| As you probably already know, domain names are | | | | would do that given that the new owner is |
| obtained by registering them with a domain name | | | | purchasing only the name, and does not get rights to |
| registrar and paying the associated registration fee. | | | | (or copies of) any web content that was previously |
| Keeping ownership and control of a domain name, | | | | associated with the name. However, obtaining an |
| requires regular payments (usually annual) to renew | | | | expired domain name can be valuable for two key |
| the domain. In the event that a domain owner fails | | | | reasons: |
| to pay the renewal fee, the domain then goes | | | | 1. The domain name may be valuable in itself, possibly |
| through a multi-step deletion process - first there is a | | | | to build a new web site, or perhaps simply to sell on |
| period when the original owner can redeem the | | | | (flip). |
| domain (although usually at higher cost), then a period | | | | 2. There may be existing links to the domain from |
| when the domain awaits deletion, and then finally the | | | | other web sites and perhaps even directories such as |
| domain is expired and becomes available for anybody | | | | Yahoo! or DMOZ. Such links may mean that the new |
| (first come, first served) to register again. | | | | domain owner will benefit from some free traffic and |
| Domain names can expire in this way for a number | | | | links. |
| of reasons, although the most common are perhaps: | | | | Because of these reasons, many businesses have |
| 1. The original owner loses interest in keeping the | | | | been founded around expired domain names, and |
| domain name | | | | because of their value, obtaining the best expired |
| 2. The original owner is a business which has gone | | | | domain names can be very competitive (with people |
| bankrupt or is no longer trading. | | | | racing to register domains as quickly as possible after |
| 3. The original owner is simply no longer around (he or | | | | they expire). The other side of the coin however is |
| she may for example have died, moved to another | | | | that there are a lot of tools to help a budding |
| country, etc.) | | | | entrepreneur entering this field - tutorials, lists of |
| In any case, whatever the reason is why the domain | | | | expiring domain names, software tools to search for |
| name was allowed to expire, the key point is that | | | | expiring domain names, and software and services to |
| others can register that domain after it has expired. | | | | help win the race to register a domain as soon as |
| At first glance, you might wonder why somebody | | | | possible after it expires. |