Top Web Hosting Reviews
Top Web Hosting Provider of The Month:
Top Web Hosting
Visit Bluehost.com | Read Bluehost Review

>> Web Hosting Geeks // Web Hosting Articles // Web Hosting  


The Domain Name Gold Rush








All the good ones are taken. The really good ones, that is. But they don't always stay taken.

Domain names often come back onto the market. Even before they do, domain name prospectors are sifting through them to find the gold domains among them.

Why domain names become available again

Thousands of domain names expire every day. Other domains are offered for sale. The reasons are varied:

Carelessness

The webmaster forgets to renew the domain by the expiry date.

The email address that the domain is registered with becomes invalid, and the domain name registrant doesn't receive the renewal notices.

- Lack of need or funds

- The company that had registered the domain goes out of business.

- The website owner loses interest in or doesn't have time for the website.

- The website owner doesn't have funding to continue the website venture.

- The domain name registrant registered numerous domains on speculation and couldn't afford to continue renewing unused domains.

Profit

- The domain name registrant may realize how much a domain is worth and decide to sell it.

- The domain name registrant may have registered the domain because of its potential worth, with the aim of selling it later.

What makes a previously registered domain name valuable?

In July 2005, the domain name website.com sold for $750,000, the highest-valued domain name sale this year. Why would anyone pay so much for a domain when they could register a new domain for under $10?

- Instant traffic

If the domain name previously pointed to a website, search engines have already indexed that domain name. Other websites probably still have links to that domain. If the domain is listed in directories, these links bring in even more traffic. You register the domain, and the work getting incoming links has already been done for you.

- Surf value

Sometimes web surfers search by typing generic words followed by dot com (or other extensions) into their browsers, for example, dogs.com. This particular domain name redirects to the website for a company that sells pet products and services. A domain name like this constantly brings visitors to the website without the cost and effort of advertising and marketing.

- Easy to remember

Your company name may not be memorable, but domains such as dogs.com and website.com are. People are more likely to return to a site or pass on the name to their friends when they can easily remember it.

How to find domains pending expiration

You decide to join the gold rush for valuable pre-registered domains. Finding expiring domains is the first step, but you also need to research domains that are about to come back on the market.

Lists of domains pending expiration

At these websites, among others, you can search for domains containing keywords you enter. At expireddomains.com, the results contain domains that are currently available, soon to expire, on hold, in the Redemption Grace Period (RGP), or for sale by their registrants. Extensions searched: .com, .net, and .org.

The domainsbot.com database searches .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz extensions for domains that are available, for sale, or expiring.

Domain research

You can find some (but not all) incoming links to a domain by entering "link:siteURL" (replace "siteURL" with the domain name) into Google or Yahoo. When you find the links, follow them to see what types of sites link to the domain. How would you feel about having these particular sites linking to your site?

Also look into any possible problems associated with the domain. Search engines may have banned the domain if the previous site had controversial search engine optimization techniques employed, such as the use of hidden text or links. Check the history of the site at a domain name via the WayBack Machine. If the domain previously pointed to a site with gambling or adult content or a lot of affiliate links, or if it employed questionable search engine optimization techniques, search engines may have banned the domain. Aside from the possibility of a domain being banned, you may not want incoming links from sites associated with these types of content.

How to register domains pending deletion

You've decided on a domain that you want. How do you maximize your chances on getting it?

At eNom.com's Club Drop, you can bid on expiring .com and .net domains the day before they're available to the public. You can also be notified when domains matching your search criteria become available.

The NameWinner system places bids on .com, .net, .org, and .info domains for you. It bids only as high as is necessary to maintain your high bid position up to your maximum bid.

How to profit from your domains

- Selling domains

If you have a domain that may be valuable and that you aren't using, consider selling it at a domain auction. If you already have a buyer for a domain, you can transfer it securely through Escrow.com.

- Paid parking for domains

With paid domain parking programs, also called "domain monetization" or "monetize domains," you can earn pay-per-click revenue via targeted advertisements. These sites offer domain monetization services:

- DomainSponsor

- Park Quick

- Domain Spa

- Google Adsense for domains

With the right knowledge, timing, and a bit of luck, you have a chance as a domain name prospector to hit pay dirt.

Lois S. is a Technical Executive Writer for http://www.websitesource.com and http://www.lowpricedomains.com with experience in the website hosting industry.


MORE RESOURCES:

OfficialWire (press release)

Beware The Budget Airline Approach To Web Hosting
OfficialWire (press release)
Just like booking a ticket for a budget airline, the most frequently encountered trip wires in the world of web hosting are hidden ...

and more »


Web hosting users 'finding it harder to detect malware'
Just Host
The task for web hosting users to avoid malware is becoming increasingly difficult. This is the opinion of Tom Kelchner, research centre manager at Sunbelt ...

and more »


Will web hosting users look to mobile internet customers?
Just Host
Web hosting users may have to start looking to attract mobile customers as well as online users as a new report has indicated that mobile internet is on ...

and more »


SEO to change irrevocably for web hosting users?
Just Host
With the launch of Google Social Search and the imminent integration of live tweets from Twitter into Google, advanced web hosting users could see the ...

and more »


Pronethosting.NET Launches INSANE November Promotion
Reuters
The promotion allows people to buy 1 year of any of their web hosting services for only $25; no strings attached! With free setup, full money-back guarantee ...

and more »


Straits Times

Yahoo closes Geocities web hosting service
Xinhua
BEIJING, October 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Yahoo's web hosting service, GeoCities, has closed after 15 years of offering people the ability to set up their own ...
GeoCities Closes, But Small Businesses Have Web Hosting OptionsSmall Business News from Gaebler.com
Yahoo Puts GeoCities Out of Its MiseryeWeek
Yahoo deletes GeoCities todaybit-tech.net
AFP -india-server.com -Ghacks Technology News
all 268 news articles »


Host Color Cut the Prices of Web Hosting with 25%
The Open Press (press release)
It gives the company's customers 25% instant savings on all Shared web hosting plans. (OPENPRESS) November 4, 2009 -- Host Color has reported to the web ...
UK Virtual Private Server - VPS Web Hosting. How I Found Best Small Business ...Ecommerce Journal

all 3 news articles »


PR.com (press release)

Gossimer Announced a Transfer-in Domain Promotion to Allow Customers to ...
PR.com (press release)
Gossimer is a full-feature, domain name registration and webhosting company. Since 2001, Gossimer is providing web hosting, email hosting, ...

and more »


AIT Web Host Launches Free Search Engine Advertising
PR Web (press release)
AIT, Inc. announced free search engine advertising to web hosting and domain registration customers. For over fourteen years Advanced Internet Technologies ...
Web Host AIT Offers Free Search Engine AdsWeb Host Industry Review

all 2 news articles »


Web hosting users learn of consumer confidence rise
Just Host
Web hosting users selling products online will be buoyed by the fact that consumer confidence has risen to its highest level for 18 months. ...

and more »

Google News





 
 
 

© 2004 - 2008 "Web Hosting Geeks" | Web Hosting Reviews | Customer Reviews | RealMetrics Reviews | Hosting Articles | Directory | Partners | Contacts
Over 7000 articles: web hosting, web development, domain names, ecommerce, web design, site promotion, ppc advertising, seo, site promotion and many others.
Web hosting reviews, ratings and awards are not based on any incentives or commissions. Names and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
A direct link to Web Hosting Geeks (http://webhostinggeeks.com) must be provided in order to use any of the above information. Contact us for more info.

Partners: Hosts by speed, Cheap Website Hosting, Free Website Hosting, Cheap Web Hosting, Top 10 Web Hosts, Top 10 Web Hosting Deals, Best Website Hosting, Free Web Hosting, Free Web Hosting, Dedicated Server Hosting, Adult Web Hosting, Web Hosting Discussions, Dedicated Server Reviews, Best Web Hosting, Web Hosting Discounts, HostProfessor.com, rsuog, halyava, PHP Website Hosting Services, Web Hosting Reviews, Hosting Uptime, Best Web Hosting Reviews, Cheap Webhosting, Web Hosting, Flash Templates, CMS Templates, Web Hosting Reviews, Website Hosting Reviews, Web Hosting Providers, Best Web Hosting, Top Web Hosting, RSUOG Web Hosting