to take the plunge and go for that perfect domain for your project, lets look at a few final steps which will give you the best chance at walking away with that name. There are really only a few steps involved in buying a domain:

Of course, you can apply variations and tactics to each step, but I am confident someone with little domain buying experience can make a decent go of getting the exact name they want if they follow the steps below.

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Verify The Ownership Of Your New Domain

The final step is to verify the domain ownership through the email address you used when registering the domain. The email usually arrives within a few minutes after finishing the domain setup. Simply click the verification link in the email to verify your contact information.

If the email doesnt arrive, resend the request from the control panel. We recommend doing it immediately, as waiting for 15 days or more will lead to a temporary suspension from the registry.

Thats all there is to it. Now you know how to buy a domain name and complete the initial registration process.

Tip from Darius

To make the most out of your newly acquired domain, consider authorizing it with the Google Search Console. This will provide you with important analytical insights and make it easier for Google to crawl the content of your site.

First, log into your Google account and head to the Search Console page. If you want your entire domain to be crawled, enter the URL in the bar on the left. Once thats done, click Continue and youll be presented with a code. Then, copy it and do not close the tab.

Now, log into your Hostinger account, head to the hPanel, and on to the DNS Zone Editor. Under Manage DNS Records, select TXT as the Type. Unless youre only adding a specific subdomain to the Search Console, leave as the Name. Next, copy the code youve received previously as the TXT Value. We recommend leaving the TTL Value as the default. To finish it all off, click on Add Record.

Make An Offer For The Domain That You Want To Buy

In our experience, its not uncommon to be the only person to make an offer during a domain auction. This means you might be able to pick up the domain you want without breaking your budget.

If you happen to find your way into an auction with lots of activity, youll want to set a cap on how much youre willing to spend:

How much youre willing to spend to buy the perfect domain name is up to you. In any case, if you make the winning bid on a domain auction, the final step in your journey is remarkably simple.

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Choose A Different Domain Extension

Pros: Youll probably pay less than you would to purchase the taken domain from its owner.

Cons: Consumers trust .com the most, and alternative top-level domains can make it harder for people to find your site if they confuse it with the .com version thats owned by someone else.

When a domain name is already taken, its usually the version with the .com top-level domainbut there are hundreds of other top level domains you can choose, like .net, .org, .club, and .tech.

If you cant buy your dream domain name, the easiest alternative is to go with a variation by tweaking the domain name itself, using a different top-level domain, or both. Whether thats also the best choice depends on your specific goals and how the unavailable domain is used.

For example, lets say you have your heart set on getting dogsweaters as your domain name. The .com version is taken, but you could register dogsweaters.net or dogsweaters.online instead. Problem solved? Maybe.

People buy online from sites they think are trustworthy, and it turns out that consumers trust .com more than other top-level domains. Another option is to go with a related .com thats not taken yet, like dogsweatersonline.com.

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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How To Find Out If A Web Address Is Available To Register

A quick way to find out if a web address is available is to use a WHOIS service, such as the one provided for free by Afilias. If your preferred name is available and will not be in breach of any law, the next step is to register it for your business. If you engage a third party, such as a website developer to register your domain name on your behalf, be sure the domain name is registered in your name or business entity. This can avoid potential issues down the track.

Choose A Brandable Name

We all know that branding is crucial to long-term success, but what exactly makes a domain name brandable? There are many factors that come into play here, but the most important ones are as follows:

• A brandable name has no specific meaning .
• Its unique your competition doesnt use anything similar.
• Its easy to memorize not too wordy, no complex vowel combinations.
• Its easy to pronounce and dictate over the phone.
• It sounds trustworthy some names can be a little shady by definition, for instance, WinTheLotteryToday.com may be too bold, but Lotterio.com sounds way better.

To make the brainstorming process easier, you can experiment with some combinations of actual words and random suffixes, like I did with the Lotterio.com example above. The main goal here is to create a potential for the domain name to build brand value over time.

In other words, as much as possible, try making sure the name has a good ring to it. It should be fun to say out loud, and not difficult to memorize immediately. Think about the likes of Uber: Its short and snappy, and theres no confusion as to how to spell it even when mentioned in passing in a conversation.

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