written by
Joe Uddeme
It is surprisingly easy to take your eye off the ball when managing one or more domain names. In this blog post, domain name expert Joe Uddeme explains what to do if your domain name appears to be lost.
My domain is expired. My domain name is lost. I forgot to renew my domain name.
Now what? If you lost your expired domains, missed the grace period and now your website is deleted, it’s easy for panic to set in. Expired domains can wreak havoc for any brand.
A common issue is that an expired domain name has transferred to another registration – and now there is no access to search your registrar. The redemption period has lapsed and your domains cannot be renewed. Another burning question is: “Did my backlinks expire or transfer with the renewed domain name transfer?”
Let’s explore expired domains and detail the grace period for your expired domain.
Key takeaways
Follow the steps below to try and secure your expired or deleted domain.
Most expired domains have a grace period between 20 and 30 days before domains expire at registrars. During the expiry period, you can contact the registrar to see if you can reclaim your dropped domains.
If your domain has passed the redemption period, then you’ll have no choice but to check if it’s available for sale on the aftermarket. Some domains may now have services attached or even new website.
You may have to participate in an expiry auction and bid against other people to buy back your expired domain name. If it’s a popular domain name, expect to pay a significant sum because of the bidding competition and relevance to other brands. Working with a seasoned domain name broker who is skilled in negotiation can be a huge help here.
Imagine you lost your domain name, and another person succeeded in acquiring it before you could scoop it back up. Would you likely give up all hope at this point? No, all hope isn’t actually lost. Try and locate the new owner and explain your situation and work out an agreement on how to get your domain name back. This method isn’t always reliable but can work for certain domains and tlds. Plead your case, and hope to strike up some sympathy.
If you’ve tried all the aforementioned steps and still can’t get your domains, back-ordering is a possible solution after they expire. Registrars offer a back-order service for recently expired domains with a simple filter process for various tlds.
The back-order system can log and track your preferred domains.
Back-ordering is a filter service offered by some registrars, letting you reserve the chance to acquire a domain immediately after its expiration.
Most registrars charge a fee for back-ordering domain names, and you may still have to compete against other bidders to buy back the expired tlds.
You can hire an expert domain name broker to help you buy back your lost domain name. The broker can handle each of these steps we mentioned for you and is more likely to be successful because of past experience in purchasing domain names.
The broker can contact the registered domain owner in the whois system to see if they would be interested in selling the domain name and at what price point without emotional attachment. NameExperts.com often helps clients recover expired domain names. We’ve negotiated over $150 million in domain name sales and protect customers’ anonymity when doing so.
An experienced broker should also understand the grace period for your domains and know the latest best practices to try and recover your previously registered domain name page.
When all else fails, you may need to consult with a domain name attorney. A domain consultancy service can assist you with finding the right legal representation.
Expiration
Expired domains are the most common way to lose a domain. Many people forget to renew their domain names when renewal is due and only remember when they observe a problem with their website’s performance. At that point, it’s too late. The domain expires and is now pending being deleted. It is past the renewal date and will eventually be released.
Expired domain names are hard to get back, and are potentially very cost-prohibitive to secure the domain.
Hijacked Domain
Hackers and malicious actors are present in every part of the Internet, which includes domain names. You could fall victim to domain theft in various ways with phishing tactics for your domains.
Negligence
Negligence on your part may also cause you to lose your domains without knowledge of the expiration date or the last update to your domains.
Dispute
UDRP or reverse domain name hijacking techniques based on registration and function for the organization.
Website Goes Down
If you run an online business, a site shutdown can cause financial loss and make your customers lose complete trust in you and your domain. They search and no longer can find you in a browser. Your org or .com name is no longer visible on the web.
Costly To Get It Back
Domain name squatters are constantly on the search for domains and tlds, waiting to grab them immediately after the expiration date. Then, they’ll hike the price to register for intended buyers to renew their domains. Everyone in the industry is mindful of the incredibly high prices that domain names can attract.
Security Issues
Cybercriminals can exploit lost or expired domains for nefarious activities. For example, they can gain access to old email and get their hands on sensitive information about the previous registrant. They can register similar domains and steal your organic traffic.
In conclusion, when a domain expires, your account and backlinks stop functioning. Remedial steps can be costly; it’s always better to be proactive and make sure your domain portfolio is properly managed and kept up-to-date.
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 – and helping clients manage their portfolios. Contact us at: [email protected]
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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
Domain leasing is a viable solution for owners who don’t have a use for their name – and also for would-be buyers who can use it but can’t afford it. NameExperts.com Principal Joe Uddeme explores how it works. Life sometimes doesn’t give you the hand you were hoping for. You were planning to snap up cars.com for your used automobile business, only to find it was first registered decades ago and went on to sell for hundreds of millions of dollars. Or, more probably, you have a family business with a strong brand name, but someone else owns the perfect URL. Not having access to it is getting in the way of business growth. Domain names are an asset class that people speculate on. Some even have domain consultants advising them on their portfolio decisions. As a result, millions of domain names are simply ‘parked up’. While that might be bad news if you want to secure a specific .com domain name that either isn’t for sale or has a price tag that’s beyond your budget, it doesn’t mean all is lost. Welcome to the world of domain leasing. Key Takeaways What is domain leasing? 4 ways to make money from a domain name you own Why you may want to lease a domain Understanding the downsides of leasing a domain How to lease a domain for your business What Is Domain Leasing? Domain name leasing refers to renting a domain name for an extended period, usually a year or more. An individual or business pays to rent a domain name owned by another individual or corporation. This arrangement allows the lessee to use a domain name for a long time without paying a substantial sum outright. Domain leasing is usually done for valuable domain names that are too expensive for the lessee to acquire completely. How Does This Compare To Renting? Renting and leasing are the same thing, except for the latter being for longer periods. Domain leasing agreements usually cover at least one year compared to typical renting, which covers a few months. What Are the Ways You Can Lease Your Domain? You can lease your domain through the following ways: Periodic payments: The lessee can pay for their lease at specific intervals. For example, they could pay monthly or quarterly for the period the lease lasts. This method gives the domain owner stable income they can count on during the leasing period. Percentage of profit: You can agree to take a percentage of profits the lessee makes from the website using your domain name. This method is riskier, as there’s no guarantee the website will be profitable. However, there’s a higher upside if the website becomes a profit-making enterprise. Royalties: You can collect a fixed percentage of the lessee’s net revenue for as long as the lease runs. Ownership percentage: You can request a percentage of shares in the domain lessee’s company. This method is risky but can earn you significant income if the website becomes a viable business that another corporation eventually acquires. Benefits Of Leasing For Domain Owners Provides Another Way To Monetize A Domain Monetizing a domain is better than having it sit idle. If you have a valuable premium domain you’re not using, leasing it out can earn you passive income. You can always reclaim your domain once the lease expires. Opportunity For Investors With Domains In Their Portfolio Many investors specialize in acquiring domain names for profit. Investors with a portfolio of valuable domain names can lease them for a long time and get stable income. Consistent Revenue Stream Renting out a domain for periodical payments generates consistent income for the owner. The owner is sure of getting a specific return on the capital they spent acquiring the domain as long as the lease lasts. The Domain Value Increases Due To Usage Active domains are more valuable than inactive ones because of online traffic. The higher the traffic to a domain, the more valuable it is. Leasing out a domain increases its value in the long term, which the owner can realize by selling it later. Long Term Financial Advantage Receiving periodic lease payments can generate more revenue in the long term compared to selling your domain for a lump sum. It’s why many owners lease domain names out despite getting lucrative purchase offers. Benefits Of Domain Leasing For End Users Spend Less Money Upfront Valuable domain names can run into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is risky to spend upfront. Leasing allows you to build a business with the domain and make periodic payments from the revenue you generate, which is cost-effective. Lesser Burden If the website for whcih you use the leased domain fails, you can terminate the lease and return the domain to the owner. If you owned the domain outright, that means having another asset you must keep renewing or find a potential buyer for. Opportunity To Buy the Domain In the Future Some lease terms include an option to acquire the domain outright later. This way, you can start the website to see if it succeeds. If it does, you can acquire full domain ownership and gain more control over your website’s fate. Access To Premium Domain Names At A Lower Cost Domain leasing lets you use very valuable domain names for lower costs. These valuable domain names can draw more organic traffic to your website. Avoid Legal Liability Issues Leasing a domain name means avoiding any legal liabilities concerning the domain’s ownership. Any legal dispute is the concern of the owner and not the lessee. Downsides Of Leasing A Domain No ownership Not having full ownership of your domain is a risk. The owner can terminate the lease anytime and pay any agreed monetary penalties for early termination. It could be at a crucial time when your website is booming, and losing the domain would affect it negatively. Less Control You have less control over your website than the domain owner. Let’s say your website grows big and becomes valuable; its fate lies more in the hands of the domain owner than yours. They could use that leverage to extract concessions from you. The Domain Value You Build Is Never Yours Drawing traffic to your website increases the value of its domain name. Yet, the owner will capture that value instead of you working hard to maintain the website. Where Can You Lease A Domain Domain Marketplaces Many domain name marketplaces allow owners to list and lease their domain names. This method is beneficial because owners can easily find customers to lease domain names to. The domain leasing services generate a lot of traffic, giving you higher chances of finding an interested lessee. Domain Brokers You can approach a domain broker to lease your domain for you. Domain brokers are experts in negotiating domain deals and can fetch you the best possible price. They’ll collect a fee for their service, either a flat rate or a percentage of the lease value. Word Of Mouth You can spread the word to your social and business circles about a domain name you want to lease out. You may find a trusted lessee this way and negotiate a good deal to earn a stable income. Forums You can join webmaster forums and post about the domain name you want to lease. You may find a buyer this way, but ensure you use a transaction escrow service because you’re dealing with a stranger. Leasing versus Buying a Domain While leasing a domain might be a good option for some businesses, buying your domain outright continues to be the safest and most secure option for guaranteed success. 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. He also advises on leasing strategy and portfolio management. Contact us at: [email protected]
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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