| Of course as the web got more popular and more | | | | contracts with registrars such as Network Solutions |
| people began to see the value of good domain | | | | to allow first choice of all available expired domain |
| names things began to get a little harder. | | | | names. |
| Expired Domain name Companies | | | | The most popular companies in the field are: Pool, |
| In this discussion I will be mainly concentrating on the | | | | Snapnames and eNom and I would advise you to set |
| .com TLD as this is the biggest and by far the most | | | | up an account with all three of them to ensure you |
| valuable extension available. As we speak the total | | | | have a better chance of getting the domain you |
| number of registered .coms has crossed the 70m | | | | desire. All the above companies allow you to |
| mark and so you can imagine, finding a good quality | | | | backorder any and as many of the currently |
| generic domain name can be a slow and painful | | | | registered domain names and this service is totally |
| process. | | | | free. |
| All 3 and 4 letter combinations (that includes | | | | You will find that they can supply you with a list of |
| numbers) have gone and the majority of English | | | | pre-release and pending delete names and this can |
| dictionary words to. This is why you should consider | | | | run into the thousands. |
| the world of drop catching expired domain names. | | | | This is where the money is, consider this expired |
| I still believe that there is hope and if you are armed | | | | domain names list like a gold mine, all you have to do |
| with the right knowledge and time you can still pick | | | | is dig out the nuggets and hope nobody else has |
| up expired domain names that in my opinion are | | | | spotted them. Of course you will find that you are |
| grossly undervalued. | | | | not the only one to have spotted these little gems |
| The allocation of .com domains are controlled by a | | | | and so the domain is often placed into a closed |
| body called ICCAN, (Internet Corporation for | | | | auction and sold to the highest bidder. |
| Assigned Names and Numbers) formed in 1998 as a | | | | These are closed auctions so you must do your |
| not-for-profit organization with contributing members | | | | homework and get your bid in before the drop or |
| from all over the world. The duty of organizing the | | | | you will not get the chance to bid in the auction for |
| release of the domain names was handed to Verisign, | | | | that domain. |
| a company that has become very rich on the back | | | | You should find that the price you pay in these |
| of its contract with ICANN. | | | | auctions is significantly cheaper than dedicated auction |
| The process of domain name registration changed | | | | sites such as Sedo and Afternic. The art of course is |
| dramatically with the introduction of drop catching | | | | knowing the worth of expiring domain names before |
| companies that help you acquire expired domain | | | | the auction starts and stick to your target. Many |
| names but more about that later. | | | | people get carried away in this situation and let the |
| Lets look at the basic process involved with | | | | process become personal, this is a big mistake and |
| registering a domain name. | | | | only leads to over inflated prices. Set your budget |
| Registering a domain name | | | | and stick to it. |
| A person as the right to register a domain name for | | | | So remember, if you have your heart set on a |
| a time period ranging from 1 -10 years. If the domain | | | | particular domain name or want to get into the |
| name is not renewed by the required date it then | | | | domain name acquisition business you must involve |
| enters the position known as the grace period. The | | | | the big expired domain names drop catchers in your |
| original owner still has the chance to re-register the | | | | plan or you could be watching your dream name |
| domain but must do so within a set time period. | | | | disappear for another 1-10 years. Trying to manually |
| During this time the domain name is still unavailable to | | | | capture good quality domain names is near on |
| register. | | | | impossible these days so be warned. |
| If the domain name is not re-registered in the allotted | | | | Also if you are interested in a particular expiring |
| time it is made available to the general public and | | | | domain name it might pay to check which registrar |
| becomes one of the many expired domain names in | | | | the domain is with as they may have their own |
| a process now known as the drop. | | | | agreements with different companies in terms of |
| Drop Companies | | | | expired domain names, drop catching, for instance, |
| It is very unlikely that even if you knew when a | | | | Network Solutions has an agreement with |
| expired domain was about to drop that you would | | | | Snapnames for all its domains and Godaddy has |
| get it by simply trying to register it. There are | | | | setup its own drop service. |
| several companies that specialize in this field and can | | | | So make sure you check the registrar just in case it |
| afford to implement sophistication drop catching | | | | is not covered by the big three. |
| software to help in the process, they even have | | | | Good luck and happy hunting. |