Domain names are the key to any business, having a good domain name reflects your brand’s credibility. But there are certain things that you need to consider before buying domain names, if you are someone that hasn’t really bought a domain name and getting started or just looking to build a business, this comprehensive guide covers it all.
Domain Names and its uses :
Domain Names are used for various purposes, here are some of the main uses of domain names.
- Building Website
- Renting Domain Names and Making Money
- Investment – Selling domains to Potential clients
- Parking and Making Money off Domains
- PBNs
1. Building Website
Most people purchase domain names for the sole reason of creating a website / business, some use to make it websites like Ecommerce websites to sell items, some for personal uses and some for creating tech content or any kind of content. There are thousands and thousands of niches users create websites and for that they use domain names.
2. Renting Domain Names
Some domain owners rent their domain names, and make monthly money off the domains
3. Investment
A large portion of domain owners, buy domains or squat domains for the sole reason of selling them back at a profit, kind of like real estate but virtually. If the domain has a good word and combination it goes really well, you can check websites like Namebio.com and DomainNewsWire.com to see domain sales.
4. Parking and Making Money off Parked Domains
If a domain has high traffic, users simply forward it to a parking page and monetize it, this is most common with Anime Torrent Websites and Torrent Websites in General, a well known websites goes down some user will catch it and simply forward it to make money by showing Ads.
5. PBNS
Also known as private blog networks, are used to create a network of websites which will link to the domain name to rank on Google Search.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Domain Name
1. Keep It Short and Simple
- A short domain is easier to remember and type.
- Aim for 6-14 characters when possible.
2. Make It Brandable
- Avoid numbers and hyphens.
- Choose something unique and easy to pronounce.
3. Use Relevant Keywords
- If possible, include keywords related to your business or industry.
- Example: BestCameras.com for a photography business.
- You can also use domains with extensions related to your niche like (Best.Camera)
4. Pick the Right Domain Extension (.TLD)
- .com (Most popular and widely recognized)
- .net, .org (Good alternatives if .com is taken)
- .io, .tech, .store (Industry-specific options)
- Country code TLDs (.us, .uk, .in) (Great for local businesses)
5. Avoid Copyright and Trademark Issues
- Check for existing trademarks to avoid legal issues.
- Use USPTO (uspto.gov) or Trademarkia to verify.
6. Consider Future Scalability
- Choose a domain that allows business expansion.
- Avoid overly specific names that limit future growth.
7. Check Wayback
- Check if a domain that you have selected was spammed on Wayback Machine
- Simply go to Wayback machine and check what the site looked like in the past.
- If the site is clean, then go ahead and register. (Tip : Avoid : Japanese, Chinese sites if found in wayback machine)
Step 2: Checking Domain Availability
1. Use a Domain Registrar
- Dynadot
- Namecheap
- CloudFlare
- Spaceship
2. Check Social Media Availability
- Ensure the same name is available on social platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
3. Use WHOIS Lookup
- Check domain ownership details via whois.domaintools.com.
- If taken, consider contacting the owner to negotiate a purchase.
Step 3: Registering Your Domain Name
1. Select a Reliable Domain Registrar
- Choose an ICANN-accredited registrar.
- Compare pricing, renewal fees, and customer support.
2. Enable Domain Privacy Protection
- Hides your personal information from public WHOIS databases.
- Prevents spam and unsolicited sales inquiries.
3. Register for Multiple Years
- Reduces the risk of accidental expiration.
- Some SEO experts believe longer registrations improve credibility.
4. Secure Common Misspellings
- If possible, register similar variations of your domain to prevent cybersquatting.
5. Set Auto-Renewal
- Prevents losing the domain due to expiration.
Step 4: Buying an Already Owned Domain
1. Check the Domain’s History
- Use Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) to see past content.
- Check SEO metrics with tools like Ahrefs and Moz.
2. Negotiate the Price
- Use marketplaces like Flippa, Sedo, Afternic to buy premium domains.
- Consider using an escrow service for security.
3. Use a Domain Broker
- If the domain is valuable, a professional broker can help negotiate.
4. Transfer the Domain Securely
- Use Escrow.com for safe transactions.
- Ensure the domain is unlocked before transferring.
Step 5: Protecting Your Domain Investment
1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Adds an extra layer of security to your registrar account.
2. Monitor Expiry Dates
- Set reminders to renew your domain on time.
3. Use SSL Certificates
- Secures your website and boosts credibility.
4. Monitor for Trademark Infringements
- Protect your domain from brand dilution.
Purchasing Expired Domains
Why Buy Expired Domains?
- SEO Benefits: Expired domains often have a strong backlink profile, which can boost rankings in search engines.
- Established Authority: Older domains may already have domain authority, saving time in building credibility.
- Traffic Opportunities: Some expired domains still receive traffic from search engines and referrals.
- Branding Potential: A premium expired domain can be repurposed for branding and marketing efforts.
- Resale Value: Some investors purchase expired domains to sell them at a higher price.
How to Find Expired Domains
1. Using Expired Domain Marketplaces
Several platforms specialize in listing expired and expiring domains:
- ExpiredDomains.net – A free platform offering advanced search filters.
- GoDaddy Auctions – A popular domain auction platform.
- NameJet – Specializes in premium expired domains.
- DropCatch – Focuses on high-quality expired domains.
- Flippa – Offers domain auctions and marketplaces for website sales.
2. Using Domain Drop-Catching Services
Drop-catching services help you register an expired domain as soon as it becomes available:
- SnapNames
- DropCatch
- Pheenix
- NameJet
These services use automated bots to register domains immediately after expiration.
3. Checking Domain Expiry Lists
Many sites provide lists of expired and soon-to-expire domains:
- SpamZilla.io – Provides SEO metrics and domain filtering options.
- DomCop – Offers insights into domain authority and backlinks.
- MOZ Domain Explorer – Helps check domain authority and SEO metrics.
4. Searching for Expired Domains Manually
You can manually find expired domains by using WHOIS lookup tools and domain expiration checkers:
- WHOIS Lookup (via ICANN, DomainTools, or GoDaddy WHOIS)
- Wayback Machine (Archive.org) – To check domain history
- Google Search Operators (e.g.,
site:example.comto check if a domain still exists)
5. Scraping Expired Domains from Backlinks
You can extract expired domains linked to high-authority websites using:
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- Majestic SEO
Search for backlinks that point to expired domains and analyze their metrics before purchasing.
Evaluating Expired Domains
Before acquiring an expired domain, it’s crucial to assess its quality. Consider these factors:
1. Check Domain Authority and Trust Flow
- MOZ Domain Authority (DA) – Measures the domain’s SEO strength.
- Majestic Trust Flow (TF) – Evaluates the quality of backlinks.
- Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) – Helps understand domain authority.
2. Analyze Backlink Profile
Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to:
- Identify spammy links.
- Ensure backlinks come from high-quality sources.
- Avoid domains with toxic or penalized links.
3. Check Domain History
- Wayback Machine – Reveals past content and website history.
- Google Index Status – Ensure the domain isn’t deindexed.
- Check for Spam – Avoid domains previously used for malicious activities.
4. Assess Traffic and SEO Metrics
- Google Analytics (if available)
- Ahrefs Traffic Estimates
- SEMrush Organic Traffic Data
5. Verify Domain Blacklisting
Ensure the domain is not blacklisted by Google or flagged for spam. Check:
- Google’s Safe Browsing tool.
- Spamhaus and other spam databases.
- Email blacklist checkers (MXToolBox).
How to Acquire Expired Domains
Once you find an expired domain, you can acquire it through:
- Registering Available Domains: Some domains become available after expiration and can be registered at regular domain registrars (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
- Bidding at Auctions: If the domain is listed in an auction, place competitive bids.
- Using Drop-Catching Services: Use backorder services to catch domains the moment they expire.
- Contacting the Previous Owner: If a domain is in redemption status, you can try negotiating with the original owner.
Best Practices for Using Expired Domains
- Redirecting to an Existing Website
- Use 301 redirects to transfer link equity.
- Ensure relevance to avoid penalties.
- Rebuilding the Website
- Restore old content using the Wayback Machine.
- Update and optimize for SEO.
- Selling for Profit
- Improve domain value by increasing backlinks and authority.
- List on platforms like Flippa or Sedo.
