| If you've got an old website and registered domain | | | | such as FreeSamples.com, CheapClothes.com, or |
| name you're preparing to take offline, you may have | | | | There are tons of companies, organizations, or |
| a chance to make a little money in the process. Don't | | | | individuals who might want to buy a domain name like |
| just let the lease on your domain name expire and | | | | that. |
| fall back into the pool of available domain names. | | | | There are two tests you can do to tell just how |
| Believe it or not, domain names for websites can be | | | | valuable your domain name might be. The first is to |
| valuable. There are companies, organizations, and | | | | measure your domain name's search engine ranking. |
| individuals who are willing to pay to get the perfect | | | | Go to a search engine like Goggle or Yahoo! and |
| domain name. just by selling or auctioning off your | | | | enter a common, general search term that might |
| website's old domain name, there is a good chance | | | | apply to your domain name. For the example domain |
| you can make some money-possibly even a lot of | | | | names listed above, for example, do a search on |
| money. | | | | "samples," "clothes," or "computer help." If your |
| You may have a lot of questions about this. How do | | | | domain name appears fairly high on the search |
| you know how much your domain name is worth-if | | | | engine's results-say, on the first page or two-then |
| it's worth anything at all? How do you go about | | | | your domain name may be in high demand by a |
| advertising your old domain name's availability? How | | | | company that wants to increase their website's |
| do you handle the transfer to the new owner? This | | | | search engine ranking in order to reach more |
| article will try to answer all these questions. | | | | customers and attract more business. |
| How Much Is Your Domain Name Worth? | | | | The second test is see if your domain name contains |
| Essentially, how much you can charge for your | | | | high ranking keywords. There are certain keywords |
| domain name depends on how highly demanded it is. | | | | that people search on more often than others. For |
| If lots of people want it, one may be willing to pay | | | | example, millions of desperate, sleep-deprived new |
| more to get it. On the other hand, if you have an | | | | mothers may enter the keyword "newborn" into a |
| obscure domain name that almost no one wants, you | | | | search engine much more often than a handful of |
| won't be able to charge much for it-if you can sell it | | | | hobbyist would enter "models". If your domain names |
| at all. | | | | contains words that are popular, high-ranking |
| Personal Names | | | | keywords, that makes your domain name much |
| If your domain name is based on your personal | | | | more attractive to potential customers. |
| name, you may have a limited number of people | | | | How Do I Advertise My Domain Name? |
| willing to pay for it. If you have a rather common | | | | First, once you take down your old website, put up a |
| name, such as or BobJones.com, there may be a lot | | | | notice in its place saying that the domain name is for |
| of people interested in it. If you have a rather | | | | sale. Be sure to include your contact information and |
| obscure name, such as OliverMokrzycki.com, you may | | | | any other data relevant to the sale. |
| have trouble finding even one buyer. | | | | Second, there are several websites available where |
| Company Names | | | | you can advertise your domain name. You may have |
| Company names have similar problems, mainly | | | | to a pay a fee for this service, but you are |
| because a company name can generally only be | | | | guaranteed to reach more potential customers this |
| registered to one company. If you have an unusual | | | | way. This is the difference, for example, between |
| name for your online store, such as or | | | | hanging a "for sale" sign in your car windows, and |
| KramphAndSons.com, you may not find many people | | | | listing your car for auction on eBay Auto. |
| interested in buying your domain name. On the other | | | | How Do I Transfer My Domain Name to the Buyer? |
| hand, if your company domino name contains rather | | | | This is easier than you might think. Contact the |
| non-specific words or slogans, such as or | | | | company that registered your domain name to you, |
| CornerStore.com, you might find several businesses | | | | and let them know you are transferring ownership of |
| who might want to buy such descriptive, | | | | the domain name to a different person. Let the |
| easy-to-remember domain name for their online | | | | buyer know the name of your domain name registrar |
| store. | | | | as well, and have the buyer contact the same |
| General Names | | | | company that is handling the transfer. Once this is |
| The domain names that will attract the most | | | | done, the domain name registrar should handle all the |
| interested customer and sell for the highest prices | | | | technical details for you. |
| are ones that have very general or common words, | | | | |