November 15, 2019

How to Buy a Domain Name – 10 Tips to Follow Before Buying

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

How to Buy a Domain Name – 10 Tips to Follow Before Buying

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Picking a domain name for your brand should be given the respect it deserves. After all, says NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme, it could make or break your business.

 

Among the most crucial decisions in establishing an internet presence is picking a domain name to buy.

Ignore the trends and fads of the day and pick a name that makes sense for your company or subject matter a decade from now.

When you choose well, you can rest assured that you have a valuable piece of digital real estate that is woven into the overall success of your business.

Here are 10 suggestions that will help you to make a fantastic domain name purchase.

 

1. Do your homework

Just a small amount of research can go a long way when buying a domain name. Find similar websites and check out your competitors’ domains using a website like Compete.com.

Use dnpric to determine when a domain name was last sold, for how much, and the web hosting agent. You can search by keyword, which will help provide the popularity of particular words in a domain name.

While any research is better than none, plan to put aside days or even weeks to properly research the right name for your brand – something that will help it to grow. If you need some guidance and an insider’s eye, an experienced domain broker can help you come up with – and secure – the perfect name for you.

2. Buy a domain name people can remember

Even if you’re planning on optimizing the website for search engines so that it can be found when people search for “used boats in Dallas” or “hair styling near me”, you still need a domain name that individuals can remember and type.

Anyone hearing your name needs to know how to get right to your business without you having to say things like “the number 4,” and “dash-dash.”

It’s also wise to avoid words that have more than one spelling if your customers are likely to be confused and type in the wrong name. Alternately, you can purchase both versions of the name and guide visitors to the one you prefer – safe in the knowledge that your backup site will scoop them up if they make a mistake.

Avoid anything mysterious like “voodrifunk” or “flambinastic” that might sound fun but is so out there that people will have difficulty remembering it.

Neon sign saying blah blah blah to denote strange domain names

3. Avoid slang terms

Stay away from slang terms and instead select a name that will continue to be meaningful in ten years. This may also help your title be known and remembered by non-native speakers.

Even if you don’t intend to conduct business globally, this strategy can help your neighborhood audience also.

4. Purchase a domain that is shorter rather than longer

The longer your domain name is, the harder it is for people to remember. And the greater chance you have of someone misspelling some of the words.

Most good single word domains are long gone (read “what do to if the domain name you want is taken“), but it’s still possible to avoid super-long alternatives by getting a little creative.

For those who have one word in mind that’s not available, consider adding an adjective or verb in front of it and seeing if those variations are available. Perhaps not “GetAppple”, as that would likely lead to a world of trademark issues and other legalities, but you get the idea.

Think of your domain name as part of your brand, and be sure it matches how you want visitors to consider you.

Small cactus next to a tape measure to denote 'short'

5. Stick with .com if you’re able to

Most individuals assume that a domain name ends in .com – it’s just become the default for most of us. If you purchase a domain name with a different extension or “TLD” as they are known (.net, .info, .org, etc.), you will have some additional work to do if you want to get people to keep you in mind.

However, do not automatically assume you should only ever buy .com domains. Many websites have done very well with different extensions – such as last.fm

6. Do not buy trademarked domains

Even if you’re not intentionally trying to create confusion, you are most likely to face some legal challenges by purchasing trademarked terms in your domain name. To be safe, look for U.S. trademarks at www.uspto.gov and be sure no one owns a trademark on the name you’re contemplating.

7. Do not buy a domain name that is too similar to an existing website

Even if the wording, name or expression in the domain name that has caught your eye is not trademarked, do not buy it if is is merely a variation of some other domain name.

This applies to plurals if the singular is taken (mediatemple.net vs. mediatemples.net) and hyphenating a term (media-temple.net).

8. Avoid buying hyphen domain names

If you have to go with hyphens, do not buy a domain with more than three of them. It is just too messy.

Screengrab of a webpage with many hyphens in the domain name

9. Avoid numbers

People may get confused about whether the amount is a digit (3) or a word (three). If you would like a number on your domain name because there’s a number in your organization’s name, purchase both versions (word and digit ) and redirect one to the other.

10. Check availability on social networking sites

When you’ve got a name picked out, see if this word or phrase can be found on social networking sites like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and Tumblr.

Even if you don’t intend on using social media straight away, you will want the option when you are ready, and it is easiest if you can use the identical phrase on each website.

 

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]

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Domain Name History – How to Check and How to Stay Safe

Ever been tempted by an available domain name that seems too good to be true? Maybe it’s exactly that – with a hidden history that adversely affects its true value. In this post, domain name expert Joe Uddeme flags up the things to look out for when buying a domain name.   Researching domain history is important for businesses and website owners, especially when you wish to buy a premium domain. It’s like wanting to purchase a property and checking the record of its past owners, renovations, and sales history before signing the contract. If you don’t do your due diligence, you might find your dream property was a crime scene six months ago. The same can (kinda) be true of a domain name. You’ve arrived at the right place if you’re interested in digging deep into the history of any domain. This article will give you the relevant knowledge and tools to navigate a domain’s history – and help ensure there are no skeletons in your URL’s closet. Key takeaways Domain history is important – ignore it at your peril A hidden past can help you negotiate a lower price (if you still want it) Discover all the top tips and tools that will help you unearth a domain name’s past   Why Would Someone Want To Know A Domain’s History Domain name history is important in several cases, mainly when someone wants to acquire a domain. For example, you come across a domain you want to buy but don’t know the owner. Investigating the domain registration history can help you find the owner so you can begin inquiring about purchasing the domain. These are typical cases that warrant a domain history lookup: Finding A Domain Name’s Owner You might find a domain that looks valuable for your business, but the existing website has no official information to contact the owner. In that case, researching the domain name history can help you find the owner’s email address, phone number, physical address, or other contact information. Conducting Research Before Buying A Domain Due diligence is critical if you’re buying any domain. Checking the domain name ownership history lets you know its reputation with search engines, which can affect your website’s discoverability and brand appeal. This due diligence lets you know if the domain was previously used for any malicious activity, and you can immediately back out if so. Or, if it has certain questionable connotations you can live with and you feel your name/brand is strong enough to survive the domain’s hidden past, you can use its history to negotiate a lower price. Competitive Research Checking a competitor’s domain name history can reveal valuable information. Who registered the domain? How long has the website existed? How much was the domain acquired for? Has the domain ever been sold? These questions give great insight into your competitors, letting you know how to stand out and win customers.   Checking A Domain’s History The WHOIS database is the first place to check a domain name’s history. This public database contains the information collected when someone registers a domain name. You can use it to find relevant information about a domain name’s owner and operational history. WHOIS Lookup You can query information from the WHOIS database using any WHOIS lookup tool. This database is publicly available, so many websites allow users to type in a domain name and see every information related to that domain in the WHOIS database. Examples of such tools include WHOIS.com, Who.IS, and WHOIS.DomainTools.com. Type a domain into any of these tools, and you’ll see relevant information about it, including: When the domain was first purchased A WHOIS lookup always shows a domain’s initial registration date. This information gives you a clue of how long the website has existed. To illustrate, let’s perform a WHOIS lookup for NameExperts.com. We typed this domain into the Who.IS lookup tool and got the following information:
Mosaic style image of .com on a yellow background to denote the importance of a.com TLD when securing a domain name for your business
Why You Should Use The .com For Your Domain

There have been many ‘young pretenders’ such as .ai and .io, but .com reigns supreme in the world of domain names. NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme explains why a .com URL is still the one to aim for in most cases.   Using a .com domain offers several significant advantages that can positively impact your brand’s identity, visibility, and long-term growth. To this day, a .com domain registration transfer is often the best choice for a new domain and purchase in your desired price range. Buying a domain name can be daunting and less secure without the proper knowledge of the transfer process, which is where a top domain brokerage service can help. Price range is a major factor when it comes down to buying your URL – or selling it – and a broker can streamline the whole process. Global Recognition A .com website has the most-recognized Top Level Domain: The .com domain extension is known worldwide and widely respected. When users see a .com domain, they immediately associate it with a legitimate organization. It’s the default extension most people think of when typing a domain name or securing one for ownership and transfer. It’s a key consideration when you want to acquire a premium domain name. Trust Factor Buyers tend to trust websites that have a .com domain over other top-level domains. Most International registrars support the transfer of .com and offer additional features. Since it’s the most established and widely used domain extension, it adds an element of professionalism, security and reliability to your marketing plan. This helps visitors with peace of mind and makes them more likely to engage with your entity and feel more secure. If you’re involved in domain name portfolio management, it’s a good bet you’ll have one or more .com names in your collection. Memorability and Ease of Use A short, catchy .com domain is easier for people to recall. People are conditioned to associate websites with .com, making it more likely that they’ll remember your complete domain name when searching for your business or product suite. This improves free direct visit traffic, where users type your domain into their browsers, leading to higher engagement and conversions on your site to protect your brand and keep you covered. Because .com is the default TLD, potential individuals are more likely to accidentally type yourbusiness.com even if your actual website is on a different extension (e.g., .net or .org). Owning the .com prevents you from losing traffic to other sites and allows your client to complete the navigation. It’s all part and parcel of a great brand name strategy. Customer Expectations .COM: Customers often expect businesses to use .com for both websites and email addresses. If a site uses yourbusiness.com for its website but an alternative domain like .net or .biz for its email, it could create confusion or even raise questions about its legitimacy, even if it is catchy. A professional email address ending in .com adds security and simplicity – and attracts more visitors to the domain to achieve success. Using the same .com domain for both your website and professional email helps create a cohesive brand identity for your new domain and keeps you protected and ready to continue to build your organization. Other TLDs: If your website is hosted on a .com domain but your email uses different domain extensions (e.g., [email protected]), it can lead to confusion and undermine the consistency of your brand. Clients may accidentally send emails to [email protected] because they assume your email matches your website domain. Credibility with Investors and Partners Perception of Success: Having a .com domain is often seen as a sign that a brand is more established, successful, and serious about its online presence. Investors, acquisition partners, and other account stakeholders may view your brand more favorably if it has secured a .com domain, especially if you’re targeting a global audience or providing services or support. Domain as a Digital Asset: A .com domain purchase that you intend to hold onto can also become a valuable long-term equity play. Premium .com domains tend to appreciate over time, adding value to your organization if you decide to sell or expand services to maximize the best price for transfer. Register top keywords that identify with your services or product offerings or answer questions. Purchase a .org for your non-profit or a .net for your network platform. Alternative TLDs such as .net and .org may each hold value to the domain name owner and may be attractive to the buyer as a cheaper alternative, based on the availability of domains. SEO and Search Engine Benefits Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR): A .com domain will ensure greater click-value in search engine results. Since users trust .com websites more, search engines like Google may favor them in search rankings, especially for advanced searches. Even if a domain extension doesn’t directly impact SEO, user behavior (like click-through rates) does, and .com domains tend to perform better in this area. Backlink Value: When other sites link to you, they may be more willing to link to a .com site due to its perceived authority and security. High-quality backlinks are essential for SEO performance, and .com domains tend to naturally attract more of those links. International Appeal Global Acceptance: If your organization operates globally or plans to expand internationally, a .com domain is universally recognized and accepted across borders and everyday life. Country-specific domains (like .co.uk or .de) can limit your reach or cause confusion in markets outside that specific country. They can also cause transfer issues. Consistency in Branding: As your organization grows, maintaining a consistent identity across different regions is essential. A .com domain helps establish a unified web presence, making it easier for customers worldwide to find and recognize your branding and url. Competitive Advantage Competitor Safeguard: Owning the .com version of your entity name prevents competitors from using it. Even if you currently use a different extension for your account, a competitor could purchase the .com and use it to divert traffic, confuse clients, or dilute your message or image and hurt security. Always be sure to check out a .com’s history before buying, though – there could be some nasty surprises if it has been used before. Professionalism: Many well-established businesses, particularly in competitive industries, prefer .com domains. If a competitor has the .com version of a similar name, they may be seen as more professional or legitimate than a business name using a less common extension. Having a .com gives you an edge in appearing professional and trustworthy. Versatility to Ensure Growth Future-Proof: As your network grows, the .com extension is flexible enough to accommodate expansions into new products, services, or geographic markets. Unlike some niche TLDs, which may be associated with specific industries (like .tech or .store), a .com can grow with your entity and remain relevant in any market. Resale Value: Premium .com domains can become valuable assets if your organization is ever sold or merged. The high demand for .com domains, especially short, brandable ones, means they often increase in value over time and make them an easier sale for the seller in a reasonable range. Some names exceed all expectations, however, and command seven-figure price tags or higher.   What other TLDs Are Good Options? Clients ask regularly if there are decent top-level domain alternatives to the .com for transfer. There are many, including .org, .net,.co, .io, .ai, .xyz and .club domains that a degree of power and authority. Top Extensions: These extensions are popular for use in the crypto and web 3 space. There are many organizations that capitalize on the generic value such as the banking industry with the .bank top-level domain. With more than 2,500 new GTLD domain extensions, you can now register and transfer anything from .legal to .car for your business, which is worth knowing if you’re securing a unique domain name for a startup in particular. Here are a list of some top extensions and how they’re often used: .ai: artificial intelligence, machine learning support, reasonable renewal cost .net: internet infrastructure sites, more technical, fairly reasonable renewal cost .co: abbreviation for commerce, corporation and community .org: non-commercial org and non-profits .io: tech sites, business or commercial use support You definitely don’t need to use a website builder for every domain name you purchase. Make sure you forward any additional domain names you register to your primary site and add a secure server to protect your organization. The .com Domain Should Be Your First Choice When we talk about long-term investing and ROI, we think about the stock market, commercial or residential real estate investing, gold bullion and Forex – but domain investing is a legitimate business pursuit, too. Domain names hold value and add instant equity to the branding strategy and ownership in the purchase and sale of domain names. There are hundreds of thousands of prime opportunities to invest in the domain space – and as the last 30 years have shown, the .com is the most credible TLD on the market, both domestically and abroad. This holds true if you are buying your domain for your business or to hold and transfer at a later date. Whether this is your first domain or you own many, the .com creates easy accessibility for consumers and brands alike. Brand Protection: Companies work hard to protect their domain brands, accounts and marketing tactics. They invest millions of dollars and countless resources at building that beach-front real estate and maintaining their Internet presence in the world. As leaders in the domain space, the NameExperts.com team continues to recommend the .com as the superior domain with considerable upside and long-term equity potential. Case Study: Tesla.com domain acquisition Here’s a case study of a .com domain acquisition transfer that highlights the importance and benefits of acquiring a premium .com domain for a business. The study involves Tesla’s acquisition of Tesla.com. Background: For many years after its founding, Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, operated under the registered domain TeslaMotors.com. Despite its growing success, the entity didn’t own the highly sought-after Tesla.com domain. TeslaMotors.com was functional, but having Tesla.com would better align with the company’s image as it expanded beyond cars to include energy products like solar panels and batteries. The domain Tesla.com was originally owned by a man named Stuart Grossman, who had registered it long before the organization existed. Grossman wasn’t actively using the domain, but he also wasn’t interested in selling it easily, making the acquisition a challenging and lengthy process. The Acquisition Process: Need for Rebranding: As Tesla grew and became a household name, the organization realized that TeslaMotors.com was limiting its branding. The “Motors” in the domain name suggested a narrow focus on cars, whereas Tesla’s long-term vision encompassed energy solutions, solar products, and batteries. The organization needed a simpler, cleaner domain—Tesla.com—that reflected its image as a leader in the broader tech and energy sectors. Complex Negotiation: Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, revealed that acquiring Tesla.com was a difficult process, taking over 10 years of negotiations. The domain owner, Grossman, was reluctant to sell the name for many years, leading Tesla to offer a significant amount to finally secure it. Musk later hinted that they had paid $11 million to acquire the domain, though exact figures weren’t officially disclosed. Hands-on Approach: Tesla’s approach to acquiring the domain involved: Patience: Tesla waited until the domain owner was ready to sell, all while continuing to build their company. Persistence: Tesla remained in contact with the owner over a long period, signaling ongoing interest and ensuring the owner knew they were serious buyers. Strategic Timing: Tesla finally closed the deal when they were ready to reposition their entity from just a car line to a broader energy and technology company. Outcome: In 2016, Tesla successfully acquired and completed the transfer of the Tesla.com domain and immediately rebranded their website and digital assets. This acquisition allowed Tesla to secure its concept and image across all its product lines and simplify its online presence and customer support tools.     About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Joe’s specialty is helping clients secure .com domain names that appear unreachable – and at the right price, too. Contact Joe at: [email protected]
Close up of man's hand pointing at a laptop keyboard, as if checking how to buy/sell a doman name online
How to Buy a Taken Domain Name

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 importan; 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 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 offer 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. 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 the extension you want, 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 it 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 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 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 questions about our services and help boost your confidence 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]  

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