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When you’re starting anÌýonline business, one ofÌýtheÌýfirst things toÌýdoÌýisÌýbuy aÌýdomain name. ItÌýidentifies your website andÌýhelps customers find you online.

InÌýthis blog post, weÌýwill walk you through how toÌýfind, purchase, andÌýset upÌýtheÌýperfect domain name forÌýyour company.

Why You Need toÌýBuy aÌýDomain Name

First, let’s answer theÌýburning question most beginner online sellers have: what does aÌýdomain mean inÌýbusiness?

AÌýdomain isÌýtheÌýaddress people will use toÌýfind your website, andÌýit’s anÌýimportant part ofÌýyour branding. For example, Google’s domain isÌýgoogle.com.

The suffix that follows theÌýdomain name inÌýaÌýweb address isÌýcalled aÌýtop-level domain (TLD), also referred toÌýasÌýaÌýdomain extension. There are different kinds ofÌýdomain extensions; forÌýexample, .com, .net, andÌý.org are all TLDs. For aÌýbusiness domain, weÌýrecommend aÌý.com domain because itÌýisÌýtheÌýmost popular andÌýmemorable.

Learn more: What aÌýDomain IsÌý&ÌýWhy You Need ItÌýforÌýYour Business

Here’s why you should buy aÌýdomain name forÌýyour business:

• ItÌýhelps customers find you online. Customers type inÌýaÌýdomain name inÌýtheÌýbrowser toÌýfind your website.
• ItÌýmakes your business look more professional. Having aÌýdomain name shows that you’re serious about your business andÌýhelps you build credibility with potential customers.
• It’s anÌýimportant part ofÌýyour branding. Businesses often use their brand name asÌýtheÌýdomain name, which helps with brand recognition.

How toÌýCome UpÌýwith aÌýDomain Name forÌýYour Business

The domain name you choose will beÌýtheÌýaddress ofÌýyour website, soÌýit’s important toÌýchoose one that’s easy toÌýremember andÌýtype.

Here are some tips forÌýcoming upÌýwith aÌýdomain name:

• Keep itÌýshort andÌýsimple. AÌýdomain should beÌýeasy toÌýspell, pronounce, remember andÌýtype
• Use keywords. Keywords can help with your website ranking inÌýtheÌýsearch results
• Avoid using hyphens. Hyphens can make itÌýharder forÌýpeople toÌýfind your website
• Use aÌýfamiliar domain extension, such asÌý.com, .org, .net
• Try out domain name generators ifÌýyou’re not sure what toÌýname your site. For example, Lean Domain Search orÌýDomainWheel

Learn more: 8ÌýBest Practices forÌýChoosing aÌýDomain Name

Where toÌýBuy aÌýDomain Name

ToÌýbuy aÌýdomain name, you can use aÌýdomain registrar. ItÌýisÌýaÌýcompany that manages domain names andÌýmakes them available toÌýtheÌýpublic.

There are many domain registrars toÌýchoose from, such asÌýGoDaddy, Google Domains, Namecheap, Hover, orÌýDreamHost. They all offer different extensions atÌýdifferent domain prices.

Understanding theÌýDomain Buying Process

Once you’ve come upÌýwith aÌýdomain name, it’s time toÌýsee ifÌýit’s available, using aÌýdomain availability checker. Most registrars already have domain availability checkers onÌýtheir websites.

You will run into one ofÌýtheÌýfollowing scenarios:

• The domain name isÌýavailable.
• The domain name isÌýalready registered.
• The domain name has expired.

Let’s see what you can doÌýinÌýeach ofÌýthose cases.

How toÌýBuy aÌýNew Domain

IfÌýyou run theÌýdomain name search onÌýtheÌýregistrar’s website andÌýtheÌýname you came upÌýwith isÌýavailable, theÌýrest isÌýeasy. Add aÌýdomain name toÌýaÌýcart andÌýproceed toÌýtheÌýregistrar’s checkout toÌýbuy it.

Congratulations! You now have aÌýdomain name forÌýyour business.

The Best Way toÌýBuy aÌýDomain forÌýanÌýOnline Store

IfÌýyou need both anÌýonline store andÌýaÌýcustom domain, ºÚÁÏÃÅ byÌýLightspeed isÌýtheÌýperfect option. It’s anÌýecommerce platform that also provides you with aÌýcustom domain forÌýyour online store.

With ºÚÁÏÃÅ, you get aÌýsecure domain with aÌýfree SSL certificate andÌýWHOIS privacy protection. Buying aÌýdomain via ºÚÁÏÃÅ takes minutes, andÌýbest ofÌýall, aÌýdomain isÌýset upÌýautomatically. That means you don’t have toÌýmanually connect your domain toÌýyour online store!

Another perk ofÌýbuying aÌýcustom domain via ºÚÁÏÃÅ isÌýthat it’s cost-efficient. Usually, you have toÌýrenew your domain once aÌýyear, andÌýsome registrars don’t miss theÌýchance toÌýraise aÌýdomain price when theÌýperiod renews. With ºÚÁÏÃÅ, there are noÌýhidden fees orÌýhigh price jumps when renewal comes around.

Learn more about buying aÌýcustom domain via ºÚÁÏÃÅ inÌýthis article:

What toÌýDoÌýIfÌýYour Domain Name IsÌýTaken

So, you run aÌýdomain availability check onÌýtheÌýregistrar’s website, andÌýitÌýturns out theÌýdomain name you want has already been registered byÌýsomeone else. Though disappointing, this doesn’t mean theÌýend ofÌýyour domain dreams.

One way toÌýdeal isÌýtoÌýcome upÌýwith anÌýalternative domain name. Sometimes, you don’t even need toÌýchange theÌýname itselfÌý— just changing theÌýdomain extension can doÌýtheÌýtrick. For example, instead ofÌýawesomecakes.com you can goÌýwith awesomecakes.net.

Most domain registrars doÌýtheÌýwork forÌýyou andÌýshow theÌýavailable alternative domain names ifÌýyour preferred name isÌýalready taken.

IfÌýyou don’t like theÌýsuggested domain alternatives, you can goÌýback toÌýtheÌýdomain generators toÌýcome upÌýwith aÌýnew name. Usually, itÌýdoesn’t take too long toÌýfind aÌýsuitable option forÌýyour business. Then, theÌýrest isÌýpretty straightforwardÌý— add aÌýdomain name ofÌýyour choice toÌýtheÌýcart andÌýproceed toÌýpayment.

InÌýrare cases, you can’t goÌýwith anÌýalternative domain name. For example, ifÌýyou have aÌývery specific brand name that has already gained recognition andÌýyou can’t change itÌýwithout confusing your existing customers.

Luckily, you can still get theÌýdomain ofÌýyour dreams, even ifÌýit’s already taken.

How toÌýBuy anÌýExpired Domain Name

Every domain name isÌýregistered inÌýone-year increments (minimum: one year, maximum: ten years). IfÌýtheÌýowner doesn’t renew theÌýsubscription atÌýtheÌýend ofÌýtheÌýdomain registration period, theÌýdomain becomes “expired.”

Once theÌýdomain owner fails toÌýrenew theÌýsubscription, itÌýgoes through theÌýfollowing stages:

• Expired: Usually lasts between 0ÌýandÌý45Ìýdays. The domain owner can renew theÌýname during this period.
• Redemption Period: The owner can renew forÌýaÌýsteep domain price. Usually lasts 30Ìýdays.
• Pending Delete: Domain goes back toÌýtheÌýregistrar andÌýcannot beÌýrenewed.

Once aÌýdomain exits theÌýpending delete status, itÌýdoesn’t always become free toÌýregister. ItÌýcan beÌýsnapped upÌýbyÌýanÌýexpired domain auction site orÌýaÌýdomain backordering service.

Let’s learn more about this.

Domain Backordering

Some domain registrars offer domain backordering services. That means that ifÌýtheÌýdomain name you want isÌýtaken, you can place anÌýorder andÌýpay forÌýit. AsÌýsoon asÌýtheÌýdomain expires andÌýbecomes available, theÌýregistrar will buy itÌýonÌýyour behalf.

However, there’s noÌýguarantee that you’ll actually get theÌýdomain this way, asÌýthere might beÌýother people interested inÌýbuying it.

When there are several people who backordered aÌýname, itÌýgoes toÌýaÌýdomain auction. Your backorder payment will beÌýused toÌýplace theÌýopening bid. You can continue toÌýbid onÌýtheÌýdomain name until you buy it. IfÌýtheÌýdomain price gets too high, you can move your backorder credit toÌýanother domain name.

Expired Domain Auction Sites andÌýDrop Catching Services

Instead ofÌýoffering backordering services, some registrars just sell off expiring domain names toÌýauction sites. This means that once anyÌýregistered name expires, itÌýisÌýhanded off toÌýtheÌýdomain auction site. Here, others can bid forÌýtheÌýname. Once theÌýdomain isÌýactually deleted, itÌýgoes toÌýtheÌýhighest bidder.

Here are some popular domain auction sites: Namecheap Market, GoDaddy Auctions, Sedo, SnapNames, NameJet.

Most high-value names will likely find plenty ofÌýbidders atÌýanyÌýexpired name auction. However, ifÌýthere are noÌýbidders forÌýtheÌýname, itÌýisÌýreleased toÌýtheÌýgeneral pool. The moment when aÌýdomain name gets back onÌýtheÌýmarket isÌýcalled theÌý“drop.”

This isÌýwhere things get interesting: once theÌýdomain isÌýreleased byÌýtheÌýregistrar, there isÌýaÌývirtual “free forÌýall” toÌýregister it. You can try registering itÌýyourself, but ifÌýyou are not able toÌýdoÌýthat, you can use aÌýdomain drop catching service.

AÌýdrop catching service isÌýessentially aÌýdomain registrar that will register aÌýdomain name once registration has lapsed, immediately after expiration.

You are usually charged aÌýfee byÌýaÌýdrop catching service. InÌýmost cases, theÌýfee isÌýonly payable ifÌýtheÌýregistrar actually manages toÌýregister theÌýname forÌýyou.

Some domain drop catching services are DropCatch, Dynadot, Nidoma, andÌýPool.

Steps toÌýBuy anÌýExpired Domain

The best way toÌýget aÌýdomain isÌýtoÌýplace aÌýbackorder forÌýitÌýonÌýtheÌýdomain registrar orÌýtheir auction partner. ToÌýdoÌýthat, follow these steps:

1. Figure out theÌýdomain’s registrar byÌýusing theÌýWhois tool. Type inÌýtheÌýdomain andÌýcheck its registrar name.
2. GoÌýtoÌýtheÌýregistrar’s website andÌýsearch forÌýtheÌýdesired site name. Depending onÌýtheÌýregistrar, they will either offer toÌýbackorder aÌýdomain themselves orÌýdirect you toÌýtheir auction partner.
3. Place aÌýbackorder andÌýcomplete theÌýcheckout process.

ToÌýincrease your chances ofÌýcatching theÌýname, you can place aÌýbackorder onÌýseveral drop catching services.

Once theÌýdomain expires, one ofÌýtheÌýfollowing things might happen:

• Case 1:ÌýThe domain name has multiple backorders. InÌýthis case, theÌýname goes toÌýaÌýdomain auction andÌýisÌýregistered toÌýtheÌýhighest bidder.
• Case 2:ÌýThe domain name isÌýcaught byÌýtheÌýauction partner andÌýhas noÌýbidders. IfÌýyou have aÌýbackorder onÌýtheÌýdomain auction site, you’ll get itÌýstraight away. Otherwise, itÌýisÌýcaught byÌýaÌýdrop-catching service.

You can place aÌýbackorder onÌýasÌýmany services asÌýpossible. Since theÌýfee isÌýonly payable ifÌýtheÌýname isÌýsuccessfully caught, you don’t stand toÌýlose money onÌýduplicate orders.

How toÌýBuy anÌýExisting Domain Name

InÌýsome cases, theÌýdomain name you want has already been registered byÌýsomeone else.

Luckily, some domain registrars can help you get inÌýtouch with theÌýowner andÌýmake anÌýoffer forÌýtheÌýdesired domain. For example, NameCheap allows you toÌýmake anÌýoffer, andÌýtheir partner, DomainAgents, helps you reach theÌýowner andÌýsecure theÌýdomain.

IfÌýyour registrars don’t provide such services orÌýyou prefer theÌýDIY approach, you can find theÌýdomain owner yourself andÌýreach out toÌýthem.

Depending onÌýtheÌýdomain andÌýits owner, you may have aÌýchance toÌýbuy itÌýforÌýcheap. The steps shown below are used byÌýactual full-time domain traders toÌýget bargains onÌýdomain names.

Find Out ifÌýtheÌýDomain IsÌýCurrently Being Used

Your first step should beÌýtoÌýtype inÌýtheÌýdomain name inÌýyour browser andÌýsee theÌýresults. One ofÌýtheÌýfollowing four things will happen when you doÌýthis:

A.ÌýYou see aÌýblank page

InÌýsome cases, theÌýdomain simply resolves toÌýaÌýblank page orÌýthrows upÌýanÌýerror message:

​â¶Ä‹

This isÌýusually aÌýgood sign. ItÌýmeans that theÌýcurrent owner isÌýnot utilizing theÌýname. IfÌýyou make them theÌýright offer, you might beÌýable toÌýbuy it.

B.ÌýYou see anÌýexisting website

InÌýmany cases, theÌýdomain name will resolve toÌýanÌýexisting website.

This may orÌýmay not beÌýaÌýgood sign, depending onÌýtheÌýsite itself:

• Case 1:ÌýThe site isÌýheavily updated andÌýsupports anÌýactual business.
• Case 2:ÌýThe site hasn’t been updated inÌýaÌýwhile andÌýhouses aÌýcasual blog/info site.

InÌýcase 1,Ìýyour chances ofÌýbuying theÌýname are virtually zero. Few businesses will let goÌýofÌýtheir domain nameÌý— andÌýifÌýthey do, itÌýwon’t beÌýforÌýcheap.

InÌýcase 2,Ìýyou might beÌýable toÌýbuy theÌýdomain name ifÌýtheÌýowner isÌýwilling toÌýsell it.

C.ÌýYou see aÌýparked page

More often than not, you will land onÌýaÌý“parked” page. These are simple landing pages filled with ads andÌýminimal content. Domain owners use them toÌýmake money off people directly typing theÌýname into theÌýbrowser.

It’s easy toÌýspot aÌýparked page. ItÌýwill usually have nothing but ads, along with aÌýlink toÌý“inquire” about theÌýdomain.

AÌýparked page isÌýgenerally aÌýgood sign. ItÌýusually means that theÌýdomain owner wants toÌýmake money off theÌýname andÌýwill beÌýmotivated toÌýsellÌý— atÌýtheÌýright price.

D.ÌýYou see aÌýbrokerage page
Sometimes, typing theÌýname into theÌýbrowser will take you toÌýaÌýdomain brokerage landing page.

You can spot such pages thanks toÌýtheÌýinquiry form onÌýtheÌýpage andÌýtheÌýbrokerage company’s name. Some domain brokerage companies are GoDaddy Domain Broker, MediaOptions, andÌýDomain Holdings.

Landing onÌýaÌýbrokerage page isÌýnot aÌývery encouraging sign. ItÌýtypically means that you are dealing with very motivated sellers who know theÌýdomain market inside-out. This significantly reduces your chance ofÌýgetting theÌýname forÌýcheap.

Once you know what theÌýdomain isÌýbeing used for, it’s time toÌýlook upÌýtheÌýowner.

Find Out Who Owns theÌýDomain Name

The next step isÌýtoÌýfind theÌýdomain’s owner. Not only should you know who owns theÌýdomain, but also how many domains they own. This will impact theÌýprice you pay forÌýtheÌýname.

Start byÌýsearching forÌýyour domain name onÌýtheÌýWhois website. You’ll see theÌýdomain profile, where you’ll beÌýable toÌýfind theÌýdomain registrant.

You’ll also see theÌýnumber ofÌýdomain names associated with theÌýregistrant’s email. The amount ofÌýdomain names owned byÌýaÌýregistrant isÌývery important toÌýknow inÌýtheÌýdomain buying process:

• IfÌýtheÌýtotal number ofÌýnames registered against anÌýemail isÌývery high (say, over 300), itÌýmeans that theÌýregistrant isÌýaÌýprofessional domain trader, developer orÌýlarge business. This makes itÌýharder toÌýget aÌýgood bargain.
• IfÌýtheÌýtotal number ofÌýregistered names isÌýlow (under 50), itÌýmay indicate anÌýamateur owner who may not beÌýaware ofÌýmarket domain prices. InÌýthis case, you may beÌýable toÌýget aÌýgood deal.

InÌýmany cases, you’ll find that theÌýregistrant has millions ofÌýemails associated with its name. This usually happens when theÌýdomain owner has opted forÌýWhois privacy. This hides theÌýowner’s contact details.

Common Whois privacy services are Domains ByÌýProxy, WhoisGuard, etc. IfÌýtheÌýowner has opted forÌýWhois privacy, itÌýmight beÌýdifficult toÌýget inÌýtouch with them via email. Keep this inÌýmind when you proceed toÌýtheÌýnext step.

Make anÌýOffer forÌýtheÌýDomain

IfÌýtheÌýdomain isÌýnot owned byÌýaÌýlarge company, doesn’t house anÌýexisting business, andÌýisn’t blocked byÌýWhois privacy, you have aÌýgood chance ofÌýbuying theÌýname. Now, let’s goÌýover how toÌýbuy aÌýdomain name from someone else. ToÌýdoÌýso, follow these steps:

1.ÌýStudy domain prices before making anÌýinitial offer.
Before you make anÌýoffer, itÌýisÌýaÌýgood idea toÌýstudy recent domain sales soÌýyou get anÌýidea ofÌýcurrent market values. For example, check out Sedo’s Domain Market Trends orÌýNameBio domain sales database.

Generally speaking, domain prices follow these trends:

• Domain names using popular words with aÌý.com TLD goÌýforÌýthousands ofÌýdollars.
• Shorter domains are more valuable than longer names.
• All 3Ìýletter names (such asÌýABC.com) goÌýforÌýupwards ofÌý$10,000.
• .net TLDs goÌýforÌý1/10th toÌý1/20th ofÌý.com prices.

Once you have aÌýballpark figure, proceed toÌýtheÌýstep below.

2.ÌýSend aÌýpurchase offer via email.
You want toÌýsend theÌýdomain owner anÌýemail that isÌýboth polite andÌýassertive when attempting toÌýbuy aÌýname. Use aÌýtemplate like this:

Subject: [DomainName.com]
HiÌý[Registrant Name],
I’m aÌýdeveloper interested inÌýacquiring your domain name [DomainName].
IÌýcan offer you $200ÌýforÌýit.
Regards
[Your name]

This email accomplishes three things:

• The subject line will likely miss theÌýowner’s spam filterÌý— andÌýstand out inÌýtheÌýinbox.
• It’s short andÌýtoÌýtheÌýpoint.
• AnÌýinitial offer shows that you are willing toÌýpay forÌýtheÌýname.

WeÌýsuggest starting with aÌýlow offer (around $100ÌýtoÌý$500, orÌýmore ifÌýit’s aÌýhigh-value name). IfÌýyou don’t hear back, try toÌýincrease itÌýbyÌýanother couple ofÌýhundred dollars orÌýwith what your budget allows.

ToÌýquickly recap:

• Buy: Unused orÌýparked domains owned byÌýnon-professional domain owners.
• Avoid: Existing websites/businesses owned byÌýdomain brokerage firms, professional domain owners, andÌýlarge businesses.

ToÌýSum Up

Buying aÌýdomain name forÌýyour business isÌýeasy when it’s not already usedÌý— all you need isÌýtoÌýcome upÌýwith aÌýdomain name andÌýpurchase itÌýonÌýtheÌýregistrar’s website.

IfÌýyour domain name ofÌýchoice isÌýtaken, that’s not aÌýproblem either. The simplest solution isÌýtoÌýchoose anÌýalternative domain name byÌýcoming upÌýwith aÌýnew one, using domain name generators, orÌýjust using aÌýdifferent extension. Most domain registrars will help you out byÌýoffering available alternatives.

IfÌýanÌýalternative domain won’t work forÌýyour business, you can always backorder theÌýdomain right onÌýtheÌýregistrar’s website. InÌýrare cases, you might need toÌýturn toÌýdrop catching services orÌýdomain auctions toÌýbuy expired domains.

IfÌýall else fails, you can try contacting theÌýdomain owner directly andÌýasking ifÌýthey’re willing toÌýsell it.

AsÌýyou can see, there are many options available. You’re sure toÌýfind aÌýdomain name that will work forÌýyour business. And once you have that, you’re one step closer toÌýstarting aÌýnew ecommerce store!

Ìý

• What aÌýDomain IsÌý&ÌýWhy You Need ItÌýforÌýYour Business
• How toÌýBuy theÌýPerfect Domain Name forÌýYour Store
• 8ÌýBest Practices forÌýChoosing aÌýDomain Name
• The Easiest Way toÌýBuy aÌýDomain