The Cost of Using NameCheap

The cost of a domain name at NameCheap is less than $10. Believe it or not, the actual cost is $9.98 and you will receive a free subscription to WhoIs Protection for an entire year. Below you can see the pricing for popular domain extentions:

WhoIs is important because it protects your website and private information. You can also find coupon codes that you can use to make the cost of $9.98 even cheaper than before. For the month of December alone, there are three separate coupons available for NameCheap. One coupon will take of .88 cents for the purchase and the other two codes will help you save 10% during your first month of usage. Not only is NameCheap absolutely cheap, it is also a reliable and dependable website. There are hundreds of thousands of users who can vouch for the website in its dependability in providing and protecting all of its users who trust in the website for their domain wants and needs.

Importance of WhoIs Protection

There are plenty of people who have never heard of WhoIs Protection. Each website owner has their own WhoIs record. On the record, private information is provided which will include your personal address, e-mail, house phone number, cell phone number and possibly even more. This may not seem like a bad thing but this is the way that spammers will work to harass you with junk mail and spam e-mail that you don’t need. You should always want to keep your private information PRIVATE and WhoIs helps with that task. When you sign up for domain with NameCheap, you will receive a free one year subscription to WhoIs Protection. After the first full year free, you can continue your subscription for the low price of $2.88 each year. Honestly, you cannot beat that, especially since your first year with NameCheap will offer this great protection for free.

The Cost of Using GoDaddy

The cost GoDaddy, while still cheaper than some, will cost you a bit more than name cheap. The price for .com extension domain with GoDaddy will cost you $11.99. Here is the pricing for the popular extensions:

You will sometimes be able to find coupon codes to help you reduce the cost of this price but NameCheap happens to offer many more coupons for your convenience. If you want WhoIs Protection with your GoDaddy domain, and you should since it is a means of protecting you and your personal information, you will need to pay $8.99 a month. GoDaddy does not offer free WhoIs protection for your first year of usage and the cost of protection is more expensive than it would cost if you were to have domain with NameCheap instead. While the cost is more expensive than NameCheap, there are still some people who swear by this particular domain website.

GoDaddy has been around for more than a decade and has been offering its services to people from all over the world who are interested in creating and developing their own domain. GoDaddy is reliable. It just costs a lot more than NameCheap when you add up the price each month along with the cost of WhoIs protection each month and the fact that there are not nearly as many coupons for GoDaddy as there are for NameCheap. Another problem with GoDaddy is, sometimes they offer coupon codes but there is usually a catch to that. In most cases, the coupon codes are only offered to people who are buying tons of domain names at once. If you only need one domain name, there is no purpose for buying tons of other domain names which means the coupon code would do nothing for you. GoDaddy will also try to encourage you to buy web hosting with them in order to receive special discount codes for your domain.

When you attempt to buy GoDaddy, you will notice there are other items in your cart that you did not even want to buy. Of course, you do not have to buy these items but GoDaddy definitely tries to push it to the point where you feel forced to buy these different items. All you need is a domain name and you should not have to feel that way when trying to get your domain. NameCheap understands this and never tries to push other items into your shopping cart. They are a reliable and honest business that cares about customers where it seems as though GoDaddy does not care nearly as much as they should.

Conclusion

While both of these domain websites have a good reputation on the Internet, when compared, it is obvious that NameCheap is the better choice. Not only will save money, you will have an abundance of coupons to choose from and you will not feel forced to buy anything else except for what you need which is a domain. Both of these websites have received positive reviews from hundreds and thousands of users. It is ultimately your decision as to which website you will use for your domain but if you are interested in reliability and honestly along with cheap prices, NameCheap is obviously the best choice to make.

Related posts:

• March 4, 2009 – Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• February 9, 2009 – Six Important Considerations for Domain Name Registration
• November 6, 2008 – How Much Should You Pay for a Domain Name?
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• December 18, 2011 – How to Find Web Hosting Service Provider
• December 4, 2011 – The Truth about Unlimited Webhosting
• September 30, 2011 – What the New User can Learn from the GoDaddy Account Hack
• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way

Nonetheless there will always be someone that will really want to try to pick up that expired domain.  Maybe it’s their family name.  Maybe it’s the company name that goes back 100 years.  Whatever the reason, these customers will always be there.  If you’re one of them, then as long as you’re going to do this, you might as well know how to do it right.

“Expired” doesn’t exactly mean Expired

The first thing that you need to know is that there is a grace period that goes along with a domain name’s expiration date.  How long this grace period lasts is determined by the domain’s registrar, and can even be different for different top-level domains.  You will want to inquire with them specifically.  During this grace period the original owner of the domain name, and only the original owner, can re-register it at normal rates.

Once this period ends then there is usually a “redemption period”.  This amounts to about the same thing, except that the original owner must now pay a higher fee.  Again, though, no one else can touch it during this phase.

Even then there’s more

If the redemption period lapses, then one of two things happen.  First, the registrar can immediately open the domain name up for re-registration by anyone.  It is best if this does not happen.  Why?

Because the world wide web is packed with digital vultures ready to pounce on an available domain seconds after it re-enters the marketplace.  You will have virtually no chance of keeping up with these outfits.  Once they register them, then you’ll be looking at some exorbitant fee to make it yours.

This isn’t to say that if your domain goes on auction that you’ll be able to get it automatically, however, you will have a fighting chance.  Domain name harvesters are looking for profit, and profit is all but guaranteed if they can snatch up a domain name for a few bucks.  The higher the price goes, the less it’s worth, from an investment perspective, for them.  They’re making a bet, after all.  They don’t know for certain that anyone will want it.

Is it all worth it?

If you’re ready to deal with this hassle, then simply keep an eye on the registrar.  Find out from them whether or not the domain is going to go up for auction.  Then do like any good auction attendee: show up, and play it smart.  Remember what we said: there are nearly an infinite number of many domains.  Before shelling out a few hundred, or even thousands of dollars for your dream name, ask yourself whether you can get by with an alternative.  Quite a lot of web sites have discovered that they can.

Related posts:

• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• September 7, 2010 – How to Pick the Right Domain Name Extension
• May 20, 2010 – A Comparison of Domain Registrars and Web Hosts
• February 5, 2010 – How to Obtain a Memorable Domain Name
• September 18, 2009 – Acquiring the Domain You Want Through Back-Ordering
• July 14, 2009 – What Do You Get with a Cheap Domain Name?
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• February 9, 2009 – Six Important Considerations for Domain Name Registration

The argument for “yes”

Thanks to the above phenomena, as well as the old monopolies on registration having long been broken, getting your own domain name is dirt cheap.  Thus, you do not always need to have a word that is found in your dictionary to be taken seriously. Get a good site going, and “Plebno.com” might be considered a brilliant, memorable name (and yes, it’s available). For instant domain name search and availability check visit pcnames.com.

A domain name is a name that will always be with you (assuming that you didn’t accidentally strike someone else’s copyright). Additionally, you can have every address associated with name@plebno.com, and you won’t be tied down to a single host.  Finally, there is a certain level of web site, mostly business-oriented, in which there is still a strong association between a domain name and a minimum level of professionalism.

The argument for “no”

If you are doing something simpler, then not only is most everyone on the web aware of all of the above problems with having your own name, but there are so many web hosts out there that can host a strong, well-done site under their own banner name that no one thinks any less of, for example mysite.blogspot.com, even if what you are hosting isn’t really a blog.

Also, there is the hassle of having your own domain.  The registration is often typically painless but, if you are trying to change the owner, or nameservers, or trying to do anything complicated at the registrar level, you could be starting at a labyrinth of emails, confirmations, credit cards, security questions, CAPTCHAs, and so forth.  If what you are running is a serious business that needs that kind of branding, then of course that is a small price to pay.  But if you are just running a hobby or educational site or even a small business site like, say, counseling, that’s just more fuss than you’re likely to want to have to deal with.

One last piece of advice. If you choose a domain name and then change your mind and let it go, you are not likely to get it back.  A harvester will snatch it right up.  But don’t worry.  If plebno.com gets taken, there’s always trozdoz.com (that’s available too).

Related posts:

• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• September 27, 2011 – Common Web Hosting Terms And What They Mean
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• September 7, 2010 – How to Pick the Right Domain Name Extension
• February 18, 2010 – The Cost of a Domain Name – Registering Your Domain
• July 14, 2009 – What Do You Get with a Cheap Domain Name?
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• February 9, 2009 – Six Important Considerations for Domain Name Registration
• November 6, 2008 – How Much Should You Pay for a Domain Name?
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars

Conducting Research

The first step in becoming a domain speculator is to conduct the necessary research, and the simplest and cheapest way to do this is to become a member of various Webmaster/Web hosting forums. These forums not only allow you to gather the pre-existing tips provided by experienced webmasters and domain speculators, they also allow you to interact with these individuals on a personal basis, giving you the ability to receive personalized answers to all of your curiosities. Fortunately, all of the information needed to learn how to judge the value of domain names can be found online for free. Alternatively, if your research endeavors are more time intensive and you would rather not expend the effort to find information from various sources, you could purchase a comprehensive guide or training system to expedite the process.

The Basics of Domain Name Value

There are three main factors to consider when judging the value of a domain name – memorability, profitability, and search engine optimization. First of all, the domain name should be memorable enough that site visitors will be able to accurately describe it to their friends or family, thereby increasing the daily traffic levels through word-of-mouth. In addition, the domain name should preferably pertain to a niche or keyword that is profitable, as these websites tend to sell for a higher price tag. Finally, domain names should contain search engine optimization attributes, such as exact match keywords, which will allow the site to instantly begin generating search engine traffic with minimal effort on behalf of the site owner. Websites that are recently expired and still have backlinks, page rank, and other search engine attributes are considered to be most valuable.

Buying and Selling Domain Names

There are three main ways to begin purchasing domain names – domain auctions, registering domains with registrars, and purchasing recently expired domains. While recently expired domains are usually the most profitable, they also tend to cost more than those that are registered with the registrar. Domain registrars offer popular TLDs (top level domains) such as .com, .org, and.net for only $10 per year of registration. Domain auction sites give you the most diverse selection, and most auctions include not only the domain name, but also attached website that contains pre-developed content and design.

Related posts:

• September 23, 2009 – How Search Engine-Friendly is Your Domain Name?
• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• January 19, 2011 – How to Find the Cheapest Domain Names
• September 18, 2010 – .CO Domains – Frequently Asked Questions
• September 8, 2010 – How to Track Search Engine Optimization Progress
• September 7, 2010 – How to Pick the Right Domain Name Extension
• June 25, 2010 – Using FreshDrop.net to Find Domain Names That Already Have a High PR
• April 23, 2010 – SERPs and Backlinks – The Keys to SEO
• February 18, 2010 – The Cost of a Domain Name – Registering Your Domain

Capitalizing on Keywords

Keywords are basically the linguistic gateway that connects web traffic to your website. Any phrase that is commonly input into a search engine is considered to be a keyword, and is therefore capable of generating residual traffic if a website can successfully rank highly for a popular keyword. Thus, the first step in registering multiple domain names should be finding available domain names that contain popular keywords or key phrases within your desired niche. Not only will these phrases make it easier to rank highly for the keywords themselves within the search engines, it will also make it more likely that random web surfers will type in the name of your website simply by guessing the keyword. This especially true if you can register popular keywords with popular TLDs such as. com,.org, or.net.

Capturing Misspelled Traffic

It is also a good idea to purchase possible misspellings of your primary domain name, in order to capture type-in traffic that may misspell the name of your website while attempting to return to it. For example, if you own the domain name “exampledomainname.com”, then you may want to consider purchasing the misspelling of that domain – “exmapledomainname.com”. This not only maximizes the possibility of receiving random web traffic, it also keeps competitors from registering such misspellings and effectively taking some of your rightfully earned traffic. Aside from basic misspellings, you may wish to purchase plural or singular versions of the primary domain name. For example, the registrant of the aforementioned domain name may want to consider also registering “exampledomainnames.com”, as people commonly confuse plural and singular forms when remembering website addresses.

Varying Syntax and Preventative Measures

When purchasing alternate versions of the primary domain name, it is best to consider all possible formatting, with and without hyphens, using numbers, and even registering what are known as negative versions of your primary domain name. For example, if your domain name is “yourcompanybrand.com,” you could consider registering domain names such as “the-truth-about-your-company-brand.com” or “your-company-brand-sucks.com.” By doing this you can effectively prevent competitors from purchasing such domain names and negatively effecting your reputation in the future. Your goal as a domain speculator and registrant is to purchase all possible versions of your primary domain, especially if that domain is intended to be used as a business website.

Related posts:

• September 18, 2009 – Acquiring the Domain You Want Through Back-Ordering
• March 4, 2009 – Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• February 8, 2011 – Critical Factors for Choosing a Web Host
• October 5, 2010 – 3 Steps to a Successful eCommerce Site
• September 18, 2010 – .CO Domains – Frequently Asked Questions

.CO domains are not new in the slightest sense of the word, because they were first issued in 2001 as the region-specific code for Columbia. However, after realizing the similarities between .co and .com a Columbian University theorized that the domain type could be marketed as an alternative for .com. Nearly a decade later Internet S.A.S has made this hypothesis a realty by offering .co domains to people around the world for nay use, including commercial use. The following questions are amongst the most commonly asked pertaining to .co domains.

How Do I Get a .co Domain?

Currently, .co domains are only allowed to be registered by 10 registrars, however there are dozens of domain sellers that are mediating the sale of .co domains. In other words, almost any popular domain name registrar will have them available. The new .co domains can be acquired in the same exact fashion as a regular domain and there are no prerequisites for purchasing one.

How Much Do .co Domains Cost?

Fortunately, .co domains often only cost slightly more than a regular domain name. Most registrars will offer combo deals in which a discount is offered when more than one .co domain is purchased. It is also possible to receive a free .co domain with some new web hosting plans.

What Are .co Domains Used For?

.CO domains are and can be used for any type of web site online, including but not limited to commercial business sites, personal blogs, pictures sites, movie sites, music sites, forums, online stores, game sites and any other web site model imaginable. Before the domain type was acquired and distributed by Internet S.A.S it was intended to be used by web sites based in Columbia.

How Do Search Engines Treat .co Domains?

Fortunately, Google has recognized the recent explosion in popularity, and as such has recently announced that it will be indexing .co domains in the same manner as .com domains. This means .co domains will have international targeting enabled, allowing people from around the world to find your .co site on the internet. At the moment it is impossible to predict how well the .co sites will perform in the search engine results, but given Google’s friendly response it does look promising.

Can I Transfer a .CO Domain to Another Webmaster?

Yes, .co domains can be transferred in the same manner as any other domain name, which means you can begin buying and selling them as soon you’d like. There are no restrictions on who can register a .co domain, just as there are no restrictions to whom the domains can be transferred.

Related posts:

• August 5, 2010 – .CO Domains Gaining Momentum and Google Support
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• September 7, 2010 – How to Pick the Right Domain Name Extension
• August 26, 2010 – .Co Domains and Shortened URLS
• August 17, 2010 – .CO Domains Gaining Support and Momentum
• September 23, 2009 – How Search Engine-Friendly is Your Domain Name?
• July 14, 2009 – What Do You Get with a Cheap Domain Name?
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way

The Meaning of Domain Extensions

There are currently over 200 different domain extensions available, most of which are country or region specific domain TLDs. A .com domain is to be used to represent a commercial web site, which mean that you will be profiting from the site, although most sites have the .com extension for no apparent reason. .CO stands for company or corporation, .Biz stands for business, .org stands for organization, .net stands for network, .me is usually used for personal web sites, and .info is used for informational sites.

These are the main types of domain extensions, and most people tend to choose one of these for no other reason than personal preference. It is important to note that you are not required to have a specific type of web site for any domain extension, which is why so many sites use the wrong type of domain extension. Ultimately, the type of domain extension you use will be left up to your personal preference and needs. If you’re particular about doing things the right way then you may want to consider the following information about purchasing more than one domain name to ensure the safety of your site’s traffic.

Purchasing More Than One Extension

A lot of people decide to purchase more than one domain extension for their site or online business. This allows them to own multiple web sites that have the same branding or recognition. It also keeps competitors from purchasing web sites that are extremely similar to yours, in an attempt to steal some of your popularity and web traffic. For example, if you own a web site entitled “examplesite.org” then it may be wise to purchase the .com version of this domain as well. Fortunately, most domain registrars sell packages of domain names that include several domain extensions for a discount price. For example, it is possible to purchase the .com, .org, .net and .info version of a domain in a single low cost package.

Conclusion

Although it is possible to choose any domain extension you’d like for your web sites, ideally it is more professional to use the proper domain extension. A .com extension used to represent a site that is promoting a non-profit organization would not make much sense, and it would send the wrong message to more knowledgeable visitors.

Related posts:

• July 14, 2009 – What Do You Get with a Cheap Domain Name?
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• February 9, 2009 – Six Important Considerations for Domain Name Registration
• January 22, 2009 – What Makes a Good Domain?
• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• September 5, 2011 – Premium Domain Names: What Are They?
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• December 8, 2010 – Domain Names for Your Small Business

When domain registration began, only one source offered this service, NSI. Despite the monopoly of selling top-level domain names, they remained in place until the late ‘90’s. Around this time there was an influx of domain registration companies that began to directly compete with NSI.

Currently, there are hundreds of domain registrars that are accredited by the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Over the years two types of domain registrars have emerged, domain registrar only services and web hosting providers.

Domain Registrar Only Services

Domain registrar only providers simply offer domain registration without any type of hosting package. There are still several available, but are seen as a dying breed. Clients want convenience so many find it a hassle to register the domain name at one site and find storage at another.

Domain registrar providers are more catered to advanced users. This method is often utilized so domain name registration and maintenance can be separated between storage space and domains. This is helpful for those that are building a large domain network.

Web Hosting Providers

On the other hand, web hosts offer the convenience of domain registration as well as hosting plans and packages in an all inclusive deal. Clients usually need both so this adds the extra ease of use function to their business model. There are many more web hosts than domain registrars.

Also, web host clients can search for available domain names directly from the hosting provider’s website. Once selected, within a day or two the domain name and hosting package are automatically setup; all in a few easy steps.

Redirection of Domains and Servers

Those that have an all inclusive plan may want to create a redirect to separate space from the domain name. This can be manually accomplished by redirecting domains to website content hosted servers. This is offered by web hosting providers so customer service can walk the client along, step-by-step.

Comparison Summary

Generally, domain registrars offer lower prices for each registered name. Also, depending on the need, separating domain name and server space can be beneficial. Those looking for an all inclusive, easy-to-use system should look toward web hosting providers. This will allow them to spend more time on developing content and creating the actual website.

As the internet expands and technology progresses, domain registrars will become a thing of the past. Web hosting providers are making the registration, creation and maintenance so easy that this is the most appealing option to most users. Due to an easy to use interface and excellent customer support, web hosting providers are at the forefront of website development technology.

Related posts:

• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• March 4, 2009 – Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain
• November 26, 2008 – Finding a Domain for Your Business
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• August 30, 2011 – Additional Branding Woes in the Domain Name Game
• August 12, 2011 – ICANN Defends New Domain Name Procedure

Think SEO and User-friendly Domain - In order to be considered search engine-friendly, your domain name must be preferably short and easy to remember.  This way, users can recall it much faster and the probability of generating quality traffic becomes much greater.  In most cases, a long, complicated name will only work against you and hinder your success.

Focus on Keywords - Keywords add to the success of a domain name because they play such a critical role in the SEO process.  When implementing keywords into your URL, search engines like Google will index it faster, thus increasing the possibility of higher click-through rates and most importantly, more exposure.

Be Cautious of Hyphens - Many SEO experts speak strongly against inserting hyphens in a domain name.  This is because they can lead to complications such as users forgetting where the hyphen is to be positioned within the domain.  Because there could be many similar websites that contain domain names without hyphens, you want to be very careful that you do not direct visitors to your competition.

Optimize for Type-in Traffic – Some internet users have a habit of typing keywords directly into their browser bar instead of a search box.  To leverage this type of traffic, you may want to register a domain that contains your targeted domain in its entirety to increase your traffic through this prevalent market.

Choose a Fitting TLD – There are many top level domain to choose from, but you will likely have more success from SEO standpoint by choosing a .com.

Establish Inbound Links – Inbound links are another part of the SEO process. You certainly want to establish quality links that include your domain.  If your site is devoid of such links, the search engines will conclude that it lacks relative content.  Keep in mind that poor links will negatively effective your optimization efforts.  For this reason, you want to avoid link farms and questionable practices employed by questionable SEO firms.

Choose a Good Domain Name Registrar – The key to obtaining an search engine-friendly domain name is to register the name with a respectable registrar.  There are many registrars on the market but not all can be relied upon.  We recommend sticking with known and trusted brands like GoDaddy and Yahoo or opting for one with your web hosting provider.

Registering a search engine-friendly domain will not guarantee you increased traffic or visibility.  Even SEO itself calls for you to promote your site in traditional ways and most importantly, make sure it contains quality content web surfers will be interested in.   Once you come to realize this, we are confident that these tips will go a long way in helping you achieve the visibility and success you desire online.

Related posts:

• September 10, 2011 – Common Advice in Search Engine Optimization
• August 9, 2011 – SEO 101 : Focusing on Backlinks
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• May 8, 2009 – Three Essential Elements of SEO
• September 14, 2011 – The Dummies’ Guide To SEO
• August 6, 2011 – RankCheck.org – free tool to check rank of your website
• April 19, 2011 – How to Tell If a Domain Name Is Valuable
• March 14, 2011 – How Dedicated Host Can Enhance Search Engine Optimization Results
• December 17, 2010 – Search Engine Optimization with No Investment Needed
• November 5, 2010 – Search Engine Optimization – Link Building the Fast Way

Common Back-Ordering Options

There are essentially three ways you can take advantage of back-ordered domains.

1.) You can pay close attention the status of the domain you want and register the name when it goes back on the market.  This is a manual process that requires a lot of patience and plain old luck to be successful.

2.) You can utilize a software application such as the Expired Domain Express program to automate the process for you.  This type of software will automatically monitor the status of the desired domain and also register it as soon as it becomes available.

3.)  The last option you have is to sign up with a back-order service.  This approach calls for you to pay a third-party company to monitor the domain and register it on your behalf as soon as it becomes available.

Essential Factors to Keep in Mind

A large majority of people looking to obtain a domain name through the back-ordering process rely on the third option, which is signing up with a service provider.  The advantage here is that the company usually has more reliable resources available than you have access to yourself, thus increasing your probability of acquiring the domain.  While there are numerous benefits, you should also beware of three important factors before investing in a back-ordering service.

1.) Regardless of what the firm might tell you, no back-ordering service can guarantee the domain name you want.  You may then ask, what happens to the money you paid?  Unless you have inquired within the service provider before signing up, you may not know at all.  The good thing is that most firms allow you to apply those fees to other domain related purchases, but it is still a good idea to find out.

2.) Domain name back-ordering services are infamous for inflating prices.  For example, if two people desire the same domain, the company might set up an auction for them to bid on the name.  Therefore, you want to make sure you know what to expect before entering into an agreement with a service provider.

3.) Lastly, it is worth mentioning that one of the best ways to acquire the domain name you want is to combine a few of the approaches mentioned above.  For instance, you can sign up for a back-ordering service and purchase a software solution while manually monitoring the status of the name yourself.  If you have the budget to work with, this combined approach will help you maximize the possibility of finally landing the domain name you have been after.

Related posts:

• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• February 15, 2011 – Useful Tips for Buying Multiple Domain Names
• March 4, 2009 – Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• February 8, 2011 – Critical Factors for Choosing a Web Host
• October 5, 2010 – 3 Steps to a Successful eCommerce Site
• September 18, 2010 – .CO Domains – Frequently Asked Questions