web hosting

Backordering Domain Names

Domain backordering is a practice employed by many expired domain name traders.  This process can also yield positive results for someone who is after a domain they wanted but was previously registered by someone else.  There are numerous services and registrars that will put you at the top of the list to better ensure your chance of getting the name you always wanted. Though effective, the success or failure of this process all depends on the cooperation and assistance among various registrars, the actual cost of backordering the name and most importantly, the inclination of the domain pursuer.

Every domain name is registered for a given time period in which the owner has a certain amount of time to make a renewal.  If the domain owner fails to renew the name, the domain in question goes through a series of processes before being deleted from the registry.  Below we have outlined the stages of the domain expiration cycle.

Expiration

When a domain owner fails to renew their domain name, the registrar places it under a Register-Hold status in which it can only be renewed by the owner.  The grace period for renewal generally takes anywhere in between 30 and 45 days.  At this point, the domain is disabled, meaning the owner cannot utilize basic features such email and links.  In order to use these features, the owner must fully pay for the renewal along with penalty fees.

Deletion

The Deletion stage is very straightforward as the registrar simply deletes the non-renewed domain name from its database.

Redemption

The domain name can only be restored during this stage.  Any requests for changes will not be granted.  The domain remains in this stage for up to 30 days, during which the owner can only retrieve it by contacting the registrar.  At this point, the renewal fee must be paid in full along with a penalty fee that can range up to $200.  Once the fees are paid, the domain name enters a stage known as Pending Restore for a period of seven days.  From here, common features such as web pages and email access are restored to the owner.  Next, the registrar submits a restore certificate to the domain registry.  After the Restore command and reports have been approved, the domain goes back to an active status.

Pending Delete and Deletion

If a domain remains in the redemption period after five days, the name is moved to the Pending Delete stage which typically lasts for about five days.  At this stage, the domain is deleted permanently and the registrar nor the registry can change its status.  Once the five day period has expired, the registrar deletes the domain name from the registry.  When this happens, all major registrars release the expired domain name back onto the market, making it available to whoever wants it first.

The Early Jump

The final two stages are the most crucial time period for anyone looking to capitalize on expired domain names.  This is because the savvy registrants and traders are waiting and ready to snatch them up.  The domain name backordering process is extremely beneficial in this case as it puts you ahead of the scavengers and can help you grab the domain name you have been eyeing.

Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain

While the general concept may seem trivial, domain names are more highly sought after than one would ever imagine.  Because they can be so valuable, people of lower morals devise ways to steal them right from under your nose.  Domains are also lost everyday through a legitimate practice that has been coined as drop catching.  This process involves savvy domain traders who quickly snatch up names that have been expired and either try to sell them, or capitalize off the links associated with the site.  Though domain owners are victimized quite frequently, knowing how the domain registration process works can help you avoid drop catching and keep your precious name safe.

How Names are Lost

As you probably know, domain names can easily be registered with a service such as GoDaddy.  Although they are in great demand, a domain name can be purchased for around $10 a per.  You generally have the option of registering the name for anywhere from one to ten years.  Nearing the end of the registration period, the registrar sends a renewal notice to the domain owner via email.  If the owner doesn’t respond in a certain amount of time, the name is eventually placed back on the market and can then be purchased by anyone else.  Thousands of domains become available each day because the owners fail to renew them.  Others lose their domain names simply because they didn’t realize they were up for renewal.

Domain Registrars Aid the Process

Per the rules set forth by the ICANN, domain registrars are required to notify the domain owner that their name will be removed from the registry 45 days after the expiration date.  Once the name is dropped, the owner generally has a 30 day grace period to reclaim their domain.  After the time has expired, there is another five day period before the name is dropped entirely and goes back on the market.

Over the past few years, domain registrars have used an auction to sell expired domain names.  These auctions bypass the original process by making domains available within a thirty day period.  GoDaddy is one service that starts an auction before the domain names have officially expired.  The company does however, warn bidders that the domain owner still has the option to renew their name.

Domain service providers that aid in the registering of expired domain names offer tools to make these products much easier to find.  For example, many provide frequent updates on available names, recommend auction services, customized searches and tools for those looking to snag expired domain names.  Some offer free software to help you dig deeper for domains on the brink of expiration.

Get Proactive

Drop catching will continue to be a widely used practice as good domains become more scarce and people look to leach traffic from established links.  You can secure the identity of your website and business by knowing the status of your domain name.  The best way to do this is staying aware of the expiration date or selecting an auto-renewal option.  Relying on a registrar presents the risk of never receiving the notification due to a tricky spam filter and losing everything you worked so hard to build.

Understanding Domain Name Transfers

There may come a point in your internet life when you need to transfer a domain name.  Perhaps you are unhappy with the current service and want to take your domain to a new registrar.  Whatever the reason is, you should know what to expect in order to ensure a smooth transition.

What is a Domain Name Transfer?

A domain name transfer describes the process of taking the name you registered with one registrar and moving it to another.  This simply means you only want to switch your domain name service provider.  Everything about your website and actual domain name remains the same.  Keep in mind that a domain name transfer isn’t the same as transferring your website from one server to another.

The Transfer Process

The first step in transferring a domain name is initiating the transfer.  While it is up to you to make the request, only the new registrar can initiate the transfer.  After purchasing an account and getting set up with the new registrar, you should see a link or button that reads “transfer domain”.  In most cases, you will be prompted to enter the domain name, confirm and click “OK”.

What you don’t see behind the scenes is the email exchange between the new registrar and the WHOIS database regarding your domain.  The transfer process moves along once the WHOIS administrative contact accepts the transfer by clicking on a link in the email.  Once the transfer has been approved, the new registrar sends notification to the TLD Registry (Top Level Domain) for further approval.

In order for your domain name to work, it be must active.  If it is inactive, pending, or locked, you will not be able to make the transfer.  This is why it is recommended to transfer your domain name well before the expiration date to avoid such issues.  If your domain is active and registered for 60 days or more, the TLD registry will inform the new registrar that the transfer can continue.   From there, the registry lets the old registrar known that a transfer request has been made.  The old registrar generally has about five days to respond to the TLD registry.  If they do not respond in the given amount of time, the registry will automatically assume approval by default.  While this helps you make a transfer from a hesitant registrar, it also increases the potential of domain theft.  For this reason, it is advisable to sign up with a registrar that offers domain locking and other protective features.

If the registrar actively approves the transfer, they will do so by responding to the TLD registry.  The registry then takes the name from the old registrar, notifies the new registrar and adds it to their account.  That is the domain name transfer process in a nutshell.  As long as you know what to expect, it can all be a painless task.  Although most support staff members are more than willingly to walk you through the process, it is always good to understand what goes on for yourself.

Finding a Domain for Your Business

Having a domain name is vital for any online company.  Some view this as your official license to effectively do business on the web.  If you are just starting out online, it is important to look around and get the best domain name deal you can find.

The price for domain name registrations have dropped significantly, although there are still a few companies that will charge more than $20 per year if you are not careful.  Before signing up with the first registrar you run across, do a little research and find out what is available.  By doing so, you will know more about the domain game and what is acceptable and what is completely ridiculous.

Where to Look

The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the body that accredits companies as official domain name registrars.  This organization makes a great resource as it lists the names for all accredited registrars on the website.  These companies are generally trust worthy as they are required to follow the rules and regulation set forth by the ICANN.  While this lists makes a good place to start, it will not provide you with any price comparisons on domain names.

Comparing Prices

You could easily spend hours searching through dozens of registrars looking for one that offers a decent price.  There are however, several companies well known for their affordable price on domains and associated services.  One name you are sure to run across is GoDaddy.com, a global leader in domain names.  GoDaddy has some of the best deals on the market, frequently offering bargains on relative extensions when making your initial purchase.  This registrar also allows you to transfer existing domains from another service, letting you to take advantage of a lower price and extend the current registration.  Aside from domain names, GoDaddy offers a number of services and options that you may find very useful.

Additionally, there are several comparison sites that will chart several domains so you can see what’s available.  If comparing multiple registrars is something you want to do, you will find  RegSelect.com as a great resource for comparative domain shopping.  The website is simple to navigate and allows you to view the cheapest or largest domain registrars.  RegSelct provides you with a full list of ICANN-accredited services and makes it easy to find one that meets your needs.  This service is free of charge and quite valuable as it gives you side-by-side comparisons of prices as well as features such as domain parking, forwarding and other services.

Shopzilla is known for its comparisons of various consumer products, but also allows you to find domain name registrars.  While the results are not as extensive as what you’ll find on RegSelect, the site still makes a good source and does pull up a few of the top companies.

Conclusion

Domain registrars are plentiful so there is no need to settle for steep prices.  A simple domain name will likely have implications on your business for as long as you own the website.  By spending a little time to find a reputable service, you can get a great bargain along with some extra perks that benefit your business.

Someone Registered My Domain – What Now?

Everybody is after domain names these days whether its for a website or just an email address to demonstrate credibility.  A domain name shows ownership, helping to prove that you are independent of any free web hosting or email service.  If you have a domain name in mind for your business, it would be a wise move to secure it before someone else does.

So what can you do if someone already registered the domain name you want?  You generally have two options: come up with another name or try to purchase the domain from the owner.  The results you get with the latter largely depends on why the domain name was registered.  Domain speculators, more commonly known as cyber squatters, often purchase domains for the sole purpose of selling them off to the highest bidder.  Believe it or not, some have made a lucrative business out of this practice.  Companies have paid hundreds to millions of dollars for hot domain names.  One example is Pizza.com which sold for $2.6 million this past April.

In some cases, domain names are purchased because a company or individual wants to establish a legitimate online business.  The cold hard facts are that if someone has registered your ideal domain name, you may have no other choice but to go with something else.  There are however, instances where a third option can be exercised.  United States courts have mandated that trademark holders are able to claim specific domains even if someone else registered the name first.  Assuming Toys R Us has their name trademarked for instance, if they run across a site using this for a domain name, they would be able to take legal action and seize control of it.  If you experience something similar, you may be able to claim your domain which will also depend on what type of name it is and how its is being used by current owner.

Because .com reigns supreme on the internet, there is a good chance that your preferred name may not be available with this extension.  In this instance, you might want to consider another top-level domain such as .org or .net.  While these extensions don’t have the familiarity of .com, they still make solid alternatives.  You also have other options as several alternative TLDs have been approved over the last few years.  If you have to choose another TLD, be sure to read the accompanying explanations so you know just who qualifies for what extension.

Another option you have for registering your domain is to use an extension that associates with your country.  Two of the most popular extensions are .de in Germany and .ca in Canada.  The country of Montserrat sells its .ms domain for around $50 per year while domains in the United States can be registered with the .us extension at no cost.  These domains are more likely to be available yet are not well known.  Furthermore, domains with a us. extension are also required to include city and state extensions such as mycompany.detroit.michigan.us.  If you are looking for a catchy name that is easy to remember, this obviously wouldn’t be the way to go.

To find out if your domain has already been purchased, visit whois.com or a major registrar and perform a search.  If its still available, don’t hesitate to secure it.