| Everyone’s heard of domain names. If | | | | Typo Domains |
| you’re reading this then you’ve certainly | | | | You may be surprised by the number internet-users |
| heard of them: you’ve typed one in your | | | | who can’t spell. For the record, we’re |
| browser or clicked on one to get here! Domain | | | | not. Literally millions of domain name typos are |
| names are the universal means by which you and | | | | registered everyday. Domain names that are close |
| everyone else navigates the internet; that little string | | | | enough to the spelling of another domain that |
| of text (usually starting with www) that takes us | | | | receives good type-in traffic are likely to get many |
| everywhere from checking e-mail to surfing for the | | | | accidental type-ins per month. While this will increase |
| latest Missy Elliot video. That said, its easy to see | | | | the typo domain’s traffic, people usually |
| why domain names have contributed to the | | | | smarten up once they see that the wrong page has |
| astronomical success and ‘coolness’ of | | | | loaded. Developing a website on a typo domain that |
| the internet. Yup, that’s right, the internet | | | | has similar content as the correctly spelt domain is |
| started as a small network of college geeks | | | | the best method of utilising typos. The traffic these |
| connecting their computers together so they could | | | | domains receive is less targeted than those fitting |
| become even nerdier. The only reason cool folk like | | | | the above-mentioned criteria for a valuable domain |
| you and me started using the internet is because it | | | | name. Even so, a big chunk of the domain name |
| became so easy to navigate and the internet | | | | aftermarket’s earnings comes from typo |
| became easy to navigate all because of domain | | | | domains. |
| names. If they did’nt exist we’d all be | | | | These are the basic tenets that one should look for |
| typing in long strings of numbers like 64.233.183.104 | | | | in a domain name that is at the very least worth |
| instead of or 209.191.93.52 instead of | | | | registering. |
| etc…sounds like fun huh? | | | | How do I Turn My Domain Name Into Real Cash? |
| So that’s what we know about domain | | | | Now that you’ve got the .com/.net domain |
| names. However, far more important is what you | | | | name that’s got great keywords and is easy |
| may not know about domains and the industry | | | | to remember you’re probably thinking |
| that’s mushroomed around them. There are | | | | ‘oh so I’ll just sit here and wait for Bill |
| big bucks to be made in the domain biz and | | | | Gates to offer me 7 figures, right?’. The |
| we’re going to tell you all about it. | | | | simple answer is that any valuable item if under |
| What makes A Domain Name Valuable? | | | | utilised becomes a dud (yes, that’s a technical |
| Over 400 million domain names have been registered | | | | term). |
| as of January 2006 and it is estimated that 20,000 | | | | Here are just a few ways of making your great |
| names are being reserved or registered everyday. So | | | | domain name work for you: |
| what separates a domain name worth millions from | | | | 1. Develop a Website |
| one that’s not even worth the cost to | | | | Develop a content-rich website that’s relevant |
| register it? Here are a few factors which contribute | | | | to the keywords that may be in your domain name. |
| greatly to the value of any domain name. | | | | This method has unlimited potential for traffic and |
| The Top Level Domain (TLD) extension of the | | | | earnings. We don’t have to tell you of the |
| Domain Name. | | | | millions that are being earned everyday by the top |
| .com and .net TLD extensions currently have the | | | | websites on the internet. These websites utilise a |
| most popularity because these were the first | | | | combination of having keywords in their domain name |
| extensions to be registered back in the early | | | | and website content that is relevant to those |
| 90’s. Domain names on the internet have | | | | keywords. If you cant find they right keyword rich |
| come to be defined by these two TLD’s. This | | | | domain name for your area of interest don’t |
| does’nt mean that this will always be the case. | | | | despair. Some of the top websites on the internet |
| ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and | | | | simply made words up or acronyms which could |
| Numbers ) who overseas the Domain Name System | | | | mean anything, Yahoo and Google being prime |
| (DNS) file, approves new TLD’s every year | | | | examples. Its all about business development and the |
| and these gain increasing popularity over time. | | | | more your promote your website and domain name |
| Regional TLD’s additionally help in identifying | | | | the more you’ll earn for your products or |
| domains relating to a particular geographical area .US | | | | services (or get advertising) over time. |
| and .EU being prime examples. | | | | 2.Get involved in the Domain Aftermarket. |
| Domain Name Contains popular keywords | | | | Millions are traded daily on the internet buying and |
| What makes worth six figures and practically | | | | selling domain names within the domain aftermarket. |
| worthless? Both are great sounding domain names | | | | If you’ve registered a name that someone |
| but ‘buy online’ is more likely to form | | | | else really wants, they maybe willing to pay you |
| part of a specific search term that someone would | | | | much more than the registration price to get it from |
| enter into a search engine. Search engines read the | | | | you. Sometimes, a lot more. sold for $7.5 Million while |
| text of your domain name and are more likely to | | | | sold recently for a luke-warm $700,000 and sold for |
| display your website in search results for matching | | | | $100,000. You may have a great domain name but |
| keywords. If your business sells a new product, lets | | | | you’ll miss out on figures like those if you |
| call it a zigtag, you can get far more visitors to your | | | | don’t get involved. |
| website by registering the domain name [ rather than | | | | Here are our top picks of domain name aftermarket |
| [ . Its all about the ‘trafficability’ of your | | | | website: : Buy, Sell, and discuss domain names. : |
| domain name and not just any traffic but targeted | | | | Trade domain name online, Pay a one-time |
| traffic. Targeted traffic means visitors who arrive at | | | | membership fee for full access to the forum. : Have |
| your website because you’ve got content | | | | a great domain name with a fully developed website |
| that they were searching for on a search engine for | | | | that you want to sell? This is the place for it. : |
| example. Great keyword domain names have the | | | | Perhaps the most comprehensive and international |
| ability to automatically drive targeted traffic from | | | | domain trading service. Uses Escrow to ensure that |
| search engines. | | | | you get what you’ve paid for. |
| Domain Name is Generic, Short and Pronounceable. | | | | [ : The trusted marketplace for domain names. |
| Keyword domains can drive traffic from search | | | | 2. Park your domain name to earn cash |
| engines but an even more elusive and coveted | | | | Many website now offer domain name parking |
| source of traffic is from direct type-in’s (i.e | | | | services. With this service you can park your domain |
| persons typing the domain name directly into a | | | | name by allowing a parking service such as to use |
| browser). It usually takes many months of online | | | | your domain to display their advertisements. They do |
| marketing and promotion for a domain name to build | | | | all the work. All you do is set your domains |
| high levels of consistent type in traffic, but the right | | | | nameservers to theirs and with a little promotion of |
| domain name can get it naturally. Music.com, | | | | your domain name ( on your part) you’ll earn |
| Weather.com, or sellcarsonline.net are all examples of | | | | money. You’ll get paid for every person that |
| domain names with great natural type-in traffic. | | | | clicks on the ads displayed on your parked page. |
| People simply expect that when they type-in | | | | Some parked domains make up to $100 per day but |
| they’ll see something that grabs their attention | | | | the really great names can make upwards of $1000 |
| regarding popular recording artistes or downloading | | | | per day. Most parking services let you park as many |
| music files. Also, making your domain name as short | | | | pages as you want so the potential revenue is |
| as possible and as pronounceable as possible can | | | | boundless. |
| drastically increase its value. Domains that are short | | | | Getting started in domain name parking is easy and |
| and pronounceable are more easily remembered by | | | | few in any parking services will charge you to park |
| web surfers (some of who have memories no longer | | | | your domain. Here are a few of our top rated |
| than a mouse ‘double click’) and thus | | | | parking services : : along with domain selling and |
| more likely to get targeted type-in traffic. | | | | trading, sedo has emerged as the leader in parking |
| The Domain Name is Registered for 10 years or | | | | programs. With hundreds of thousands of dollars paid |
| more in advance. | | | | out daily. : One of the highest revenue paying parking |
| Remember earlier we said that 20,000 domain names | | | | services in the business : Another high paying parking |
| get registered everyday? Well an equal number of | | | | service. Tens of thousands of domains already |
| domains expire everyday. Yup, about 20,000 domains | | | | parked. : Great service out of the UK. Expect medium |
| fall by the wayside having been registered only for a | | | | sized payments : Not as big as the other guys but |
| year or maybe two. This means that thousands of | | | | they’re easy to use and pay on-time. |
| links on thousands of pages will go dead (if the | | | | With all the great opportunities to make easy money |
| domains hosted developed websites this is a big | | | | in the domain name biz theres no sane reason not to |
| inconvenience to many internet users) or it means | | | | get involved. But don’t be fooled. This |
| that the domain name did’nt meet any of the | | | | is’nt some get rich quick scheme. You’ll |
| previous criteria to make it a valuable domain name in | | | | need patience and insight from the experts, but rest |
| the first place. Search engines like Google are now | | | | assured that in reading this article you’ve |
| beginning to pick up on this and will automatically | | | | already done half the work. Now that you know |
| assign a higher Page Rank (PR) to websites hosted | | | | exactly what makes a domain name valuable and |
| on domains registered 10 years or more in advance. | | | | how to earn cash from it you’ll surely avoid |
| Even if your domain does not host a developed | | | | the most common ‘newbie’ mistakes |
| website, having it registered for a few years in | | | | and will be well on your way to earning some serious |
| advance will make it more attractive to buyers who | | | | money quickly. |
| wont have to pay to renew the name a year or two | | | | Ready to get started but don’t want to |
| after getting it from you. | | | | spend a whole lot? |