Getting A Domain That’s Taken
If you are reading this, its probably because you want to purchase a domain name that has been taken. In the following, I will explain how I managed to find and acquire a web domain.
Disclaimer: The following may only be applicable if the other person is willing to sell.
The following is based on my experience of purchasing a $6,000 domain listed for $2,500.
Scene : When Its An Active Or Partially Active Website
In the second scenario, when verifying if your dream domain is taken, a web page does show up. An active website with content, a coming soon page, and the like.
Since this domain is attached to an existing website, what do you do?
Obviously, seeing a website might suggest that the domain owner isnt ready to sell it. But reach out anyway.
Find their contact on the website and reach out. Alternatively, use a whois lookup as we discussed in the section before this one, to find their contact details.
Remember, you dont have to spend thousands of dollars to get a perfect domain name if you dont have that budget. So if the domain owners are demanding more money than you can afford, walk away.
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.
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Register Your Domain Name To Give Your Website The Uniqueness It Deserves
While registering your domain name may be a short-term task, its a long-term commitment. Whatever youre building a website for, your domain will act as the anchor of your online presence and stick with you for years to come.
It can help your SEO, act as a pathway for users to learn more about your brand, and make it easier for customers to spread the word about your products.
How Can Hostinger Offer Domains For Free
We do it because for many years we have proudly been an ICANN accredited registrar! Pair that with partnerships with multiple renowned registrar and a massive user base! This gives us the opportunity to share in our privilege by being able to provide the best to our users.
We at Hostinger, believe that the power of the internet to everyone. Thats why we provide hosting for some of the lowest prices in the industry and add a domain for free to boot!
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How Much Does A Domain Name Cost:
For the majority of domain names with a .com extension, you should not expect to pay more than $10-20 a year. Newer domain name extensions like .bio, .app, or .digital will end up being expensive because they have fixed wholesale prices negotiated between the ICANN and the registrar. Others like .biz and .net are inexpensive to register because they dont pack the same type of punch.
Its worth mentioning that a domain name is not a one-time purchase. Youre also required to be a renewal fee every year, which generally costs a bit more than what youll pay to register the domain. This is because the majority of registrars offer discounted pricing to first-time buyers. In addition, youll need to pay an additional amount if you include any add-on in your domain name purchase. Popular add-ons include privacy protection, custom email address, and on-demand backups.
Why Are Domain Names Important
A domain name is important because it helps you build a brand that connects with your audience, allows customers to find you online, and gives you credibility. While there are several factors that determine the success of a website, conducting a domain name search offers a range of benefits:
- Makes you accessible: If your business isnt online, it doesnt exist. If you own a physical shop in a remote town the average person hasnt heard of, you wont be found online. However, if you build a website around your brand, youre much more likely to be found, especially if you optimize your domain name and website for search
- Adds credibility: While having a domain name isnt enough, having your own website does make your brand seem more credible. If you own a small business and dont have a website, some potential customers may not trust you as much as one that does. Customers feel confident in buying from websites because they can easily find online reviews or a portfolio that shows them that youre the real deal. Owning a website is the first step to gaining credibility in the online world.
- Helps you build a brand: A good domain name gives exposure to your brand, especially if it matches the name of your company. It also makes it easier to generate word of mouth because people will remember your business name and pass it along to others. When you buy a domain name, make sure its memorable andpositively reflects what your brand represents.
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Best Practices For Buying A Good Domain Name
Some brands choose to add keywords in their domain name to help it rank better in search. You can create a brand name with a keyword in it like the brand EraseCosmetics.com. Adding keywords to your domain name allows people to immediately know what you sell on your store. This works best for niche stores. If you choose a domain name with a keyword in it, make sure the keyword is popular.
For example, a store name with the keywords cycling shorts is restricting. However, having the cycling keyword allows you to sell more products within that niche. However, the downside to having keywords in your domain is that it can restrict what you sell over the long term.
For example, if Amazons website was called AmazonBooks.com, theyd eventually have to change their domain name as they began to expand their product collections. Having keywords in their domain name wouldve made it more challenging to grow their brand to include other products.
If you heard a domain name from a friend or on the radio, would you know how to spell it? Some words can sound the same but are spelled differently like read and red or feat and feet or pair and pear. Avoid using homonyms in your domain name as it can lead to incorrect spellings of your domain.
Use A Free Domain Name Registrar
We do not recommend this method because it has more cons than pros. However, this method exists, so we decided to talk about it in this article. You can register a free name using a special service for registering.
What do you get? A free domain name for your website.
Next, likely, you will not get the most popular extension. It will affect the reputation of your site among users and harm search engine optimization. You can get a free one with Dot TK.
Of course, the final decision is up to you, but we strongly advise against using this method if your goal is to promote your site in SERPs and to attract traffic.
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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.
Renew Your Domain Name Registration At The End Of Your Term
When you purchase a domain, youre purchasing it for a fixed length of time, usually one year. While some domain providers offer longer terms , domain registration is never permanent.
In order to hold on to your registered domain, youll want to make sure you renew registration when your term is complete. Nearly all domain providers offer an automatic renewal, so its generally a good idea to have this option selected when you purchase.
Keep in mind that if your payment information changes, youll need to update your settings with your domain provider so theyre able to charge for automatic renewal.
Most domain providers will notify you when it’s time to renew, whether you have automatic renewal enabled or not, but its important to renew your domain. If you dont renew your domain, it will no longer point to your website and may be purchased by someone else. If you dont want to lose your domain, make sure you renew it.
Recommended Reading: Vistaprint Domain Transfer
Pay For And Transfer Ownership Of The Domain
Next, youll need to pay for the domain and transfer its ownership. I cannot stress enough the importance of using a third party to facilitate this process. You want to feel protected when you are paying for the domain and actually walk away with the domain you worked so hard to obtain. The seller wants to know they can trust your payment.
GoDaddy offers a trusted aftermarket platform for transacting domain name sales. You can also use alternative services such as Escrow.com, which hold the money until the name is accepted and confirmed to be in the buyers account, and clear the funds for the seller prior to authorizing the movement of the domain to the buyer.
Is There A List Of Free Domain Name Extensions
These are the extensions with which you can get a free domain name: .in, .online, .shop, .tech, .site, .com, .me, .xyz, .store, .website, .space, .icu, .uno, .press, .fun, .pw, .host, .info, .net, .link, .click, .help, .co.in, .org.in.
Some of these domain extensions that have been recently approved as official by ICANN, so you can be sure, that with these choices youll be on the cutting edge!
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How To Register A Domain Name For Free
Youve heard the rumor about free domain names. Is it true?
Yes! There are actually ways to get a free domain name for your website.
First, you can get a free domain name for a web hosting provider such as Bluehost.
They offer every new user a 1-year free domain with any of their hosting plans. You can either register a brand new domain name with them or transfer a domain name, registered with another company.
Some other hosting providers who also have a 1-year free domain policy:
- HostGator
- Dreamhost
- InMotion Hosting
Note: The downside of getting a domain name from a hosting provider is more expensive renewals. After a free year, most hosting providers will charge a higher renewal fee, compared to domain registrars.
Domain Name Vs Entire Establish Website
What if you could get a chance to buy an entire established website, including your dream domain name or just an established site? At first, you have to ask yourself whether you want only a domain name or an established and secure website.Buying a website is a brilliant idea. Look at it this way you found a website that has a consistent record of making money. So, if you can buy this website, you can start your online business immediately. You dont have to start from scratch. Incredible, isnt it? Moreover, it is a great shortcut. However, one key thing to remember that buying an established website is pricy.
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Find Out Who The Owner Is
The next step is to find out who owns the domain name. You need to know if the domain name has been consistently changing ownership or if its stayed relatively stable. Frequent changes in ownership mean instability, which could be good or not, depending on your needs.
If the domain you want has had a lot of different owners, youre more likely to get your hands on it. Thats because there isnt an established brand already attached to the name.
But if the most recent owner paid a higher price, they may be less willing to sell you the domain at an affordable cost.
To find out the owner of the domain name you want, go to the Whois Lookup site. Here you can enter the domain name in the search field.
Youll now have all the information related to the domain profile on your screen.
You can also use platforms like ICANN Lookup to find your domain owners information. However, if the owner has protected the contact information, it might be difficult for you to find out specific contact details.
Use A Different Domain Extension
If you really love your chosen domain name and the alternatives are just not working for you, you can always use a different domain extension. .Com is the most common, but the range of TLDs continues to grow. With hundreds of TLDs available, theres a lot more flexibility today.
Also, depending on where you expect a lot of your online traffic to come from, many visitors may never even realize that youre NOT a .com. If traffic comes from referral links and searches, visitors to your site will most likely not notice your domain extension. Some of the more common extensions youve probably seen are .biz, .net., .ly, .guru, but there are also options for various industries, like:
- .clothing
- .agency
- .online
you get the idea. If youd like to learn more about various TLDs, .
Whether youre brainstorming to modify your name just enough to find a relevant and available .com or youre starting from scratch, here are a few pointers on selecting domain names:
Good luck with your domain name selection and remember that it doesnt have to be permanent. Your original .com choice may one day become available, if you choose to make the transition. The important thing is that you kick off your web presence with a simple, memorable, and relevant domain name that helps the right customers find you online.
Once youve selected your domain name, get your business online with our easy-to-use website builder.
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