How To Safely Purchase Premium Domain Names

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

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.

Subscribe for More Domain Buying & Selling Advice

Related posts

Default alt text
How to Buy a Domain Name Owned by Someone Else

Got a business idea? All set to buy a domain name so you can start dominating online? Some domains are readily available – others, less so. Here is our step-by-step guide to buying your dream domain name.   Option 1: buy a domain name from a domain registrar Choose a Domain Name: Perform a domain name search. Pick a name that represents your business or personal brand. Keep it short, memorable, and easy to spell. Choose the appropriate domain extension (e.g., .com, .net, .org). Check Availability: Use a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains) to check if your desired website name is available. Select a Domain Registrar Compare prices and services from domain registrars. Understand how domain locks and transfer processes work, and familiarize yourself with renewal costs and web hosting services. Most domain registrars offer promotions of a free domain name with a year renewal to register a domain name. A few providers include: GoDaddy- web hosting company, domain name registrar and marketplace offering many domain extensions to find your desired domain. Namecheap- domain name registrar and marketplace, offering whois database search and domain name registration to register a domain name. Bluehost- web hosting service and domain registrar. Google Domains- no longer operational after signing a deal with Squarespace. Register the Domain Once you’ve chosen a domain name registrar, follow these steps: Create an Account: 1. Sign up with the domain name registrar. Do your research and pick one whose services you like. 2. Add to Cart Select your desired web address and add it to your cart. 3. Domain Name Registration Process: Decide how long you want to hold the domain registration. (typically 1-10 years). Auto renewal is another option to own the asset indefinitely. Choose your domain name registrars wisely! 4. Enable Domain Privacy Protection (optional): This hides your contact details from public records for added privacy protection. 5. Make Sure Domain is Locked: To avoid unauthorized use or theft, make sure the domain is locked in the current registrar. 6. Pay for the Domain extensions Enter your payment details and complete the purchase for your desired domain name registration. 7. Set Up Your Website’s domain Connect the unique domain to a website or email service, or hold onto it for future use or domain name trading to the highest bidder. That’s it! You now own the domain name as long as you continue to pay the yearly renewal costs within the registration period. Keep domain privacy enabled when registering a new domain. Option 2: Buy a domain name with a broker Find a Broker: Choose a domain broker service. Submit a Request: Provide the domain name you want to acquire and your budget. Broker Negotiation: The broker contacts the current domain owner and negotiates on your behalf. Agreement: Once a price is agreed upon, the broker secures the domain. Transaction: Complete payment through the broker’s secure system. Transfer: The domain is transferred to your account. This simplifies the process by letting the broker handle negotiations and logistics on your behalf. The broker can typically save you money with their expert negotiation tactics and industry-wide relationships. They can also provide the necessary domain name contract. From a marketing perspective, having the right domain is especially important and you don’t want to settle for an unworthy alternative. Maybe you’ve already tried to find decent alternatives, but they’re not really the ones you want. Or, you have thought about using a different TLD (Top-Level Domain). While that is a feasible option, it can also confuse potential website visitors who might try to visit the .com when you own the .net version of a domain. Don’t give up just yet! You might be able to buy your ideal domain name directly from its current owner. Here’s how the process works for buying a domain name that is already taken. How To Buy A Domain Name That is Taken At Name Experts, we deal with buying and selling domain names on a regular basis and have helped many clients buy their ideal domain. We help you understand how to buy a domain name and the process to secure your perfect brand. Here is the 6-step process we follow when someone is interested in buying a domain name that is owned by someone else: Evaluate your internet domain name Find out who owns the domain Target the right contact person Determine your spending limit Negotiate without emotional attachment Transfer ownership of the domain 1. Evaluating Your Preferred Domain Name We know that a lot of work goes into finding the right domain name. The first step is to think about your long term goals for your company and make sure that your desired domain is a good fit for your business and what you intend to do with it. Once you’re sure that the domain you want is a good fit, you’ll need to evaluate the website currently on the domain. Is there a real working website there? Has it been updated recently? If it is, then most likely the owner won’t be interested in selling. However, if it’s really outdated or is just a placeholder website, then you can approach the owner with the confidence that you might be able to make a deal. Sometimes owners of certain domains are just waiting for the right buyer to come their way and make an offer. Investigating the domain is crucial in making sure it is available and allows you to determine if buying a domain that is already owned by someone else is a realistic option. 2. Find Out Who Owns The Domain Once you decide that the domain name you’re after is the one you want, the next step is to find out who owns it. There are a number of different websites that can look up that information for you and the most common method is through a Whois lookup. Entering your desired domain into one of the whois search sites will return information about that domain, including when the domain was registered, who registered it, and the contact information for the person or company that currently owns the domain. Unfortunately, accessibility to domain owners has really taken a hit with GDPR and some registrars offering advanced privacy protection services for free when you register a domain name. By adding more privacy to comply with GDPR regulations, and additional measures to hide contact information, it can make it difficult for some folks to reach the rightful domain owners. If you are able to determine the domain owner’s contact information through the Whois lookup you can continue working through the next steps. But what if you can’t? It’s time to hire a broker. In a few seconds, they can help find an available domain name. 3. Target the Right Contact Person In some cases, the Whois lookup is just the start of the process. Some domain owners are very large, corporate power-houses that own hundreds, or perhaps thousands of domain names and the contact information shown may not lead you to the correct person. Amazon.com is a perfect example. They own more than 41,152 domain names in their portfolio. Many of their domains go unused. How do you find the person involved with domain portfolio management, much less the domain you’re interested in, within Amazon’s 600,000+ employees? Did you Reach the Proper Decision Maker? Is it the project manager around that brand? Would it be marketing, CMO, Legal, Business Development, Webmaster, Technology etc? It’s a vital step to connect with the correct person, or division within the Company so you don’t spend time spinning your wheels and this is where working with a domain broker can be beneficial. They can do the research to identify the owner of the domain and establish contact for no additional fee. Depending on extension you may find the perfect domain name that works for your business. After contact is established, you need to determine whether the asset is indeed available for purchase – and if it is, will it be within your budget (and if not, can domain name price negotiations bring ito down to an acceptable level)? 4. Determine Your Spending Limit Before you even start the negotiation process after you’ve found the owner, you want to think about the budget you have in mind. Make sure you think about what the owner went through, too. If they are actively using the domain to promote their business and have spent their time and money building a website, then you’ll want to make them a fair offer that reflects the domain’s value. If you partner with a domain broker they can tell you what the domain is actually worth. They’ll conduct a valuation of the domain and can provide you with their estimate of a fair price. You can then use that to make a great offer that will simplify the negotiation process and hopefully get you closer to the outcome you desire for your business identity. 5. Negotiate Without Emotional Attachment Whatever you do next, don’t become emotionally attached to the asset when you start negotiating a price for the domain name. Ultimately, this could add headache, stress and more money to the equation if you start making decisions based on emotion. Remember that a negotiation is a give-and-take and should always try to create a win/win for both buyer and seller. If the price isn’t right, and goes beyond your budget, you should be willing to walk away. Once you agree on terms; in most instances you would then either enter into a contract or purchase and sales agreement with the prospective seller, or simply move right to one of the formidable escrow providers such as Escrow.com. Contracts and documents can become tricky and need to be completed diligently and professionally if necessary. You will also need to have proper legal representation to make sure you are protected accordingly. Documents can get stuck in legal, or need board approval and can certainly slow down the overall acquisition process. 6. Transfer Ownership of the Domain So now you have made proper contact, negotiated a price, handled the paperwork and set up the Escrow transaction. The buyer has agreed to terms and now you are ready to transfer the domain name. Domain transfers can sometimes be tricky but typically follow two forms for completion. The easiest way to transfer a domain name is by, “pushing” the domain name within the current registrar. Alternatively, you may also choose to transfer your domain name to another registrar. To complete this, you will need an authorization code from the seller. Make sure the domain name is unlocked, and privacy removed before you try and transfer the domain name. Once the transfer has been completed, you can release the funds to the seller and mark the transaction complete. The entire process for a domain name transaction can be completed in as short as 3-5 days, however most transactions take longer. Some transactions take months to come to fruition, but when it is complete you will have successfully purchased a domain name that was owned by someone else. What To Do if You Can’t Find the Domain Owner? If the Whois lookup doesn’t provide the contact information you need, it does not mean your path to purchasing the domain ends. Instead, reach out to a domain broker to continue the research process. They can conduct additional investigations into who owns a domain, or at least begin to track down contacts who can get them closer to finding that information. Partnering with a broker at this phase of the process is a great step to take anyways as everything that follows can be challenging to do on your own. Not only is it time consuming, but they’re experts at this and spend every day figuring out how to help people find their perfect domain.   Getting Support in Buying A Domain Name That is Already Taken Working with successful brokers can save you a lot of time, money, and hassle when it comes to getting the domain name you want. Reach out to us and let us help you grow your business. We’d love to answer any of your questions about our services and get you feeling more confident when it comes to buying and selling domains. 7 key reasons why you should buy a domain name: 1. Professionalism and Credibility Owning a custom domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com) makes your business look more professional and credible compared to using free services like yourbusiness.wordpress.com or Gmail addresses. 2. Brand Control A domain name helps establish and protect your brand identity. It ensures your business name is uniquely represented online and prevents others from using it. 3. Easy Online Access A custom domain makes it easier for customers to find your website, improving your online visibility and brand recognition so consumers can find your site properly. 4. Custom Email Addresses A domain allows you to create personalized, professional email addresses (e.g., [email protected]) that look more professional than generic ones. 5. SEO Benefits Having a relevant domain name can improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to discover your website through organic search. What makes a ‘relevant’ domain? Check out our post about why a .com domain name is still king. 6. Long-Term Investment A domain name is a valuable digital asset that can appreciate over time, especially if it’s a premium or in-demand name. 7. Security Owning your domain means you have full control over your online presence and don’t rely on third-party platforms that could change policies or shut down. Buying a domain helps you establish a unique and trusted online presence, improve credibility, and create opportunities for future growth.   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. Using his years of experience, negotiation skills and little black book of contacts, Joe is an expert at helping clients secure .com domain names that are already owned. Contact him at: [email protected]  

Alarming image of a piece of paper stamped with 'scam' for an article about domain name scams
Understanding the Domain Name Scam

The bigger the domain name purchase price, the more attractive it is to scammers and fraudsters. Global domain name broker Joe Uddeme shares his top tips for staying safe when buying or selling premium domain names. It’s essential to understand the different types of domain name scams to protect yourself and your online identity. Domain name holders must be vigilant about renewing their domain names to retain exclusive rights. Domain name scams can be difficult to spot, but there are ways to identify them, such as recognizing phishing emails. One domain name renewal scam typically involves urgent phone calls or emails pressuring you to renew your domain names immediately and pay or risk losing your domain. This domain name renewal scam tries to trick people using phishing scams and deceptive tactics when registering names. Awareness and reporting are crucial to protect yourself. Be cautious of emails or letters that create a sense of urgency or threaten to cancel your domain name registration. Watch out for fraudulent domain renewal notices that may look official but are not. Domain registrations often come with options for renewal or transfer, so explore these to avoid falling for scams. Always verify the authenticity of the email or letter by contacting your registrar company directly. Be aware of deceptive practices by companies that send official-looking letters from a domain registry, urging you to transfer your registrations under false pretenses.   Protecting Yourself from Domain Scams Always use a secure payment method to pay for domain name renewal. Recognizing legitimate renewal notices is essential to avoid unnecessary fees and potential loss of domain ownership for the customer, so don’t ignore every email you received about your names. Just treat them all with caution. Verify the authenticity of the email or letter by contacting your domain registrar company directly. Scammers often exploit the relationship with your existing registrar by suggesting that a transfer is merely a renewal process. Monitor your domain name registration and renewal dates to avoid missing important deadlines. Scammers use various methods, including urgent phone calls and deceptive emails, to execute a renewal scam. Use domain locking to prevent illegal transfers. Domain hijacking is another threat that can be mitigated by this measure. Registration scams typically manifest through fake renewal notices, creating confusion and unwarranted financial pressure. Keep your contact information private by using a domain name privacy service. Scammers may trick owners through fake offers, exploiting confusion around domain registration and renewal. Fraudulent phishing scams often target website owners, too, using tactics to deceive them into believing they owe money or need to make changes to their domain or hosting services.     Understanding Domain Name Renewal Scams A Domain name renewal scam is a type of intellectual property scam or confidence scam that target the owner. These scams can result in financial loss for businesses and individuals. The financial loss can be substantial, affecting both small businesses and large corporations. Domain name scams can take many forms, including domain slamming, false offers to buy or sell domains, and fake trademark protection. It’s essential to understand the different types of domain name scams to protect yourself and your online identity. Domain Registry of America is an example of a fake trademark protection service. They contact the website owner claiming to have a trademark right or warning that someone else owns the rights to your name. Check your expiration date and make sure your domain information is protected so you don’t lose control of your asset. While you can’t technically buy a domain name forever, you can register and renew for extended periods. Domain name scams often involve unscrupulous domain name registrars attempting to generate revenue by tricking businesses into buying, selling, listing, or converting a domain name. These scams can be difficult to spot, but there are ways to identify scam tactics. Be cautious of emails or letters that create a sense of urgency or threaten to cancel your domain name registration. Always verify the authenticity of the email or letter by contacting your registrar company directly. Be able to recognize scammer tactics by paying attention to blog post and article updates. Customers should also consider adding two-factor authentication for all registered accounts, or hiring a domain name consultant for guidance. Definition of domain name scams A domain name scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers deceive individuals or businesses into paying for fake registration services, overpriced renewals, or by impersonating legitimate registrars. It often involves phishing, domain hijacking, or misleading offers to trick victims into making unauthorized payments or losing control of their domain Importance of awareness and prevention Awareness is the first line of defense against domain name scams. The website owner must be vigilant and proactive in protecting their assets. This means being cautious of unsolicited offers, verifying the authenticity of emails and letters, and keeping domain registration information up to date. By understanding the risks and taking preventative measures, website owners can safeguard themselves from getting scammed. Regularly monitoring domain status and using secure payment methods for renewals are also crucial steps in prevention.   Domain Registry and Scams Domain renewal scams: fake notices and invoices Domain scams are a common tactic used by the scammer to trick the owner into paying for unnecessary services or transferring their site to a different registrar. These scams typically involve sending fake notices or invoices that claim the domain name is due for renewal. Often involving inflated prices, notices often appear to be from the a registry or a legitimate company, but they are actually from fraudsters posing as an internet registry. Swindlers use various tactics to make these notices or invoices appear legitimate. They may include the domain owner’s contact information and registration details, creating a sense of urgency by claiming that the domain names will expire or be lost if the renewal fee is not paid immediately. They may ask for you to renew your domain and pay an exorbitant fee.This pressure can lead the holder to act hastily without verifying the authenticity of the notice or link. They may also try an inflated price on the renewal scam for your website or use a scare tactic and tell you your name is about to expire if you don’t pay a fee. To avoid domain scams, website owners should be cautious of unsolicited notices or invoices. Always verify the authenticity of the sender by contacting the current registrar directly or checking the domain name holders registration information online.     Domain Scams – How to Stay Safe To protect yourself from domain scams, it’s crucial to be vigilant and take proactive steps. Here are some tips to help you avoid falling victim to domain scams: Keep your domain registration information valid, up to date and secure so it never expires. Simply renewing ahead of time. Set a calendar reminder to be a step ahead Be cautious of emails or letters that create a sense of urgency or threaten to cancel your domain name registration. Verify the authenticity of the email or letter by contacting your domain registrar or reseller directly. Use secure payment methods when you register and renew your site or domain name. Avoid Mail that contains your physical mail address. Address customer concerns by contacting customer support. Monitor your domain name registration and renewal dates to avoid missing important deadlines. Consider adding auto-renew as a double check for registering your asset before it expires. Use domain locking to prevent unauthorized transfers of your registered assets. Keep some money in the registrar account in case you have an issue with your credit card when you pay. Keep your contact information private by using a domain name privacy or proxy mail service. By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to domain scams and protect your online website identity for your domains.   Reporting Domain Scams to Your Domain Registrar If you suspect that you have been a victim of a domain scam, it’s essential to report it to the relevant authorities. Here are some steps you can take: Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Share the information about the scam on social media to warn others. Use the social media links provided to share the post. Report the scam to your domain registrar company such as Network Solutions. Contact the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Complaint department and let them know about the letter or email. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) if the scammer is a business. By reporting domain scams, you can help prevent others from falling victim to the same scam and bring the fraudsters to justice.   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]

Default alt text
The Best Places to Buy and Sell Domain Names

1. Sedo Sedo is a dedicated domain marketplace (similar to GoDaddy) with millions of users. It has been around for over two decades, making it a trusted marketplace for buying and selling domains. Any domain name owner can sign up for free and list their domain for sale on the website, and prospective buyers can easily contact them through the platform to buy domains. On Sedo, sellers can set a fixed price for their domain, put it up for auction, or indicate that they’re entertaining offers with an unspecified price range. When buyers come to the site, they can search for any keyword and check if anyone has listed a related domain name on the market. Sedo Search Sample: The first three results are bikes.org, bikes.co, and bikes.biz, which are premium domain names and Sedo also includes other domain names that are closely related to your search phrase to sell domains. The first two domains in this example have a Make Offer buttons next to them, while the last has a Buy It Now button for your popular domain. This indicates that the domain sellers of the first two domains put them up for auction, while the third domain’s owner set a fixed price for their marketing strategy. As a buyer, you’re free to search for any specific URL and find related domains listed on Sedo to find the perfect domain. Purchasing from the domain marketplace requires added registration and jumping through a few other hoops, but it’s worth it as Sedo has such a large selection of premium domains available for acquisition. Search for domains on Sedo: Sedo Domain Marketplace 2. NamePros NamePros is an online community for domain name owners to interact and discuss events related to their industry. In the forum’s early days, users commonly posted they had domain names available for sale and wanted to connect with potential buyers. Observing this, the owner of the forum launched an official domain marketplace section for buying and selling domain names. On NamePros, any registered user can list the domain names they have available in a forum post. To make the domains easy for prospective buyers to find, NamePros has formal categories that users can attach to their posts to find the perfect domain. How much is it worth? Namepros can also share pertinent details of recently sold domains that are similar in nature to your domain search. Because it is a forum, NamePros only helps buyers and owners find each other and it’s up to them to negotiate and decide how they’ll handle payments for the domain. This is unlike Sedo, which facilitates payments and domain transfers for its users among other services. When using NamePros to buy a domain you should be more careful about your purchase. Set specific terms with the seller before proceeding on any deal and use a trusted online escrow service (e.g. Escrow.com) to ensure that the payment goes through only after the seller has transferred the domain name to your preferred registrar. You can find a large variety of domain names for sale on NamePros, making it one of the best domain marketplaces in the World. Search for domains on NamePros: NamePros Domain Marketplace 3. Flippa Flippa is a marketplace competing with Godaddy for buying and selling online properties, including websites and domain names. The platform has facilitated millions of dollars in domain name sales since its inception in 2009 and has built a reputation as one of the most trusted domain name marketplaces to find the perfect domain name. The most expensive domain name deal arranged on Flippa was StockPhoto.com, which sold for $250,000. Any domain name owner can sign up on Flippa and list their domains, but it requires a payment; $29 for a base listing and $99 for an enhanced listing. Sellers often pick the second option because it makes their domains more visible to potential buyers looking for the perfect domain name. As a buyer, you can create a free account on Flippa and find domain names matching your taste. You can then search for a specific keyword and find related domain names listed by domain owners to buy domain names based on cost, features and budget. Easy to use: To demonstrate, we searched for “cars” and got the results displayed in the image below:

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.

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 your premium domain?