FAQ – Domain Names & Domain Brokers

Popular Articles

• Why Would I Spend Six Figures On A Domain?
• What Is Cybersquatting? What Can I Do About It?
• What Do I Do If My Domain Name Is Already Taken?
• How Many Domains Should I Buy?
• What Does A Domain Broker Do?
• What Makes An Exact-Match Domain Name So Expensive? Are They Worth The Price Tag?
• Should I Use A Domain Broker?
• How Much Should I Spend On A Domain?
• How Much Does A Domain Name Cost?
• How Much Is My Domain Name Worth?

Domain Brokers

What does a domain broker do?

Domain brokers offer a range of services that pertain to domain names. They can assist their clients with domain name valuation, buying or selling a domain, or managing a portfolio of domains. Some domain brokers also offer legal services to their clients.

The VPN.com team of brokers is capable to meet the needs of nearly any client, from small businesses to enterprise corporations and career investors. Additionally, our in house legal team are comprised of the industry’s top IP and trademark experts.

Learn more about what a domain broker does in this article.

Should I use a domain broker?

Yes. The advantages of using domain broker generally outweigh any financial costs or perceived disadvantages. The only costs of using most reputable brokers is a modest commission fee that’s only charged once the domain transaction is completed successfully. Typically the financial gain/savings exceeds any commission paid.

You can read more about whether or not you should use a domain broker here.

Is a domain broker worth it?

Whether you’re buying or selling, working with a domain broker is usually worth it. There are rare situations where you may have ample market knowledge and the skills to negotiate a deal on your own, but the average individual will benefit from a broker for any domain that requires negotiating. Similar to a real estate agent negotiating the sale or purchase of a home, a domain broker can often get you a much better deal than you could have on your own.

Who is the best domain broker?

The best broker for you will have extensive knowledge of your market, a widespread network of buyers and sellers, and an aptitude for swift negotiation. These are a few of the best domain brokers to consider:

• GoDaddy is the best broker for inexpensive, readily available domain names.
• VPN.com is the best broker for premium, six to eight figure domain names.
• Buckley Media is the best broker for new businesses in assistance of brand building.

How does GoDaddy’s domain broker service work?

The GoDaddy domain broker service works by attempting to buy a domain name on your behalf. This starts from the initial process of finding the domain name and evaluating its price, and concludes with negotiations and a successful sale. However, the GoDaddy domain broker service includes a hefty up-front fee and many people have complained that the process lacks transparency. When it comes to domain brokers, a dedicated brokerage such as VPN.com will often produce better results

How much do domain brokers charge?

Domain brokers work like brokerages in other industries, which means that they generally don’t charge a flat rate. Rather, domain brokers utilize commission-based pricing schemes. This might be a larger commission fee, or a smaller commission fee on top of a flat rate. The style of pricing as well as the exact amount will vary based on the broker you’re working with and the value of the domain you’re after. Before working with a domain broker, ask questions about their pricing and insist on transparency.

What is a domain broker service?

A domain broker service is akin to a real estate brokerage in that it works to facilitate the purchase and sale of domain names. The core of a domain broker service’s value proposition is industry-specific knowledge and skills. By offering this expertise to people who are interested in domain names, the brokerage finds buy/sell opportunities that the average person can’t. Then, it secures these opportunities at a more favorable price, profiting off of commission fees in the process.

How does a domain broker work?

A domain broker works by using experience, industry knowledge, and other relevant skills to offer high-quality domain name services. They bring value to every step of the process of buying or selling a domain name, from the initial valuation to buying/selling strategy and negotiations. In exchange for offering clients the expertise that only time produces, they profit by charging a modest commission.

How do I find a domain broker?

Experienced domain brokers can be found by doing a Google search. Look for domain brokers who specialize in buying or selling domain names similar to names you want to acquire. Never hire a domain broker without investigating the broker’s history and reputation.

 Should I use a domain broker for an unregistered domain?

Although you can search for unregistered domains on registrar websites and purchase them, you may pay a higher price for an unregistered domain than you would using a domain broker. Of course, the price you pay for buying domains on registrar websites depends on the value of the domain.

How much commission should I expect to pay a domain broker?

Most professional domain brokers charge between 15% and 25% for selling or buying domain names. Be aware, however, that domain brokers are primarily interested in procuring/selling domain names worth at least $10,000.

How can I recognize a domain broker scam?

Be wary of receiving “cold call” emails containing misspellings and odd word usage. A domain scammer will offer to buy or sell your domain name cheaply (5%) or pay you with Bitcoins or by a wire transfer.

How do I buy a domain through a broker?

Simply contact a reputable domain broker company or individual domain broker and inform them you wish to purchase a domain. They will then ask you what kind of domain name you need and provide estimates for the cost of buying a specific domain name.

How do I sell a domain through a broker?

Simply contact a reputable domain broker to start the process of selling your domain. They will then ask you what kind of domain name you own and provide estimates for the value of your domain name.

When should I use a domain broker?

Domain brokers save you time, money, and aggravation by procuring the exact kind of domain name you want. They can also get you the best price for a domain name you are selling. If you have a domain name you want to sell that you know is worth $10,000 or more, you should use a domain broker.

What are the pros/cons of buying a domain through a broker?

Domain brokers can get you a good deal on expensive domain names and do all the work of searching for and finding appropriate names. Disadvantages of using domain brokers to purchase domain names include charging commission for sending emails to client lists on your behalf and giving brokers exclusivity to buying a domain for you.

What are the pros/cons of buying a domain without a broker?

Domain brokers spend many hours negotiating with sellers and buyers, sending emails and calling domain name buyers/sellers. The biggest disadvantage of not using a domain broker to purchase domains on your behalf is the amount of time you would spend to find and purchase domains independently. The primary “pro” of not using a broker bypassing paying the commission.

Is it cheaper to buy a domain through a broker?

In some cases, it may be. How much you pay for a domain depends on its value and the commission rate charged by a domain broker. However, beware of domain broker scammers who claim to charge less than 15% commission on domains worth under $10,000.

Will I make more money if I sell my domain through a broker?

When you hire a professional domain broker, you are hiring someone who knows how to market a domain to get the best possible deal. Unless you have the expertise and time to sell your domain, it’s likely you will receive less for the domain than you would using a broker.

Can a broker help me find out who owns a domain?

Yes. Domain brokers have access to tools that can find out the history of a domain name. Knowing background facts about a particular domain name may help you make improved decisions about creating domain names for your company’s web-based properties.

Can I become a domain broker?

Yes, anyone can become a domain broker. Consider taking free online courses about working as a domain broker before establishing your own website or seeking employment with a domain broker company. Keep in mind that the learning curve leading towards becoming a successful domain broker is steep and takes time.

Premium Domain Names

What is a premium domain?

Premium domain names are short, brandable, and typically have a .com extension. Similar to a storefront on a crowded thoroughfare, premium domains allow businesses to get their website in front of as many Internet users as possible. Examples of premium domains are cars.com, hotels.com, insurance.com, and the domain this website is hosted on, VPN.com.

It’s important to note that premium domains are priced to reflect the value they bring to a website, and as a result are the most expensive domains available.

Learn more about what a premium domain is in this article.

How do you know if a domain is premium?

The best way to know if a domain is premium is by asking a domain name expert, such as a member of the VPN.com team. Assessing the value of a domain name requires a combination of experience-based skills that are hard for someone outside the industry to emulate. However, you can generally trust that a domain is premium if it has a .com extension and a very concise, memorable, brand-worthy name.

How do I sell a premium domain name?

There are many ways that you can sell a premium domain name. If your information is available to the public on the WHOIS registries, you might be able to simply wait until a customer searches you out on their own.

However, you’ll have greater success selling if you’re more proactive. Many domain name websites offer marketplaces where you can list your domain names for sale, and it’s possible to sell by auction as well. Consulting a domain brokerage can help you find the best way forward and increase your chances of making a successful sale at a fair price.

If you’re interested in selling your premium domain, fill out this form to get in touch with one of VPN.com’s world-class brokers.

Should you buy a premium domain?

If your budget allows, you should almost always buy a premium domain for your website. Premium domains are memorable, convey a sense of trustworthiness, and will help you gain more traffic and reach a wider audience. While there are exceptions, premium domains are almost always the best choice for a website.

How much should I pay for a premium domain name?

It can be very difficult to determine who much you should pay for a premium domain name. We typically define a premium domain as one valued at more than $10,000, but many domains sell for six or even eight figures. In fact, VPN.com was a million-dollar domain when it was purchased in 2018.

To get a premium domain for the best value, it’s recommended to use a reliable, experienced broker. They will make sure you don’t pay over market value and will handle the negotiations on your behalf.

Why are premium domains so expensive?

Premium domains are expensive for the simple reason that they work. “Premium domain” is not a formal designation, but the informal recognition that a domain name has the qualities that will help a website succeed. There are many evidence-based ways that a premium domain name makes a difference, such as the memorability and trustworthiness value of the .com top-level domain. Additionally, premium domains are catchy, concise, and highly brandable in a way that will make them an asset to your company.

Premium domains derive their value from the price that webmasters around the world are willing to pay for them.

Why are .com domains so expensive?

The reason that .com domains are so expensive is that they’re proven to get better results than all other domain suffixes. Widespread use has made them the most familiar top-level domain around the world, which makes .com domains more memorable and reliable.

People often misremember domain names while looking for a website they heard about or saw advertised, and using a non-.com domain increases this likelihood. Furthermore, the higher price of .com domain names drives away the scammers who pollute cheaper domains, such as .biz. While alternative top-level domains can be great choices in specific cases, .com is most worthwhile extension for the majority of websites.

Who owns premium domain names?

Only ICANN, the international body that governs domain names, actually owns domain names. Companies such as BlueHost and GoDaddy offer domain names to the public as middlemen, but they don’t own the domains; they simply act as registrars that manage the commercial side of the domain name system.

When you lease a domain name, you don’t own it; rather, you possess the right to use it as long as you operate it in good faith and make your annual payments. As for leasing, though, many people from all walks of life own premium domain names, from webmasters to investors.

How do I find my premium domain name?

The first step to finding your premium domain name is choosing a registrar and seeing if they offer it. If no one has claimed your domain name, then you can buy the right to use the domain name. However, premium domain names are a highly competitive field and investors hold many of them. When someone already owns your premium domain name, you’ll need to find them on your own.

First, you should check the WHOIS database. It contains information such as name and email address, and with luck you’ll find the owner. Otherwise, try going to the domain you want to buy and see if there are any instructions on buying it. If you still can’t find the owner, then reach out to a domain brokerage for more help. Domain brokers such as VPN.com have the connections to find aftermarket domain names that evade those who aren’t industry specialists.

What is the highest price I can sell my premium domain name for?

It has been reported that the domain name “Cars.com” was purchased for nearly $900 million in 2017. Demands for certain premium domains naturally ebb and flow. If you have a premium domain name you want to sell but offers are not up to your expectations, try waiting to see if the demand for your domain rises in the near future.

How long does it take to sell a premium domain name?

Trends and fads often dictate how fast you can sell a premium domain name. Also, having a domain broker sell your premium domain may give you a quicker turnaround time since brokers have immediate access to interested domain buyers.

How much does it cost to buy a premium domain name?

Premium domain names can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on their history, traffic statistics, keywords, and other factors. Also, premium domain names containing phrases or words that pay-per-click advertisers compete for or words that can be incorporated into brand names will cost much more than non-premium domain names.

What is the best way to buy a premium domain name?

Hiring a domain broker is the best and safest way to buy a premium domain name. Brokers ensure you don’t pay any more than necessary for premium domains and also perform thorough background checks on the domain’s historical reputation.

How do I buy a premium domain name?

Searching domain selling services or hiring a domain broker are the two best ways to purchase a premium domain. Making “cold call” inquiries to domain owners is another way but can be time-consuming and expensive.

How much does a one word premium domain name cost?

Domain names consisting of one word are the most expensive domains to purchase. One word domain names are highly desirable because of their brandability and ease of recall. Consequently, expect to pay hundreds of thousands – if not millions – for a one word domain name.

How do I buy a premium domain name that is already owned by someone?

You can offer to buy the domain name from the owner and hope they accept the offer or search for another name similar to the one you want. A premium domain name broker can help you find the kind of premium domain name you want quicker than searching for one yourself.

How are premium domain names valued?

Short domains (one or two words), domains consisting of easily spelled/understandable words, domains containing meaningful keywords, and domains with a positive and reputable history will increase the value of a domain name. For example, the domain “footballbasketballbaseballchiropractor.com” won’t sell for as much as a domain called “sportschiropractor.com”.

What is the difference between a premium domain and a normal domain?

The primary difference is their worth. Standard domains may not have much of a history, attract minimal traffic, or contain problematic words. Premium domains are just the opposite – valuable, search engine optimized, and reputable.

When I buy a premium domain name, is it permanent?

To permanently own a premium domain name after purchasing it, you must re-register the website every few years to continue owning it. Failing to re-register the domain means someone else can legally buy the domain. In addition, once a premium domain name is established, it cannot be changed. If you want to make minor changes to a domain name, you will have to register and buy it as a separate domain.

When is a good time to buy a premium domain name?

Any time is a good time to purchase a premium domain name whether you are an entrepreneur or existing business owner. Premium domains add SEO advantages, instant credibility, and authority to your business and provide exact or close keyword matches for your services or products.

Should I use a broker to buy or sell a premium domain name?

Premium domain brokers can save you a lot of time and money if you know little about buying and selling domains. In addition, working with a professional domain broker means you do not have to worry about being scammed out of thousands of dollars by an unscrupulous seller.

How do I buy an expired premium domain name?

Expired premium domain names are routinely auctioned off on domain name registrar websites. When nobody bids on domain names being auctioned, these names can then be purchased by whoever wants to buy them. In most cases, expired premium domain names are bought during an auction.

Can I buy a .org premium domain name?

Premium domain names ending in .org typically belong to recognized or non-profit global organizations such as www.un.org (the United Nations website) or www.redcross.org. Most .org websites belong to cultural, religious, educational, charity, and medical websites that are long-established and highly trusted. However, anyone can buy a .org premium domain name that has expired or is for sale. You do not have to be affiliated with an organization.

Can I buy a .edu premium domain name?

Domain names ending in .edu are always associated with an educational institution, whether it is a college, university, community college, public school, or vocational school. To obtain an .edu premium domain, you must prove your educational institution has been accredited by a legitimate accrediting agency. Registries containing .edu premium domain names will not accept your purchase unless you have fulfilled specific requirements.

How do I find the best deal for a premium domain name?

Taking time to research the type of premium domain names you want to buy is one way to get the best deal available. An easier, less time-consuming method is to simply hire a premium domain broker who has immediate access to thousands of domain names and to the individuals or entities who own them.

Domain Names

What is the best place to get a domain name?

The best place to get a domain name is from a reputable, trustworthy registrar (a business that sells the lease rights to domain names). If this is an option, then you’ll be able to get your domain name and a variety of value-added features for a very low cost. However, this isn’t an option if someone already has the lease rights to the domain name that you’re looking for. In this case, you’ll need to go hunting for the current owner or hire a domain broker to find the domain name for you.

How do I find the value of my domain?

One of the quirks of the domain name industry is the fact that there’s no final authority on the value of domain names. As a result, there’s no singular place you can go to that will tell you the permanent, unchanging value of your domain.

However, experienced brokers can valuate your domain name based on current market factors, the domain’s intrinsic value, the state of your website, and more. Remember that while broker’s valuation is typically reliable, it doesn’t signify the exact amount a domain will be bought or sold for. For instance, a house valued at $200,000 will often sell for more or less after negotiations between the buying and selling parties. The same is true of domain names.

The purpose of a valuation is to give you an idea of the current market value of a domain. If you’re interested in finding out how much a domain is worth, reach out to one of our VPN.com brokers for a free domain appraisal.

How much should a domain name cost?

Depending on factors like how short and versatile a domain name is, it’s possible to justify an extremely broad range of costs. VPN.com, for instance, is a million-dollar domain name on account of the quality of the acronym and how memorable it is. Not only is it easy to remember, but it also has incredible generic value thanks to the overlap with the VPN (virtual private network) industry.

That said, our domain name isn’t even the most valuable one that exists. Many domain names have sold for much more, such as when Facebook purchased fb.com for more than eight million dollars. On the other hand, most premium domain names have a much more modest value in the thousands or tens of thousands. Not to mention that subpremium domain names tend to have little value, and most domain names in general aren’t worth the annual renewal fee.

How much is too much for a domain?

Domain names have a remarkably wide valuation range, with most being effectively worthless and some commanding million-dollar price tags. In general, there is no such thing as a price ceiling that a domain name cannot potentially justify crossing. When it comes to deciding whether a domain name’s price is too much, you need to evaluate what it means to you and to the success of your website. While it’s essential that you keep a maximum price in mind when shopping for a domain name, you’ll need to set this price on a case-by-case basis. A domain brokerage can help in this function, thanks to their professional domain valuation services.

What is the most expensive website?

The answer to the question of “what’s the most expensive website” varies by interpretation; the most expensive website deal in history was VacationRentals, which sold for $35 million in 2007. However, Gannet Co. Inc reported the value of their website, cars.com at $872 million for tax purposes. Likewise, the most valuable domain name ever sold was privatejet.com, which sold for more than $30 million in 2012.

How do I see who owns a domain?

In general, it’s easy to see who owns a domain name by using a WHOIS registry. All domain name registrars upload the key identifying information of a person in these registries, including their contact information. The WHOIS registry is a valuable resource if you’re trying to buy a domain name that someone already owns.

However, some domain name owners will opt to pay to hide their information from the public. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t want to be contacted, but it does make finding the domain owner more complicated. If you can’t find the owner of a domain you’re interested in, reaching out to a broker is typically your best option.

How do I get a domain name?

The way you get a domain name depends on the current status of a domain. If no one possesses the lease rights to it, it’s as simple as paying a registrar for the right to lease the domain name. If someone is already leasing the domain name, it’s much more complicated. You’ll need to purchase the leasing rights to the domain name from the current holder. Finding the holder, determining their attachment to the domain, assessing its value, and negotiating with them can be a difficult, expensive, and time-consuming process. For the best results, you should almost always reach out to domain experts such as the brokerage team at VPN.com.

How do I buy a domain name that is taken?

Buying a domain name that someone has already taken might be simple, or it might be impossible. If the current registrant is using the domain name and has no interest in selling, you’re out of options. Otherwise, you can use the Whois registry or explore the major domain sale websites in an attempt to contact the current owner. The surest way to buy a domain that’s taken is to reach out to a domain brokerage with the connections and industry knowledge to contact and negotiate with the domain owner.

What if a domain name is taken but not used?

If a domain name is taken but no one is using it, that means that the current holder is parking the domain. Typically, there are two reasons for someone to park a domain. First, because they intend to use it for a website, but haven’t started yet. Second, because they’re only holding onto the domain name as an investment and intend to resell it for a profit.

In either case, you have good chances of being able to buy it at a fair price. That said, the buying process can be quite complex and it’s almost always advisable to hire a domain broker to buy it for you. They’ll be able to find the owner, create a buying strategy, and negotiate from an advantageous position thanks to anonymity and years of industry experience.

Find out more about what to do if a domain name you’re interested in is taken in this article.

Does GoDaddy own my domain name?

While you might lease your domain name through GoDaddy, they don’t actually own the domain name. However, you don’t own your domain name either. As the registrant, you own the right to use your domain name for the duration of your lease. GoDaddy is one of many organizations called registrars, which manage domains from a commercial perspective. These registrars handle marketing, relations with the public, and added-value services such as web hosting, but they do not own your domain name. Rather, ICANN and a worldwide network of registries own and maintain all domain names.

Who owns a domain?

When someone reaches out to a registrar such as GoDaddy to purchase a domain name, they don’t actually become the owner of that domain. Rather, they become the registrant – the person who holds the lease for use of the domain name. Technically, no individual can permanently own a domain name, and the ownership of all domain names goes back to the domain name registries and ICANN. This registry-registrar-registrant relationship is the foundation of the domain name ecosystem.

How do I sell a domain name?

The process of selling a domain name starts with an interested person contacting you and making an offer. They might do this by finding you through the WHOIS registry or through listings you’ve made on marketplace websites. Interest in domain names is higher than ever, and websites that operate with domain names typically offer marketplaces where you can list your domain name for sale.

After initial contact, you and the prospective buyer will typically enter a period of negotiations over the price. If you come to agreement, the final step is to find an escrow service that will guarantee the transaction.

For a hands off selling experience, you can use the service of a domain broker for promotion, negotiations, and escrow services.

How fast do domains sell?

The speed at which a domain name sells is hard to predict as it relies on market interest, the difficulty of the negotiation, and other factors. A domain name might sell in a few weeks, several months, or longer. It depends on the ability of your broker to find suitable buyers and how willing you are to wait on the right deal.

For reference, at VPN.com we are confident we can sell most domains in less than 90 days.

How can I sell my domain fast?

When you’re selling a domain name, the most important thing to be is patient. Waiting for the right buyer might take months, years, or decades, but the annual upkeep cost is low and ROI can be astronomical. However, it is possible to sell a domain name fast through premium pricing and auction-style selling. In this case, you’re not targeting the ideal customer who wants to use your domain name for themselves. Rather, you want to sell to an investor who collects domain names with the intent of flipping them at a high profit later. By running an online auction for your domain name, you can identify the price the market will bear right now and sell faster.

Where can I buy the cheapest domain?

Many registrars offer extraordinarily cheap domains that use unpopular top-level domains, such as .biz. Additionally, registrars such as GoDaddy frequently advertise promotions such as domains for 99 cents a year. NameCheap is another registrar that has readily available, inexpensive domains for sale.

Does a domain name expire?

Domain names do not expire in the sense that they cease to exist or become inaccessible. However, your right to use a domain name is always based on a temporary lease rather than permanent ownership. Once your current period expires, you need to pay to extend your lease or else you’ll lose the domain.

While some registrars offer extremely long leasing periods such as a decade or even a century, this isn’t actually how it works. Rather, you still have one-year leasing periods, but the registrar automatically pays the lease for you. If you take out an extended lease with a registrar and that registrar goes defunct, you’ll lose all but the current year’s leasing periods.

Find out more about how to register a domain for as long as possible in this article.

How do you negotiate a domain?

Succeeding in your domain name negotiations starts long before the actual negotiations begin. You need to go into the negotiations from a position of knowledge, with an accurate evaluation of the domain name’s price. Then, you need to be prepared for what the client is likely to ask for and consider whether they might try to upsell you. Finally, it’s necessary to have a maximum price threshold which you’re willing to reach but will not cross.

Once you have this strategy worked out, domain name negotiation isn’t fundamentally different from other types of negotiation. However, it can be difficult to negotiate if you’re not familiar with domain names and can’t defend what you believe the correct value is. This is why it’s almost always a smart move to outsource your domain negotiations to a domain broker.

Is domain flipping hard?

Domain flipping can be easy if you already have a valuable domain that people want, but it’s often difficult. This is because it can take a long time for the right buyer to find you. Even then, it’s necessary to agree to a price during negotiations. Flipping a single domain is essentially a matter of patience, but making a living by investing in domain names is highly difficult. If you have a few domain names you’re interested in selling, the easiest and best way to do so is generally to work with a premium domain brokerage such as VPN.com.

Can I buy a domain name without hosting?

While many registrars bundle domain names with web hosting, there’s nothing requiring you to accept this bundle. Most registrars will allow you to buy a domain name without any added features. However, it’s common that they’ll opt you in to such services prior to your purchase. In this case, what you need to do is simply opt out.

How can I get a free .com domain?

There is no consistent way to get a truly free .com domain. Many webhosting websites offer complimentary domain names, but these are typically proprietary, not .com. Likewise, a registrar may offer a promotion advertising free .com domains, but there’s usually going to be fine print that entails paying more in the future. After all, you never own a domain and will always have to pay the annual renewal fee to maintain use of it.

What is the .com part of a domain called?

The .com part of the domain is called a top-level domain, whether it’s .com or a different extension such as .net or .gov. Top-level domains play a critical role in creating the value behind a domain name, as certain domains convey greater trustworthiness and are more consistently memorable in the public consciousness. Premium domain names usually have the TLD .com, .co, .net, .org, or a country code.

What is the longest domain name?

For now, the longest domain name doesn’t exist. The way that the domain name system works allows for the creation of a domain name that’s up to 253 characters long, but no one has created such a domain name yet. Considering that the purpose of a domain name is to make a website easier to access, this is unsurprising.

While there’s no 253 character domain name in use, there are some fantastically long domain names. In particular, llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.co.uk currently holds the world record for the longest domain name that actually exists. While it may defy comprehension for many, it’s actually part of a campaign to generate tourism within Wales.

What is the most expensive domain name?

Many domain names have sold for millions of dollars throughout the years. As of 2021, the most valuable domain name sale of all time was the 2012 sale of privatejet.com. This premium domain sold for more than $30.1 million. In 2019, the $30 million sale of voice.com was a close second.

How do you flip a domain name?

Flipping a domain name means registering it and later selling the use rights at a profit. The first step in flipping a domain name consists of identifying domain names that people want to buy, and then registering them yourself. Afterward, you’ll need to seek out interested buyers, either other investors or potential users. There’s no consistent way to flip a domain name in a short amount of time, so the best approach to domain flipping is to be patient.

What does it mean when a domain name is parked?

When a domain name is parked, that means someone has registered it but isn’t using it. There are a variety of reasons for a domain name to be parked, such as the owner intending to use it in the future. However, domain name investors also park large numbers of domain names with the intention of selling them in the future.

Can I lose my domain name?

As long as you operate your domain name in good faith, it’s difficult to lose your domain name. There’s no mechanism that exists to force a person to relinquish a domain name without that person violating IP law or ICANN policy. However, you can lose your domain name if ICANN finds that you’re violating someone else’s intellectual property, they can revoke your domain name. You can also lose your domain name by forgetting to pay the annual fee for the lease.

Do you have to register a domain every year?

Once you register a domain name, it’s yours to use so long as you stay within ICANN regulations and renew the domain. The details of the annual renewal process vary from one registrar to the next. Many make this process as simple as possible, and allow their clients to automatically renew their domain name. In this case, the registrar will place an automatic charge to your associated credit or debit card. You do need to pay for the continued use of your domain name each year, but you do not need to re-register it from scratch.

How can I make money from my domain name?

You can monetize a domain name either by using it or by selling it. If you use your domain name as the foundation of a successful website, you can profit via advertising, donations, product sales, etc. However, the only way to profit directly from your domain name is by selling it. If your domain name is valuable and you offer it at a reasonable price, interested buyers will eventually approach you. If you want to monetize your domain name now, then you can sell it at an online auction.

Should I buy all similar domain names?

There’s a good case to make for buying domain names that are similar to yours, such as domain names with logical mispellings and alternative top-level domains. People often mispell or misremember domain names, which results in lost web traffic. If you can identify the domain names that people are visiting when they mean to visit your website, you can purchase these domain names and reroute them to your website.

In such cases, the annual renewal fee and the cost of the new domain are easily justified by the guaranteed increase in traffic that comes with it. There’s also value in buying valuable domain names that are similar to yours as to preempt malicious cybersquatting. While you can seek litigation against cybersquatters, it’s preferable not to become a victim in the first place. However, there are so many different domain extensions that it’s practically impossible to buy all similar domain names. Prioritize the most likely misspellings and the most similar domains.

Legal

Is domain squatting illegal?

Domain squatting, also known as cybersquatting is illegal and has been for decades. Domain squatting is the process of deliberately using a domain name that resembles existing IP as to profiteer off of this idea. While it might seem clever or even harmless to the person perpetrating the crime, domain squatting violates the right of the original IP holder and threatens to damage their brand.

If you suspect that you’re a victim of domain squatting, you have two choices of recourse. Many nations have laws that enable a lawsuit to punish this practice, and ICANN itself can step in. While working through ICANN will not enable you to collect damages as in a lawsuit, it can result in the offender losing the domain name they’re using to squat.

Can I sue for a domain name?

If you suspect foul play pertaining to domain names, then you can file through ICANN to make the case that someone is violating your IP rights. For instance, imagine that your famous website is “allaboutcars.com,” and then someone else starts hosting their website at “allabotcars.com” and “allaboutcars.co.” In this blatant case of intellectual property violation, ICANN can revoke the offending domains and award them to you.

However, filing through ICANN is different than a lawsuit. You can sue someone who’s using a domain name to steal your intellectual property, but the details of the process and your purposes will be different. National courts don’t have the ability to give you the domain name, but they can force the offender to pay damages and issue an order to cease and desist.

Is domain parking illegal?

Domain parking, the practice of registering a domain name without using it to host anything, is entirely legal. There are multiple reasons for domain parking, and the most common one is that the current registrant isn’t interested in using the domain. Rather, their goal is to flip the domain, which will remain parked until someone purchases it.

Can a domain name be stolen?

It’s possible for someone to steal your domain name on account of the way the domain name system works. When you lease a domain name from a registrar, you make an account on their website from which to manage the domain name. If someone is able to gain access to your account and lock you out, then they’ll have full control over the domain. However, you can minimize the risk of domain name theft by following best practices for staying secure online.