The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Domain Name

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JoeUddeme

JoeUddeme

The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Domain Name

Domain Buying Guides

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 often don’t know how to get one. You’ve arrived at the right place if you fall into this category. We’ll explain how to buy and register a domain name for your business.

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 recalling. The domain should preferably include the name of your business so that people can easily guess it 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: 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 overbid for a domain and get played on. 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. Name Experts is a reliable domain broker that helps you purchase valuable domain names. We offer our clients stellar services for reasonable fees. For more information on domain brokerage services, you can see our in-depth guide on how to buy a domain from someone else.

Sometimes, the broker helps you find the owner who says 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, preferably something similar to your first choice. It can be as simple as choosing another extension with the same prefix, e.g., OurNameExperts.com > OurNameExperts.net.

What to Do After Buying Your Domain

You’ve acquired a domain, so what’s next? A lot can happen next. 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 as affordable as 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.

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How To Safely Purchase Premium Domain Names

We are living in a time when there are more active domain names today than there were people alive in the 1920s. There are over 1.8 billion websites, and this doesn’t even include the ones that aren’t active. This doesn’t leave a lot of room for you to find an original domain name that will instantly connect with your market.   If you want your business to succeed in the online world, you will likely need to go for premium domain names that are already owned by someone else. Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about premium domains and how you can successfully purchase them.   What Are Premium Domain Names and Why Do You Need One?   You want your business to be successful right off the bat, and premium domain names might be the best first step. Here we discuss what premium domain names even are and a few tips to help you purchase them.   What Are Premium Domain Names?   Premium domain names are short, easy, and highly marketable names that are usually already bought by someone and are available for sale for a “premium” value. They are priced higher than normal domains due to a few factors:   They have high marketability, thanks to their unique and trendy names that are instantly recognizable by the target audience. Premium domain names tend to be shorter in length and are easier to remember. (example: Facebook bought “fb.com” as it was used almost as much as “facebook.com”) They have optimized keywords that are hard to find in new domain names. They usually end in the popular “.com” extension.   There are a few other things to consider and a few criteria that are used to qualify your domain name as premium. The first is if they are generic or single word domain and whether they have a .com or another globally driven brand.   They should also be pronounceable and meaningful and should have a desired commercial appeal. Similarly, does the name you want to have a clear path to developmental success or is it random and highly specific?   We’ll help you decide if your premium name has a significant search volume and brand equity. A premium domain might also already have a rich-SEO history and what we call a “white-hat” SEO past. Your domain should be catchy, brandable, and most importantly – scalable. Basically, you’re looking for a timeless domain that won’t go out of style or be easily forgotten.   When you’re looking to add a domain name to your business, it’s important to focus on some of these pointers above if you want to add value and long-term equity to your overall brand. Especially if you eventually sell your business, you want to choose a name that can be resold and give yourself a little digital curb appeal even if the business doesn’t pan out down the road.   Why Premium Domain Names Are Necessary For Your Business   While they’re more expensive, premium domain names offer a range of benefits that often match that price and provide a pay off in the long term.   The first benefit you can take advantage of is a higher reach and resonance with your audience. A memorable domain name will stick in consumers’ minds and create a more credible image around your brand. If they remember your domain name, they’re more likely to search directly for it.   Premium domains will typically contain relevant keywords that are used frequently by consumers of the business segment. This provides a potential pool of traffic already searching for your domain, available for you to access.   Premium domain names are not essential when you’re first starting out and do not have a lot of capital. They are often expensive and might be a risky investment at the beginning. Once your business starts growing, a premium domain name will help take your online presence to the next level and open you to a world of new opportunities. At Name Experts, we’ll be able to help you decide the best name to help you get started.   Our Tips For Purchasing Premium Domain Names   Buying domain names can be stressful if you do not have much experience with the process. Here are a few tips you can follow to successfully purchase a premium domain.   Hire a Domain Buyer Broker with a successful track record. They will help you perform a WHOIS search easily and aid you through the process of your purchase. Make sure you get your broker to sign an NDA to protect your information. Contact the owner professionally. Keep a list of alternatives. Be honest and flexible in your negotiations. No one wants to deal with dishonest and rigid buyers. Ask your broker any question that comes to your mind.   Let Name Experts Help You Today   Though this is a quick and general list, we highly suggest reaching out to an experienced broker to help you with the process.   Name Experts offers a full-service domain name brokerage experience for clients. With over eleven years of industry experience and a proven track record of success, we can help you buy a premium domain name your business needs to boost its online presence.   To know more about our services, get in touch with us by contacting us.
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Domain Flipping: Our Tips For Buying and Selling Domain Names For Profit

What Is Domain Flipping? Domain flipping is the simple practice of buying a domain name for as low as possible and selling it for as high as possible. The idea is to buy a domain, hold onto it for some time, and sell it at a profit. People invest in all sorts of assets like real estate, stocks, commodities, and bonds. A domain is another “alternative asset” that you can successfully invest in if you have the patience and skills to pick the right domain names. You may have heard stories about domains that were purchased 30 years ago for $100 and are now being sold today for millions. Sounds amazing, but is it really as low odds as winning the lottery? Or is it easier than that? In this article, we go over some tried and true tips you need to help you start making money by buying and selling domains. Go-To Tips For Buying and Selling Domain Names For Profit When it comes to trying to make money with domains, it pays off to know what you’re doing. Read through some of our tips and suggestions to get you pointed in the right direction. Set Your Budget Define a budget that’s suitable for investing in domain names. While some people can spare only $100, others have no worries investing $10,000. The rule of thumb is to only invest an amount you can lose without headaches. Every investment carries risks, so avoid putting critical amounts into assets. Look For Names That Have Value Simply put, you want to find domains that would be a valuable asset to your buyer. If you were buying a domain for your business or company or hobby, what would you look for? Is the domain you just bought something that you would actually use? Try to put yourself in the buyer’s position to make sure that any domain you buy is actually something that will have value. It is also helpful to stick to an area that you’re familiar with. Remember to ask yourself, what kind of domains are other people in this industry buying? Would you buy this name if you were in that position? How much would this domain help them get found online or give them authority in their industry? The top-level domain (TLD) also contributes significantly to a domain name’s value. “.COM” is the most common TLD, and domains ending with this suffix tend to be more valuable than others because of high demand. However, there are other valuable TLDs, such as .NET, .CO, .CC, and .ORG. What are the best types of domain names to buy? The types of domains that increase your chances of succeeding in domain name flipping include: Local: Domain names tied to specific locations, e.g., cities and towns, tend to have higher demand than others. You should target such domains because you’re more likely to find a willing buyer and make money flipping domains. For example, if you reside in Caldwell, you can target domain names like Caldwellcoffeeshop.com, Caldwellrestaurant.com, Caldwellbakery.co, etc. Short: Shorter domains command higher prices than longer domains because they are easier to remember. Customers find it easier to recall shorter domains, so businesses are willing to pay more for them. Keyword-Focused: Domains containing keywords are more likely to sell than those without. Look for domains containing keywords about different businesses and services, e.g., AffordablePlumbing.com, CheapPhoneRepairs.net, CarRepairs.com, etc. Stay Focused You’re aware that there are already millions of domains registered. But there are also endless combinations of available domains to register. If you’re looking for a key tip in regards to buying and selling domains for profit, you should start by narrowing your focus a little bit. Like we mentioned above, you should start by thinking about a topic or industry you’re already familiar with. Are you in the healthcare industry? Do you love cars or animals? Your job of searching for domain names gets a lot easier if you already know about the topic, because you already have an understanding of the value. Here’s something you should not do: Don’t just target buyers based on who you think might be wealthy. If you’re only targeting lawyers or doctors because you think they’ll have more money, you might be missing an opportunity in an area you know better. Also, if you don’t have knowledge of that industry, you might end up buying domains without knowing there are industry-specific rules that limit buyers. Our advice is to stick with what you know. If you stay focused on those industries and areas, you’ll be much more successful and offer a lot more value. Determine if the Domain is Available A key step in the process is to make sure that the domains you want aren’t already taken. Here at Name Experts, we can help you with this entire process. If the names are taken, which is common, you can check the marketplaces to either buy from people who own them, or rebuy domain names that are expired. Consider the Price You’ve found the name you want. It’s available. But how do you know if you’re getting a fair price? You can use sites like namebio.com to compare the name you want with similar ones. It has interesting features like entering keywords and finding a list of names that are close to yours that includes what they sold for and when. At Name Experts, we can also help you make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. We have experts who can appraise the domain to find out what it is actually worth, so you know if you’re getting a good deal, and what it might be worth to potential buyers. Buying Your Domain Name You have successfully evaluated your domain name and determined a fair price. Now, it’s time to buy it. Your preferred domain can be purchased through a registrar, a marketplace, or a domain broker When buying through a registrar the key is to choose one accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit overseeing domain names. Follow this link for the full list of ICANN-accredited registrars. If you want to buy from a marketplace there are many to choose from. These are our top 5 marketplaces and a quick Google search will yield many other options. Finally, if you want to have someone else handle most of the effort in the buying process for you, hiring a domain broker will be your best option. Here’s what a domain broker does and how they can work for you. Attract Attention To Your Domains After buying a domain name, you need to attract attention to increase its value. A dormant domain doesn’t achieve much nor will it increase in value. Sure, you can find examples of dormant domains that made significant profits for their owners when sold, but that’s the exception and not the rule. Doing something with your domain increases your chances of selling it for significant gain. What can you do with a domain? There are many answers. You can create a website with it to attract users. It doesn’t have to be a website you actively manage every day. You can fill it with content you only need to edit occasionally. For example, if you acquire “SchoolsInTexas.com,” you can write a detailed list of the best schools in Texas and add it as the homepage. Anyone who opens the domain might like the content and share it with others. As more people flock to the domain, its monetary value increases. In the above example, you could even place advertisements on the content and make money from your domain. The ideal advertisements would be for the schools listed on the page. This example applies to many scenarios. You can advertise your domain on search engines like Google and Bing or social media platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) to draw attention. The good thing about online advertising is that you can do it even with a low budget. The idea is to gather eyeballs to your site to increase its value. If you place content on your domain, ensure it’s optimized to rank high on search engines with search engine optimization (SEO). This optimization involves including relevant keywords, formatting the article neatly for humans and search engine crawlers, and writing helpful content for your audience. It also helps to get inbound links to your site from other similar, authoritative websites, i.e., backlinks. With enough attention and audience, you can proceed to sell the domain. Determine Your Domain’s Value You have successfully attracted attention to your domain and are ready to sell. First, you must determine a fair value for the domain. You don’t want to underprice the domain and leave much money on the table or, inversely, overprice the domain and not find a willing buyer. Here are critical questions to help you determine your domain’s value: Does the domain receive any traffic? The higher the traffic to a domain name, the more valuable it is. Showing proof of high traffic can fetch your domain a substantial price. Does it generate any income? If your domain name already generates income from advertising or any other method, it becomes easy for an intending buyer to value it. You can sell the domain for many multiples of its revenue. Does it have any search engine authority? Your domain’s search engine visibility largely contributes to its value. Domains with quality backlinks have more value than those without. Check your backlink profile to evaluate how much your domain name can fetch. If you feel they aren’t enough, you can build more backlinks before listing the domain for sale. Is the domain name brandable? You’re more likely to fetch a higher price for a domain that’s easily brandable. Such domain names tend to be short and easy to recall. Businesses pay top dollar for brandable domains because they draw more online traffic. Does it have a popular TLD? Domain names with popular TLDs like “.COM,” “.NET,” and “.ORG” are more valuable than those with less popular TLDs. Pro-tip: If the answer to all the above questions is yes, you’re on the right path of flipping domain names for profit. Selling Your Domain Name You’ve determined a fair price. Now it’s time to sell it. Consider how you want to sell the domain and evaluate which will give you the optimal price. Your best options for domain name flipping include: Private Sale: Sellers can negotiate one-to-one deals with intending buyers. You’re free to approach an individual or business you think might be interested in your domain name and negotiate a price. Marketplace: You can list your domain name on a dedicated domain name marketplace. It’s easier to find buyers this way because the marketplace already has domain name investors looking for good deals. The marketplace will take a cut of your sales for their service. With a Broker: Another effective way is to hire a domain name broker like Name Experts to negotiate a deal for you. Domain brokers are experienced in evaluating the value of domain names and can fetch you the best possible price. The broker handles the negotiations, and you only need to authorize the domain transfer. Auction: Auctioning your domain name is another way to sell it. You’ll place the domain up for auction on a marketplace, and the intending buyer with the highest bid will get it. Domain auctions usually last several days, so there’s ample time to find a willing buyer and profit from domain name flipping. After deciding how to sell your domain name, the next steps include: Use An Escrow Service It’s advisable to use a third-party escrow service when selling your domain name. The escrow service holds the money paid by the seller and releases it after confirming that you’ve transferred the domain. It prevents you from falling victim to fraud, e.g., a buyer refusing to pay after you’ve transferred your domain. Transfer the Domain Transfer the domain as agreed to the intending buyer. You’ll request an authorization code from your registrar and transfer the domain to the buyer’s registrar account. Note that most registrars require a domain to be at least 60 days old to be eligible for a transfer. Building Your Domain Portfolio You can become an expert investor specializing in domain names if you’re willing to learn about it and create long-term value. Domain names are like any other asset to invest in, but you must do it carefully. Follow these tips to build a good portfolio and make money flipping domains: Understand your strategy: Domain name investors either follow the “quick flip” or “buy and hold” strategy, and these phrases are pretty explanatory. Choose which strategy you want to follow, or use a mix of both. Diversify your portfolio: The portfolio’s value should not be tied up in a single or few domain names because of concentrated risk. Feel free to acquire more domain names to balance your risks. Never overpay for an asset: Don’t be the inexperienced investor who overvalues and pays excessively for an asset. Ensure you get third-party evaluations before paying for a domain. This will help you to maximize your profit when you sell the domain. Study and gain knowledge: The domain name investment scene is flexible and dynamic. New events occur every day that affect the value of domain names, so ensure you stay up to date with industry news to avoid getting left behind. Risks of Flipping Domains Domain name flipping doesn’t guarantee profits. It carries risks just like any other type of investment. The main risks include: Low Liquidity: Domain names don’t have as much demand as other assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities. You’ll likely need to wait a while after listing a domain before you find a willing buyer. It’s not something to invest in if you want short-term liquidity. Unexpected Valuations: Domain name valuations can swing high or low on a whim. You might buy a domain, wait a while, and list it for sale, and the offers will be significantly less than you paid for it. Domain name valuation is not as technically grounded as in other assets like stocks and bonds; the value depends significantly on a buyer’s intuition, so be aware of the risks. Other Ways to Make Money with Domains Buying domain names to resell isn’t the only way to profit from them. You can make money in other ways, such as: Domain Leasing: Renting your domain name to another party for an extended period. You’ll be paid at specific intervals, e.g., monthly, quarterly, or yearly, giving you steady income for as long as the lease lasts. Parked domains: You can keep a domain and make money by placing ads on the homepage with a strategy called “domain parking.” You might also redirect the parked domain to an existing website you operate that generates revenue.
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Is .com domain name still relevant?

.com is still relevant As a super-premium domain broker and domain name valuation expert I am continually asked if the .com is still as relevant as it once was…The short answer is absolutely and here’s why… Branding remains at the forefront of all carefully executed advertising or marketing campaigns. It’s imperative that your message is clean; concise and to the point. Some of the largest and most successful companies around the globe understand the importance of brand appeal. The domain name is the “foundation” for the brand. The .com domain name adds equity, credibility, and is easily memorable. Often times, we refer to the .com as the beach front real estate. Additionally, domain names are valuable and continue to retain that value. Most startups and brand managers understand the importance of the .com as consumers have been programmed for years to gravitate towards the .com. This is still relevant today. In using this example, we can demonstrate the significance of the .com domain name.

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.

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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

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