April 11, 2018

The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Domain Name

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Domain Name

Domain Buying Guides

Name Experts provides premium
domain service to:

MAX
MAX
MAX
Hope Channel
MAX
MAX

Getting right down to basics, here’s NameExpert.com Director Joe Uddeme with our definitive guide to buying a domain name. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a would-be domain trader, it’s a great place to start.

 

A domain name is your website’s unique identifier. It is the address people type into their browser when they want to visit your website. For example, typing “nameexperts.com” in your browser leads to this very website.

Most businesses with an online presence need a domain name, but business owners sometimes don’t know how to get one. If you want to buy a domain name for yourself or your business, you’ve arrived at the right place.

Key Takeaways

  • What to do before buying
  • Choosing the right name and getting it registered
  • Buying a domain owned by someone else
  • What to do next

Before Buying Your Domain

Let’s examine the essential steps to take before buying a domain name:

Choose a domain name

A domain is a unique web address, meaning two websites can’t use the same domain name. The first step to buying a domain is to choose the right domain name for your business.

The domain should be brandable and easy to remember. It’s how customers will find you, so avoid any name that gives people headaches when trying to remember it.

The domain should preferably include the name of your business so that people can easily guess the address if they are not sure what it is. Let’s say you run an electronics store named MJ Gadgets; the perfect domain name is MJGadgets.com. If this domain isn’t available, you can look for alternatives like ShopMJGadgets.com, BuyMJGadgets.com, and MJGadgets.net.

Choose a premium domain name if you can afford it, as they are short, catchy, and memorable domain names that draw valuable organic traffic. Most successful online businesses use premium domain names.

Choose an Extension

The extension is what comes after the dot (.) in your domain name. “.COM” is the most popular domain extension and should be your first choice. If “.COM” isn’t available, you can pick alternative extensions like “.NET,” “.ORG,” and “.CO.”

Google and other search engines have confirmed that your choice of extension doesn’t impact rankings. However, it significantly affects consumer perception. People generally don’t trust uncommon domain extensions like “.XYZ,” “.BLOG,” “.WEBSITE,” etc.

Understand How Domains are Valued

Before making a final decision, you should understand how domain names are valued, especially if you plan to sell the domain later. Many factors contribute to a domain’s value, including:

  • Length: The shorter a domain’s length, the easier it is to remember and the more valuable it becomes.
  • TLD (top-level domain): Some domain extensions are more valuable than others, such as “.COM” “.NET,“ .AI,” “.IO,” etc. The more popular the domain extension, the more valuable it is.
  • Length of domain history: The longer a domain name has existed on the web, the more likely it is to command a high value.
  • Keyword popularity: Domains with generic keywords people frequently search for tend to have high value, e.g., “Amazon.com,” “Stripe.com,” “Square.com,” etc.

Verify if it is available

Considering the above factors, it’s time to check if your desired domain name is available. You can do this by simply going to any domain registrar and typing the desired name in the search box.

If the domain is available, the registrar will offer to sell it to you. Otherwise, the registrar will notify you that someone else has already registered the domain.

To demonstrate, let’s search for a random domain, “ournameexperts.com”, on Namecheap, a popular domain registrar. Namecheap said this domain name is available, and we could register it immediately.

Now let’s search for “nameexperts.com.” Namecheap said this domain name has been registered by someone else since 2000. Of course, that’s the domain you’re currently on, so you can’t register it for yourself.

If your desired domain name is available, move to the next section on how to buy a domain name outright. If it has been taken, move to the ensuing section on how to buy a domain name that is already registered.

 

How to Buy a Domain Name

1. Choose a domain registrar

Any domain name must come from an accredited registrar, such as Namecheap, Dynadot, Hover, Bluehost, and Domain.com. Over 2,400 domain registrars are accredited by ICANN, the governing body of the global domain registration system, so finding a suitable one shouldn’t be an issue.

You can see the full list of all ICANN-accredited registrars here. Any supposed registrar not on this list is illegitimate.

2. Select your domain and extension

The next step is making a final choice about the domain and extension for your online business. We’ve discussed the factors that should influence your decision, but it’s worth reiterating that “.COM” is the best extension. This is the first extension most people consider when looking for a brand’s website.

If a random person wants to guess your website name, they’ll likely type the name followed by a .COM and hope their browser will show your website.

The .COM extension is easily recognizable and helps your website rank higher on search engines. Domain names with this extension also command a higher resale value, giving it a competitive edge over other domain extensions.

3. Select How Long to Register the Domain

Domain name ownership isn’t etched in stone. Every domain has an expiry date, although you can renew the registration for as long as you want. You can register a new domain for up to 10 years, with each additional year carrying higher upfront costs.

The bright side is that you don’t need to bother about short-term price changes once you’ve registered a domain for many years.

If you want to build a valuable long-term brand, 5 to 10 years is the optimal period to register a new domain. But if you can’t afford a long-term registration, you can register it for a year and turn on auto-renew so that the registrar automatically renews it when due.

You can’t technically buy a domain forever, but you can use some workarounds to own it for a seemingly infinite time.

4. Purchase your Domain

Enter the available domain name into your registrar’s search box and click the buy button. On the checkout page, most registrars suggest adding domain privacy to the registration package. Some registrars offer domain privacy for free, while others demand extra fees for this perk.

Do you need domain privacy?

Domain privacy protection means hiding your personal information from the public WHOIS database. This ICANN-operated database contains information on all domain owners and is open to anyone.

However, you might be uncomfortable with your contact information being out in the open. In that case, you can request domain privacy for your registrar to hide your personal details from the WHOIS database.

If you have no issues with your contact information being publicly searchable in the WHOIS database, you can ignore your registrar’s domain privacy suggestion.

5. Complete the Registration Process

Pay for the domain name with a credit or debit card and complete the registration process. Your registrar will ask for contact information, including a name and email address, to register the domain. This information is usually listed in the WHOIS database, but domain privacy lets you hide it.

6. Verify domain registration

Your registrar will send a verification email confirming ownership of the domain you purchased. Click on the link in the verification email and smile because you have formally joined the club of domain name owners.

How to Buy a Domain that is Already Registered

We can predict your disappointment if you find out that your desired domain has already been registered. However, don’t fret—there’s still a way out. You can contact the owner and formally offer to acquire their domain, especially if it isn’t connected to an active website.

Finding a domain owner and making a reasonable acquisition offer can be exhausting, so seeking a domain broker’s services is advisable. Domain brokers are experts who specialize in buying and selling domain names– the internet’s equivalent of a real estate agent.

If you’re interested in a house not publicly offered for sale, you’ll likely seek a real estate agent. Similarly, if you want a domain that is already registered, seek a domain broker to handle the negotiations.

Domain brokers can help you find the owner of a domain even if their information isn’t available on the WHOIS database. Then, they’ll reach out to the owner for negotiations.

This part is critical because domain brokers have proper knowledge and experience in domain name valuation. If you’re negotiating directly, you might underbid a domain and cause the owner to ignore you. Or you may overbid and get played. A domain broker sets a reasonable bid on your behalf and adjusts when necessary.

If the owner agrees to sell their domain name, the broker handles the escrow and ensures you aren’t cheated. Then, they’ll transfer the domain name to you.

Sometimes, the broker will explain that they have found the owner but they don’t want to sell for any reason. In that case, it’s wise to avoid beating a dead horse and seek a new domain name instead – preferably something similar to your first choice.

It can be as simple as choosing another extension – such as saying goodbye to OurNameExperts.com in favor of OurNameExperts.net.

One of the most important things we do for clients is advise them on domain name strategy. We have many years of experience in suggesting and sourcing valuable names that have incredible potential.

Seated man and woman high-fiving in business setting

 

What to Do After Buying Your Domain

You’ve acquired a domain, so what’s next? A lot can happen. The obvious choice is to connect your domain to a website and work on attracting traffic.

You’ll need a web hosting plan from a reliable company. The company hosts your website on its servers so that people can access it anytime, and you’ll pay a fee for this perk.

The good news is that web hosting has become more affordable than ever– you can find hosting packages for as low as $5 monthly.

The type of website you want determines your hosting provider. For example, if you run an online store, you’ll need an e-commerce hosting service like Shopify, Shift4Shop, Squarespace, and WooCommerce for WordPress. If it’s a news site, social platform, booking website, or anything else, you can find endless hosting options for it.

You can also create a professional email address attached to your domain name. Professional email addresses make your business look brilliant and increase the chances of getting a response when you pitch to clients.

You can trademark your domain, market the website, and even sell it later. There are endless things to do after buying a domain name.

 

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. Contact us at: [email protected]

Subscribe for More Domain Buying & Selling Advice

Related posts

Rear-view close-up shot of a woman using a laptop to illustrate article about buying a .org domain name
Why You Should Buy a .org Domain and How to Get One

The .com domain name might still be king, but .org can be a perfectly good alternative in some circumstances. Domain name expert Joe Uddeme explains when and why.   Why buy a .org domain? Why not? If you’ve been contemplating buying a domain and figured that all the alternatives to a .com were a dud, then a .org domain name is the exception. A .org domain imbues a site with immediate confidence and credibility. Your website visitors infer that you aren’t only interested in earning money but are dedicated to making this planet a better place, too. These domains are identical to other domains in most aspects but come with the extra bonus of perceived authenticity among your customers. Key Takeaways Why the .org suggests authority Understand the rules about owning a .org When a .org makes sense   What is a .org domain name? .org domain names were among the first top-level domain names. This means that they were among the first options available when people started picking a domain name. As a result, the .org domain extension is well known – and websites with that expansion are often viewed as authority websites. As they have a certain gravitas and longevity, they are often utilized as a choice alternative to the popular (but exceptionally competitive) .com domain name extension. Who can use a .org domain? If you want to create a community website for your college, gym or cultural establishment, then a .org domain name is going to be your very best choice. It is both fitting and correct – and will suggest to visitors that they have arrived at the official site. Anyone can now choose a .org domain name. You don’t need to submit any documentation or any other evidence that you’re a nonprofit or a charity. The procedure for registering for a .org domain name is straightforward and hassle-free. Commercial companies can just as readily secure .org domain names as official bodies, charities and other organizations can. From a business point of view, adding a .org may help ensure your trademark and brand are well shielded. The same may be true of other TLDs, such as .io or .ai.   Why choose a .org domain name? If you’ve been contemplating registering a domain and can’t get the .com name you want, its .org sister may be the way forward. It grants your site instant authenticity and is an extremely popular and identifiable domain extension. It’s ideal as a home for a charitable or community organization – and can be a terrific alternative to the .com domains. It works well for schools, charities, hospitals and so on, but can just as easily work for your own private use or a small business. If you need help purchasing a .org domain name or would like to inquire about a domain name that is already taken, the brokers at NameExperts can help guide you through the process. We’re particularly good to have around when it comes to negotiation work and have helped everyone from Mark Cuban to Tripadvisor to secure powerful domain names. 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. Contact us at: [email protected]
Woman faces the camera while sitting in front of a laptop for blog post about domain names
How to Rebrand Your Business and Domain Name

Even well-established businesses sometimes need to rebrand, and one of the biggest issues can be finding a new domain name to match. In this post, NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme looks at the smart way to do it.   Looking to rebrand your business? It’s rarely a walk in the park, with a to-do list that features everything from registering your new name, changing all of your company materials, and, crucially, securing a new domain name that can help your rebranded business to grow. There’s often a significant culture change, too, and it’s important your staff understand why you’re rebranding and what your hopes are for the new-look company. In this post, we’ll look at some key things to consider, including buying the domain name you’ll need. Key Takeaways The compelling reasons behind rebranding Considerations for your audience/marketplace Publicizing your new brand Practical considerations (logos, etc.)   How to rebrand a business Branding is a critical consideration for every business. Branding refers to promoting your products with a distinctive feel and design. It’s an ideal way to differentiate yourself from competitors. No matter how good your products are, you won’t sell them without proper branding and customer awareness. Branding isn’t an easy task. We wouldn’t have many companies struggling to sell themselves if it was. The world is littered with failed branding strategies, even from big brands. Netflix’s struggled early on to use Qwikster to break out its DVD rental service and its streaming service. However, a failed branding strategy isn’t the end of the world. Any business can rebrand and make it right with consumers. Netflix didn’t give up when its Qwikster brand failed. It continued DVD rentals with its usual name (successfully) before pivoting to video streaming later. When your initial branding strategy doesn’t work, the intelligent thing to do is a rebrand, and there are specific factors to consider when doing that. Be clear on what’s driving the rebrand Before initiating rebranding efforts, you must be clear on what’s driving the need for the rebranding. There are varying reasons for a business to rebrand, and each demands different strategies. The most common reasons for rebranding include: Having an outdated brand To reposition your brand Reputation management Brands can become outdated when they fail to keep up with rapid changes in modern style and influence. For example, a social media site from the early internet days won’t survive well in this current internet age when we have vastly different demographics. The early social media platforms became outdated over time, and those that failed to rebrand lost market share. You can also rebrand to reposition your company’s business strategy. If your original name focused on a niche, but has evolved to target a broader offering. FilterEasy to Second Nature is a good example of a brand that changed brand names to better align with their new offering. They originally focused on selling only filters but evolved to sell home care products. Check out our story about the rebranding of Monday.com for another great case study. Businesses also rebrand for reputational purposes. You may have started with a well-meaning name that unfortunately became associated with negative things in the future. A typical example is a Chinese fashion retailer named ISIS that had to rebrand when the name became associated with terrorist activities.   Focus on the Core Messaging Your rebrand should have clear and concise messaging. You should be able to tell a story with your new brand that customers can relate to. Just don’t rebrand without context – because that can irk existing customers. Let them know why you’re rebranding and why it’s better for the business. A simple explanation goes a long way in making your customers empathize with you despite the short-term inconvenience. Let your teams know this, too.   Consider your audience, market, and competition Take time to evaluate how your rebranding would affect your existing audience (customers) and standing against competitors in the market. Ensure you research to validate if your rebranding reasons are appropriate. How would your customers react to an unfamiliar brand name? Is there intense brand competition in your industry? These are good questions to ask before initiating any rebrand. You must be sure that the direction of your rebrand matches what customers want. There are two main types of branding research: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research entails collecting and analyzing numerical data to find patterns, while qualitative implies using non-numerical data. Focus groups are a good example.   Publicize your new brand Your rebranding efforts will be futile if you don’t make customers aware of it. Consumers have short attention spans, meaning they can easily forget your old brand. Once you rebrand, assume you’re a newly formed brand and market like one. Buy ads on social media platforms, search engines, TV, etc., to spread the word about your new identity.   How do I rebrand an existing business? 1. Buy a new domain name In this digital age, not having a website puts you on a lower level than your competitors. Hence, the first step to rebranding an existing business is securing the proper domain name. Before choosing your new brand name, check if a corresponding domain name is available. Your domain name is how customers would find you, so you can’t afford to make errors here. You can buy any available domain name through any domain registrar. However, there are cases where a domain you want is already taken, and you see yourself having no other choice. Don’t fret. You can enlist a domain name broker to find and contact the owner with an offer on your behalf. Domain brokerage services are great at negotiation and can take care of the technical side of domain name acquisition, too. 2. Change your logo A logo is an essential aspect of any brand because it’s one of the first things a customer recognizes and identifies with. Hence, you should change your logo during rebranding to signal your new brand identity. You can make your logo simpler for customers. Likewise, you can use unique colors to make your new brand stand out from your former. 3. Change your slogan Many brands have a slogan that customers resonate with, e.g., Nike’s “Just do it” and Disneyland’s “The happiest place on earth.” It would be best if you changed your slogan when rebranding to flaunt your new brand identity. 4. Create new ads You should create advertisements fitting your new brand identity. Your ads will now use a different slogan, color palette, keywords, etc.   What does it mean to rebrand a business? Rebranding is the process of changing an organization’s corporate image. It entails creating a new look and feel for an existing company to influence customer choices. A rebranding company would typically change its name (and domain), logo, slogan, vision, mission statement, etc.   Why would a company rebrand? There are various reasons why a company would rebrand. It could be repositioning themselves for a new business strategy, reputational management, or simply fixing an outdated brand. If a company is switching from a niche market to a larger one, it’s wise to rebrand appropriately to match its new focus. Likewise, if a company’s brand suffers from a poor reputation due to internal or external causes, a rebrand can help avert it.   Should you rebrand your business? Rebranding is a complex and expensive undertaking that you must do only with a clear goal. If you’re not looking to change your strategy, avert a reputational crisis, or face other standard issues that call for rebranding, we advise you to avoid it. However, in the right circumstances, it can give a struggling company or one with immediate challenges a new lease of life.   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. Joe has helped with the rebranding of numerous large companies. Contact him at: [email protected]    
Close up of woman typing on laptop keyboard to indicate the importance of doing research when purchasing a domain name
Domain Due Diligence – What to Do Before You Buy

Before getting excited about the domain name you want being available, ask yourself why it is up for grabs – especially if it appears to be a great name. Many domain names on the open market have a hidden past – as NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme explains… Let’s say you just found out you can secure a domain name that matches the name of your new business. Or maybe you’re doing it the other way around and want to start with an available domain name that you’ll build your business around. Now let’s suppose it’s one of those short, snappy modern domain names made up of five letters that don’t mean anything. Now press pause. Before you plan the entire history of your brand around these five letters, it’s advisable to perform some due diligence – just as it is when buying any domain name. When buying a car, it’s helpful to have a trusted mechanic perform an inspection and to review the vehicle’s service history before handing over your cash. A similar thing applies to purchasing domain names. It’s necessary to perform proper due diligence – or you risk wasting money. This article will give you a due diligence checklist to follow to ensure you make a worthy purchase and ensure you don’t buy a domain name with a damaging hidden past. Key Takeaways Spammy “past lives” of your domain name could damage your reputation Discover the tools that help you discover your name’s true past Make sure there are no trademark issues Why You Need To Conduct Due Diligence For Any Potential Acquisition Due diligence means investigating the details of a business or person that you want to enter a commercial transaction with. It’s necessary because it helps you understand the nature of what you want to buy, the risks involved, and anything else that could be a hindrance. Not conducting domain name due diligence before buying can cause trouble. For example, you may buy a domain that has been blacklisted for spam activities and wonder why your website isn’t getting traffic. Or why any email sent from your domain goes to the recipient’s spam folder. You could also buy a stolen domain and be subject to lawsuits accusing you of theft – or one that used to be an adult site. The list of potential risks is endless, so always carry out domain due diligence before any purchase.   Domain Due Diligence Checklist WHOIS WHOIS is a public database containing information about domain name owners. You can run a WHOIS lookup to trace the ownership of a domain name, and it’s advisable to do this for any domain you want to buy a domain name. Check the WHOIS history for at least a year to see if there were any ownership changes. If you notice any, you can contact the prior owner to ensure that they actually transferred the ownership and the domain wasn’t stolen. Domain thieves try to sell domains in a hurry, and this process helps you avoid buying a stolen domain and exposing yourself to legal troubles. Because of Europe’s GDPR data protection laws, you may not be able to see details about a domain’s owner (it’ll appear as redacted). However, access is granted to certain licensed third parties that, in turn, offer that data to people for a fee. DomainIQ and DomainTools are two examples of such parties. Domain History The WHOIS lookup will help you verify that the domain is owned by a legitimate buyer and not a hacker. After that, the next step of the domain name due diligence is to check how the domain was utilized in the past. What type of website was it used for? Is it something that could have gotten it into a blacklist? A good website to check a domain’s history and utilization is the Wayback Machine. This is a digital archive that lets you see how the website for any domain looked in the past. The idea is to ensure that the domain was used for appropriate activities. If it was used for nefarious things like unregulated gambling, domain name scams, or data theft, it’s a signal to stay clear because the domain may have been blacklisted by search engines and email providers. Potential Trademark Issues Ensure that the domain name you want to use is not similar to an established trademark because this can lead to infringement lawsuits and a possible court order to hand over the domain. There was a popular case of an entrepreneur called Mike Rowe, who registered the “MikeRoweSoft.com” domain for his software company. Microsoft, the well-known software company, filed a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement, and Mike Rowe had to hand over ownership of the domain in exchange for an Xbox and some certification training. If the domain name you want to buy is similar to an established trademark, it’s best to avoid it and go for something else. Search Value Another important part of the due diligence checklist is to see how the domain name performs on search engines. If you can’t find valid results when you input the domain name of a search engine, it’s a signal that it may have been blacklisted due to past activity. Check if there are backlinks from nefarious sites pointing to the domain because that represents another red flag. It’s also important to see if a domain has been marked by email blacklists. If so, emails from that domain will likely end up in the recipient’s spam folder instead of the main inbox. Popular email blacklists include Spamhaus, Barracuda, and Proofpoint, and most of them let you run a simple scan to see if a domain is part of the list.   During the Acquisition Process Once you have ticked all the boxes in your acquisition due diligence checklist and decided to proceed with the purchase, there are some essential tips to follow. Tracking Each Step You should create a spreadsheet to track each step of the domain name sale. The spreadsheet should contain sections like “current status”, “date transferred”, and “price”. This will help you stay on top of every detail of the imminent domain acquisition. Setting Up Escrow Escrow refers to a neutral third party that holds the money before it is transferred from the domain buyer to the seller. It’s necessary to use an escrow service to prevent yourself from falling victim to fraud. The escrow service will hold the money that you’ve agreed to pay for the domain and only disburse it if the seller fulfills all the terms of the deal.   What To Keep In Mind For the Transfer Process When you acquire a domain, the buyer will have to transfer it to your registrar for it to officially become yours. A domain must be at least 60 days old to be transferable according to rules defined by ICANN, the governing body for domain registration. The owner will need an authorization code from their registrar to authorize the transfer to your own registrar. Once this is complete, the domain is officially yours. If you need help with domain name due diligence, you can hire a professional domain broker with experience in appraising and investigating domain names. The broker can help you decide if it’s a worthwhile purchase and also negotiate a good price with the owner. Check out our post on domain name negotiation tips for further insight into this exciting and complex world!   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. Contact us at: [email protected]

Why Work with Name Experts

Name Experts offers personalized domain brokerage services, assisting clients in buying or selling premium domain names with expert appraisal, negotiation, and complete transaction management while ensuring confidentiality.

Free Consultation

Some of our most
successful stealth acquisition and sales

Aid.com

Fit.com

Mine.com

GLD.com

Jeff.com

Fora.com

Nori.com

Secure.com

Guitar.com

F*ck.com

Radian.com

MetaData.com

Prize.com

Link.com

Loop.com

Programs.com

Claim.com

Quince.com

Hook.com

QXO.com

NQ.com

Rest.com

Humani.com

Max.com

Need help buying or selling premium domains?