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.
Final Thought: A Good Domain Worth More Than You Think
Although this guide is meant to give you a better idea of where and how to get your domain name, you will notice that Ive included sections on the domain name selection process as well as other tidbits of information.
No matter if youre an individual looking to establish a small blog or a small business seeking to expand digitally, the domain name is much more than just a cheap name tag. Essentially, it represents you in the digital world and has all the implications that follow.
It needs to be built and nurtured, just as you would your own reputation in the real world. Choose, buy and protect your domain name carefully.
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How To Buy A Pre
If youve ever looked into buying or renting a house, you know that location is often the top priority. You want a place that your friends can find, not one thats in the middle of nowhere.
A website without a domain name is similar to that. Its kind of like having a home in the middle of nowhere. Nobody will be able to find it.
This is why its important to get a domain name for your website, and why a domain name is also commonly called a web address. Its what people use to find your site.
There are two ways to buy a domain name for your website.
- You can buy it brand new. Buying a new domain name is simple. You just visit a hosting provider like HostPapa, enter the name of the domain you want, and, if its available, buy it.
- You can buy one thats pre-owned. If the domain name you want is already owned by someone else, that doesnt mean its not available.
In this article, well focus on how to buy a pre-owned domain name. But first, theres a brief discussion about whether a free domain name is a good idea, and, we provide a few domain shopping tips that you may find helpful.
Lets get started!
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Complete The Domain Registration
As soon as you have completed the payment, youll be redirected to the control panel. Inside, there will be a setup box that youll need to fill out to complete the domain name registration.
Youll need to fill in all the fields with the correct details, such as your name, address, andcontact information. This data will be stored on WHOIS, the official domain ownership database.
After submitting your details, the domain registration will be processed.
Its possible to modify the domain ownership details using the domain management section within the control panel. Once the changes are made, you will have to confirm them via email.
What Is A Domain Name Escrow
A Domain Name Escrow basically an independent third-party agent that assists in the selling-buying process of domain names on the internet. These sites provide a safe way for buyers to purchase domain names from sellers who want to let go of their domain name.
There are a number of domain name escrow services available, but here are a few that you can check out: Escrow.com, , and .
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Find Out Who Owns The Domain
The first step in trying to get it is to find out who is the current owner. Whois is the best service you can use to find information about the owner, including name and email address.
To run a Whois search, you can either look up the name at the registrar of your choice or go to the who.is for domains like .com, .net, .biz and more. Simply eutype in the full domain name and you will get the domains public information which usually includes contact details for the registrant.
For other extensions like .de,.uk etc, you can use the following Whois tools to get that public information:
| Domain name extension | |
|---|---|
| TLDs and gTLDs | http://who.is/whois/ |
Theres also the possibility that youll be stonewalled by a Whois privacy protection service, in which case you wont have access to the owners information. Instead you will see some generic information belonging to the privacy service provider. In this case, you can try sending an email to the contact address listed there and hope that your message will be forwarded to the owners email address.
Now, before you get in touch with the site owner, its important you check the status of domain first so you get a better understanding of how much its worth. Things like keyword use, search engine ranking, backlinks and traffic can help you measure its value and help you determine just how much you should be paying for it.
Buying Through A Backorder
What if you make a great offer, negotiate like a pro, and the owner of the domain still wont sell.
As a last resort, you can place a backorder for the domain.
Every day, thousands of perfectly good domains expire because their owners have stopped paying for them. When that happens, the domains move back into the marketplace, where other people can buy them.
You can place a backorder for the domain name you want. Its not a sure thing that youll ever get the domain, but if it expires, youll be notified instantly, and then youll be able to buy it.
Keep in mind, however, a domain stays with the owner for 90 days after they stop paying for it. You might wait quite a while before you receive a notification that the domain ownership has expired.
Again, this method should be the last resort. If you do it, you may need to settle for your second choice while you wait for the domain name you backordered.
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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.
How To Register A Domain Name With Wix
Wix is one of the most widely-used website builders, having powered over 200 million users worldwide. While it allows creating a website for free, you will need a premium plan to connect a custom domain name.
The price for a .com domain name is $12.95/year. Note that Wixs list of extensions is not as vast as other registrars, as it doesnt support such TLDs as .io, .tech, or .live. However, more generic options are available.
Navigate to Wixs domains page to begin the domain name search. Then, enter a term using a domain extension and press Search. If someone else has taken the name, it will suggest other options with different TLDs.
After finding a domain name you like, click Get It Now. The next step is to choose between getting a premium website builder plan or simply buying a domain name. The first option will make the domain registration fee free of charge.
For illustration purposes, we will go with the latter route by clicking Get It Now. At this stage, you will have to sign up for a Wix account.
Now, pick whether to register the domain name for one, two, or three years. Wix offers a discount for longer registration periods.
Then fill in the contact information, including your name, phone number, email, address, and postal code.
If youre going to manage the domain and handle any tech-related issues it encounters, check the Tech Contact Info and Admin Contact Info boxes below. Otherwise, fill in the fields with the relevant contact details.
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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.
Make An Offer To Buy It
After youve done your research and evaluated the name, the next step is making contact and negotiating a price. This is the time to put your negotiation skills to good use because its the only way you can get a fair price for that perfect web address.
Here are some useful negotiation tips to ensure you get a fair price:
If, in the end, you manage to settle on a fair price, youll want to ensure that the domain is transferred to you and that the seller receives his payment. Following is a quick checklist:
Summarise the specific terms of the deal in an email. For high value domains, its best to execute an acquisition agreement to make the deal legally binding.
. Using an escrow service is a good idea as the money will only be transferred to the seller when the domain control is transferred to you. In addition, the seller will be given complete instructions on how and when to transfer the control of the domain.
Transfer the domain. The transfer process depends on the registrar of your choice, but it usually includes the following steps:
- Open an account with the registrar
- At the same time, ask the seller to unlock the domain from his account with his registrar and then also provide you with the authorisation code
- Next, go to your registrar and add the domain name you wish to transfer to your account.
Confirm the transfer and finish the transaction so the seller can receive his payment.
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Google Domains: Simple Domains Easy Integrations
is a simple, no hassle registrar. It rocks Googles sleek design, combined with great DNS tools and industry-leading security. Most people looking for a domain also want email to go alongside it, and Google Domains will integrate well with your existing G Suite subscription. Note that this does require you to pay for Googles premium email service it wont work with a standard Gmail account.
Their search function is pretty basic but doesnt get in your way. If you know what youre looking for, it might be right for you.
Their pricing is pretty average, but if youre looking to get your website up quickly without any mess, Google is probably your best bet.
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Use A Trusted Domain Broker Service
One of the easiest ways to buy a pre-owned domain name is to let someone else do all the hard work.
How?
In case you are wondering, a broker is a person who acts as a go between a buyer and a seller to make a sale happen. Some sellers prefer to sell through brokers so you might as well get used to the idea of working with one.
Thankfully, most popular hosting companies also have a broker service.
Heres how to buy domain broker service on GoDaddy.
First, search for the domain name you want. Click on the domain broker service link under .
Then click on Select and Continue on the popup window that appears.
All you have to do now is to wait for them to get in touch with you and tell you the next steps. Hopefully, after several rounds of back-and-forth communication you will get the domain.
Not interested in using a broker? Then its time to do some digging.
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Want An Unfair Advantage Over Competitors Buy A Taken Domain
Buying a taken domain seems daunting but its easy if you follow a proven process.
It all boils down to thorough research, patience, and tact.
With the best possible domain name from the beginning, you gain a headstart on your competitors. You fuel your companys online growth and reap awesome SEO benefits by simply doing the hard work upfront.
You Should Just Change The Tld
One way to use an existing domain name is by changing the Top Level Domain . You might notice that the .com domain is taken, but the .net or .org options are still available:
You can easily purchase one of these alternatives instead. However, this may not be the best option for everyone.
For one, .com is still by far the most common TLD option. Using a different TLD risks users visiting the wrong website entirely, if they use .com by reflex.
Additionally, choosing a different TLD for your domain could lead to competition with other websites. Owners of a similar domain might say that you are infringing on their brand name, which could lead to legal issues as well.
That doesnt mean alternative TLDs are never effective. For example, schools may benefit from using the .edu TLD, whereas organizations might prefer .org. However, those choices should be based on your sites niche and audience, rather than an attempt to circumvent an existing domain.
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You Cant Use A Domain Name That Already Exists
When you search for a potential domain name, you might find that someone already owns it. Using a tool like Domain Wheel, you could go through the process of choosing another unique domain, but this isnt your only option.
Its definitely possible to buy a domain name. You can contact the owner directly to see if theyre willing to sell. Its best to visit the website under the domain and use its contact form to reach out to the owner:
As an alternative, you can use the WHOIS service to search for the owners contact information. There, youll be able to search for domain names and their availability. There will also be details on how to reach the owner of each domain.
Before We Begin Dont Just Go And Get A Different Tld
If your desired domain name is taken, you might be thinking that theres a third option worth considering: getting the same domain but with a different TLD, like .net or .org instead of .com.
However, this is not a good idea. First off, people will never remember what your correct TLD was, so they will usually go for .com anyway ending up at the wrong website.
Additionally, registering existing names can also result in legal trouble. The owner of the original .com might argue that youre trying to infringe on their brand name by registering a similar domain name.
At the end of the day, youre really better off either trying to get the original domain name that you wanted from the start, or changing your focus to a different name entirely.
With that said, lets talk business:
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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.
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:
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