August 1, 2017

Stealth Acquisitions Domain Name

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

Stealth Acquisitions Domain Name

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Some domain acquisitions are straightforward, but others are less so. Joe Uddeme, Director of NameExperts.com, explains what happens when a client wants a domain that seems out of reach – and they want to keep their name out of the picture, too.

 

As a buy-side broker specializing in stealth acquisitions, it’s our job to dig deep and find the rightful owner of a domain name while protecting the identity of the buyer. The problem is that some domain owners make it very difficult to reach them.

What’s the psyche behind this rationale?

For a start, not all domain name owners are equal; some just don’t want to be contacted or have zero interest in selling their domain name. Or perhaps it’s just a case that their whois information is out of date – making it difficult to decipher the current domain owner.

GDPR is another major change. Many countries now adhere to stricter policies related to domain name owner privacy, with many whois entries now redacted for owners’ privacy rights.

But all is not lost. Quietly tracking down “unreachable” domain owners and securing them for anonymous clients is what we do best. And we can do it for you.

Key Takeaways

  • What your broker needs to know to get started
  • Buying a domain name – what you need to know
  • How to choose a stealth acquisition broker

Stealth acquisitions – what to do first

Stealth acquisitions represent an opportunity for a buyer to be protected by complete anonymity. You should understand this before reaching out to a broker, as you need to have an idea of what will happen next.

Try and answer these questions BEFORE making contact:

  1. Have you completed a relevant trademark search around the keyword in question?
  2. Have you established a budget to complete this potential acquisition?
  3. Have you established a timeline for this potential acquisition?
  4. Are you familiar with aftermarket domain name valuations?
  5. Have you thought about viable alternatives if your target might not be available?
  6. What type of barriers do you see in this potential acquisition?

Buy-side brokers need to understand the full story about why you want this domain and anything you have done so far to try and get it, including previous acquisition attempts.

They will then attempt to drill down into the fine details and identify – and contact – the rightful domain name owner. The buy-side broker should also be able to act as a buffer between buyer and seller and remove any emotion from a potential deal.

Black cat ready to pounce, to denote 'stealth' for blog post about stealthy domain name acquisitions

 

Buying a domain name – the steps involved

Here are the basic steps to acquire a domain name:

  1. Identify ownership and research if the name is available
  2. Submit an offer to the owner
  3. Negotiate
  4. Agree on the price and complete paperwork (if applicable)
  5. Set up Escrow for payment
  6. Registrar transfer via push or authorization code
  7. Confirm control of the name
  8. Release funds

Tools to try if you’re trying to track down an owner yourself:

  1. Check the DNS and see where the domain is pointing to. Is there a website, or is it undeveloped?
  2. Whois history is a valuable tool to understand the true history of the domain name.
  3. Check the Wayback Machine to see what other properties have been developed on the URL in the past.

If working with a buy-side broker, they should offer the following upside for any stealth acquisitions:

  • Negotiate with YOU in mind; no dual agency in this scenario.
  • Provide contracts that protect ALL parties involved.
  • Typically save you time and money.
  • Allows for a third-party (non-biased) approach towards the acquisition.
  • Coordinate necessary contractual paperwork between parties.
  • Facilitate and handle smooth transfers of domain names.
  • Offer transparency and full disclosure.
  • Non-disclosure where applicable.

 

How to choose a broker for your stealth acquisition

Start by researching suitable candidates to help with your domain name acquisition. Don’t identify the asset unless you are sure you have found the buy-side broker you’re certain you want to work with. Ask the broker for information about their service and a few names they recently acquired for clients.

Find out how your broker can add value to your potential acquisition; always do a Google search to learn more about the broker you are working with.

Take the time to find an expert that can properly assist you with all of your acquisition needs. Ask lots of questions and make sure you feel aligned with the broker. Hold the broker accountable and require status updates so you aren’t left in the dark as they progress.

In most instances, your stealth acquisition needs to be completed right the first time. Most domain name acquisitions only have one chance to secure the domain name target without leaving extra money on the table.

Stealth acquisitions should only be performed by a seasoned domain name buy-side broker, so choose your broker carefully. You should understand if the broker has certain strengths or weaknesses.

Some buy-side brokers don’t have the tools or knowledge to find the rightful domain owner. Or they lack rich relationships with industry veterans. Other buy-side brokers are excellent at managing the acquisition but terrible at the details.

Details are key when it comes to any domain name acquisition. Contracts and paperwork can take months to pass through the legal channels, so it’s important to find a representative that is fully vested and can assist you with all aspects of the buy-side domain name acquisition process.

Finally, when selecting a buy-side broker, make sure you ask for referrals so you get a feel for how they work. Once you have faith in your broker you can instruct them to make contact with the rightful domain owner and secure the perfect domain name for your brand.

 

About the author

Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Stealth acquisitions are his specialty. Contact us at: [email protected]

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The end game is to log into the owner’s registrar with the stolen details and transfer their domain name to another account. Purchasing domain privacy means that hackers won’t find your contact information in the first place. You can hold onto your valuable domain names without fear of being targeted by sophisticated cybercriminals. (Check out our post about what to do if you lose your domain name). How To Get Domain Privacy And Protection When Buying a Domain Most registrars display the option to add privacy protection to your cart when you choose to buy a domain name. It’s an effective method of upselling because they know many customers want privacy. Look for “hide WHOIS information,” “domain privacy,” “domain protection,” or a similar phrase on the domain registration box and select it. Head to the checkout page and pay for the registration, privacy protection, and any other item you selected. After paying, you’ll automatically have WHOIS protection for your new domain. Add To An Existing Domain You can always buy privacy protection for a domain name you already own. Follow these steps; Log into your domain registrar account. Head to the domain management section. Click on the specific domain name you need privacy for. Open the Security tab, and you’ll likely find a button that prompts you to buy WHOIS protection. Click on the button and proceed to your checkout page to pay. Wait for some time after the payment confirmation for your registrar to update the WHOIS database information. There are dozens of domain registrars, and the steps to add privacy protection to an existing domain are similar to what we explained above for each of them.   FAQs on Domain Privacy Should I add privacy protection when buying and selling domains? Yes, you should add the option to hide domain registration info because it has many benefits. It prevents spam, competitive data mining, and potential domain theft. It also guarantees anonymity on the WHOIS database, which is desirable for privacy-conscious customers. If you are working with multiple domain names, especially high-value ones, an experienced domain consultant can ensure all of this is taken care of on your behalf. How Do You Buy A Domain With Privacy Protection You’ll usually see an option to buy privacy protection on the page where you search for an available domain. Add the privacy protection item to your cart alongside the domain name and pay, and you have successfully acquired privacy protection for your new domain. Is privacy protection available on all domains? It’s available for most domains, but there are some exceptions due to government rules. These include .US., .CA, and .FR, among others. Is there a cost to domain privacy and protection? Most registrars charge between $10 and $20 annually for privacy protection while registering a domain. However, a few offer it for free, e.g., NameCheap.   About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Need help? Contact us at: [email protected]

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