Domain Resale Value & Backordering
Leverage Expired Domains
Written by Matt Paolini / Edited by Brent Winters
Originally Published: May, 2004
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How to Estimate the Resale Value of a Domain
If you are thinking of purchasing an expired domain to resell for profit, be sure to learn how to estimate the value of a domain. Youll also need to have a good plan on how you're going to resell it later. There are many helpful resources on the Web for this, including a free guide at domain-research-labs. While you can turn a profit reselling domains, you must be careful not to purchase a lemon, or to
pay too much for the domain.
Backordering a Domain Name
So youve searched the list of new and pre-owned domains and found nothing? If you havent found that perfect domain, there are several services that will allow you to backorder any domain name for a fee. If the domain does become available, each of the following services will attempt to register the expired domain on your behalf.
SnapNames
At $69 per domain name, SnapNames will attempt to register a domain name as soon as it expires, on your behalf for a period of one year. If the name becomes registered to someone else within that year or if you want to pursue another domain name, SnapNames will allow you to modify your subscription as many times as you like.
Pool.com
This is probably the best and most successful service I tried. Unlike many similar services, they only charge you if they actually secure the domain for you. However, theres one catch. Once Pool.com secures the domain for registration, they will notify you and if there are other people whom backordered the same domain through their service, then they will auction off the domain name to the highest bidder.
Enom
Enom offers a service called First Dibs. The service costs $35 per year, which includes the price of the domain registration for one year, assuming no one submits a higher bid than you. Unfortunately, you pay the $35 fee upfront even if they arent successful at securing the domain. When and if they secure the domain name, whoever previously submitted the highest bid wins the domain.
GoDaddy
This can be the least expensive of these services, but from my experience, the least effective. I tried GoDaddys service and unfortunately didnt have any luck securing expired domain names. You pay only $18.95 per domain name. However, they keep that money until they finally secure the domain that you originally requested or another domain if you should change your mind later. Your odds of securing a domain increases if the original registrar for the domain is GoDaddy.
Backordering services should be used with caution. The reason being that many people are utilizing the same or similar services to try and register those same domain names when they expire. Competition can be fierce for the better domain names that have not yet expired. Whichever service manages to register the domain first, wins. Therefore, there isnt any guarantee that you will be the one to successfully acquire the name assuming it ever becomes available at all. Thats why using any service that requires a non-refundable fee upfront is a gamble.
On the other hand, an automated service will give you the best chance to grab a domain you really want as they monitor availability 24 hours a day. Many will also notify you when any changes are made to the WHOIS record.
Of course a back-order service is not always needed. There are thousands of pre-owned domains available today without having to wait around for availability. Therefore, try to find that hidden gem from the lists of currently available domains before considering a back-order service.
How to Leverage Expired Domains; In Conclusion:
You might be asking yourself, Does this really work? or Is this worth my time? For me at least, the answer was a definite yes. I tried it and found it very possible to discover those diamonds in the rough. Through my research, I found and registered several domain names that had expired or were about to expire that were already included in Yahoo, DMOZ and/or had high link popularity. I benefited not only from the new domain, but also from the built-in traffic and the instant link popularity.
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This article is copyrighted and has been reprinted with permission from FirstPlace Software.
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