Aftermarket domain names

The right domain name can show authority in your industry, and promote your business beyond that of any marketing campaign. As a small business or freelancer in the UK, chances are you haven't paid more than a few pounds for your domain name. 

The market for domain names is difficult to get to grips with. Sellers, who may have paid only £5 for a domain name can sell them for thousands. Without putting in any hard work, they've just made a massive profit.

While it might be frustrating to buy a domain name for much more than it's original price, you need to think about it in the right way. Imagine if a competitor bought the name. Would that give them an advantage over you? How much would it affect your business? Think about how much it could be worth to you.

Check the status first

If you've spotted a name you want, check to see who owns it, when they bought it, and when it might expire. Most domain name types are renewed yearly, while co.uk domain names are renewed two-yearly. If the owner doesn't want a name and doesn't see any value in it, they might not renew it, and you can take it on.

To see who owns a name, and the related dates, run a WHOIS search on it. You can do this at Network Solutions, or for UK names, at Nominet. For a quick intro to WHOIS, see the guide on finding out who owns a domain name.

Expiring and dropping domain names

If your WHOIS search shows that the domain name is soon to expire, or has already expired, you may be able to catch the domain name as it drops. This is the moment at which the domain name is deleted from records, and becomes available for brand new registration again.

Several websites offer domain catching services, where you can place a bid for your desired name when it becomes available. These typically cost from £50 upwards, depending how popular the domain name is. Known as dropcatching services, these include Snapnames and NameJet.

Alternatively, you can try to catch it yourself. Good names may be popular, so you might lose out to other buyers. Think about how much the domain name is worth to you, and play it accordingly.

Buying aftermarket domain names

There are several approaches to take if you want to buy a second-hand domain name.

If it's unused, it might be for sale. It is also likely for sale if the domain's website is an advertising page. Sedo is a popular domain name marketplace, where sellers list names that they own. Sometimes these include minimum prices or fixed prices. Sedo also has a safe escrow payment system. Sedo also have a very wide selection of names, so if you're not looking for a specific name you might be able to find inspiration. Go to Sedo (FD: affiliate link).

The domain itself might point towards a sales page, with contact details for the owner. In this case obtaining the domain is easy, but haggle if you're unhappy with the price. Think about the value again, and how much it would benefit a competitor if they got to it before you.

If the domain you want is in use, there is still a slim chance that you acquire it from the owner. If their email address is included in the WHOIS check, let them know that you would be interested in buying it from them. All you need to do at this stage is find out if they might be interested in selling it. Good luck!

Any questions?

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions regarding buying new or aftermarket domain names.

Last updated on 09 July 2010, at 13:42.