written by
Joe Uddeme
How to Buy a Domain Name
How to Buy a Domain Name Owned by Someone Else
Negotiating a Domain Price
What is a Premium Domain Name & Why You Should Buy One
How to Choose a Domain Name
How to Value a Domain Name
Domain Names for Startups
How to Buy a .com Domain Name
Things to Watch Out for When Buying a Domain
Domain Name Investing
Buy & Selling Domains
Best Domains to Buy
There aren’t many people today who don’t know what a domain name is – but few actually understand how they really work. In this post, NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme explains what’s going on behind the scenes.
A domain name is what you type when you want to visit a website. For example, you type “Google.com” into your web browser, and it takes you directly to Google to search for stuff. But a lot happens behind the scenes to ensure the domain name you type takes you to the correct website.
In fact, it’s all pretty complicated – and interesting, too. If you want to buy a premium domain name worth in the tens or even hundreds of thousands, having clear insight into what you’re actually paying for might be a good idea. This article will explain what happens and demystify how the world of URLs and the web works.
Key takeaways:
The Internet is an extensive network of computers connected to each other via cables; each computer on this network can communicate with others. Every computer is identified by a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address, which consists of four numbers separated by periods, e.g., 192.168.1.2.
Each website is hosted by a specific computer or server. When you want to visit that website, you need to point to the IP address of the computer hosting it. But IP addresses are difficult to remember. Imagine you had to memorize the unique IP addresses of all the websites you visit; that’ll be impossible, which is why domain names were invented.
A domain name is a human-readable name pointing to a specific IP address on the web. Whenever you type a domain name into your browser, it queries a vast database called the Domain Name System (DNS) and gets the corresponding IP address of the website you want to visit.
The Domain Name System is akin to a phonebook in your home containing your friends’ names and phone numbers. You don’t remember all your friends’ phone numbers; you just need to know their names. Whenever you need a specific number, you check for the name and get it.
This is precisely what the Domain Name System accomplishes; you type a domain, and it gives the correct IP address to your web browser. Your browser fetches the data from the server using that IP address and shows it to you.
A domain name has three main parts: top-level domain (TLD), second-level domain, and subdomain.
The top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of text in a domain name. The most popular TLDs you should be familiar with include
Yet, there are over 1,500 TLDs you can choose from. A lot of them are assigned to specific countries, such as;
There are many other random TLDs such as .website, .book., .dog, .attorney, and .band. A popular one today is the .ai domain name, which has been a hit with tech companies.
This is the middle part of the domain name. It is a unique word or phrase identifying the website you want to visit. This part of the domain plays the biggest role in branding an online business. It’s also important in search engine rankings.
A subdomain is the part that comes before the main domain. They are attached to the main domain and separated by a period, e.g., blog.example.com, support.website.com.
Subdomains function like independent websites but are attached to the main site. For instance, you can have an online store or a blog attached to your main business site.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the agency responsible for managing the global domain name system. It is a nonprofit organization that enacts policies for creating and managing domain names. It permits companies called domain registrars to sell domain names on its behalf.
Technically, you don’t own any domain that you use. You’re leasing it from ICANN (via your domain registrar) and controlling it as long as you renew the registration. If your registration expires, another person can take control of the domain – although with a little effort it’s possible to secure a domain name forever (sort of).
To buy a domain, you can head to any domain registrar’s website and check if someone else has not registered the domain name you want. If so, you can immediately pay for it and start using it.
If the domain name you want has already been registered, don’t fret. You can hire a domain name broker to help you trace, contact the owner, and negotiate a possible purchase. Domain brokers have experience arranging domain sales, so they’ll help you pay a fair price for the domain you want.
The maximum registration period for a domain name is 10 years. But you can renew it every 10 years and keep control of the domain.
They are high-quality domains that people often buy to flip for a higher price later. Demand for premium domains is high, and the price increases over time, making them good investments.
Yes, you can sell your domain name anytime you want to. You can do that yourself or enlist a domain broker to find a buyer for the best price.
You can identify a domain’s owner by querying the public WHOIS database, which contains contact information about the registered owner of every domain.
Registrars usually give a 30-day grace period in which you can reclaim the domain. Your domain will be auctioned on the market if that period runs out.
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]
From Amazon to Coca-Cola, strong brand names have helped propel businesses to stratospheric heights for centuries. Here’s how to find one that will take yours to the next level and ensure you have a domain name that supports it.
Over the past few weeks, there have been many readers asking about the effects of Domai Names and Covid-19 on domain names. Should we hold our names, or sell them now? How has the impact of the global pandemic affected domain name investors and owners of valuable digital assets? Will we be heading for a deeper depression, and how would all of that translate into the current value of your domain name portfolio. In the short term, if you can sit on your names, you would probably be better off in the long run. The market uncertainty has thrown domain name values for a loop. Financial market volatility has a direct correlation with domain name investment values. As a result, now is not the time to sell your domain name to the end-user. Its also not the time to expect top dollar values on your domain name inventory. The market is different and is reactive to today’s landscape. Folks are still trying to figure things out—and most importantly—stay healthy. We are faced with a new way of life now with remote workplaces, and limited exposure to the people we care most about. When the dust settles, domain name portfolios will evolve and some additional GTLD’s will continue to go by the wayside. Domain name starts will continue to suffer (a start is defined as a new potential domain name acquisition or valuation). Brands push Pause Just three weeks ago, domain starts were up. The market was robust and many startups, and emerging brands had major growth. 2020 was off to a great start and then boom. In a matter of weeks, things have dried up. Most acquisitions that were on the target board have been placed on hold, with buyers deciding to wait for the dust to settle from the outbreak. Things are rough and will continue to deteriorate. Growth has turned into retraction with global markets reacting to their municipalities ability to control the spread. Simply put: things have frozen. People aren’t spending and have decided to stand pat. Hundreds of thousands of employees are losing, or have already lost their jobs around the World. Companies are scrambling for a plan to deal with the circumstances. What should we do? As with any alternative or digital investment, it’s wise to have a long-term plan. Domain names, are very similar to real estate and will ultimately retain value and upside. More specifically, .com digital real estate will continue to hold value. Additional TLDS will continue to fade out—at a fast clip than over the past two years. Only sell if you need the capital—understand that the market is different so selling now, will probably not deliver top dollar for your asset. Hold if you Can—now, more than ever, you should hold your inventory. You might be in it for a while at this point. Can you afford to wait for the proper rebound? Don’t panic—there is always liquidity in domain names Diversify your portfolio—now is the time to clean out the junk and trim the fat so-to-speak We always encourage you to like our articles and share with your network. Keep a look out for additional pieces related to the current climate for domain names as an investment tool and provide your feedback if there are topics you would like for us to cover. Learn more by visiting our website. NameExperts.com
The negotiation phase of buying a premium domain name is one of the most challenging steps – and things can easily go wrong if you’re new to the game. Seasoned negotiator Joe Uddeme shares his top tips. Picture the scene: the owner of a premium domain you desperately want to buy has said they will sell, and they’re asking you for your starting bid. At what price point do you enter? If you low-ball them, will they write you off as a time-waster? If you go in high, will you be offering far more than they anticipated? This is where experience in negotiation and a deep knowledge of the premium domain market come in. It’s just a small part of the expertise that a seasoned domain broker brings to the table. To the uninitiated, negotiating for a domain name can be a daunting task. Whether you’re a startup founder, a small business owner, or a digital marketing manager, mastering the art of domain name negotiation is essential. This article provides five scripts that can help you navigate these negotiations smoothly and successfully. Before diving into the scripts, we should discuss why domain name negotiation is important, so we’ll look at the impact of a great domain on branding, SEO and visibility first. Key takeaways Why a great domain name leaves a powerful first impression Strategic domains can help with SEO It’s all too easy to overspend! Preparation is key to great negotiation Use market data to justify your offer
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.
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