| All the good ones are taken. The really good ones, | | | | that are about to come back on the market. |
| that is. But they don't always stay taken. | | | | Lists of domains pending expiration |
| Domain names often come back onto the market. | | | | At these websites, among others, you can search |
| Even before they do, domain name prospectors are | | | | for domains containing keywords you enter. At |
| sifting through them to find the gold domains among | | | | expireddomains.com, the results contain domains that |
| them. | | | | are currently available, soon to expire, on hold, in the |
| Why domain names become available again | | | | Redemption Grace Period (RGP), or for sale by their |
| Thousands of domain names expire every day. Other | | | | registrants. Extensions searched: .com, .net, and .org. |
| domains are offered for sale. The reasons are varied: | | | | The database searches .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz |
| Carelessness | | | | extensions for domains that are available, for sale, or |
| The webmaster forgets to renew the domain by the | | | | expiring. |
| expiry date. | | | | Domain research |
| The email address that the domain is registered with | | | | You can find some (but not all) incoming links to a |
| becomes invalid, and the domain name registrant | | | | domain by entering "link:siteURL" (replace "siteURL" |
| doesn't receive the renewal notices. | | | | with the domain name) into Google or Yahoo. When |
| - Lack of need or funds | | | | you find the links, follow them to see what types of |
| - The company that had registered the domain goes | | | | sites link to the domain. How would you feel about |
| out of business. | | | | having these particular sites linking to your site? |
| - The website owner loses interest in or doesn't | | | | Also look into any possible problems associated with |
| have time for the website. | | | | the domain. Search engines may have banned the |
| - The website owner doesn't have funding to | | | | domain if the previous site had controversial search |
| continue the website venture. | | | | engine optimization techniques employed, such as the |
| - The domain name registrant registered numerous | | | | use of hidden text or links. Check the history of the |
| domains on speculation and couldn't afford to | | | | site at a domain name via the WayBack Machine. If |
| continue renewing unused domains. | | | | the domain previously pointed to a site with gambling |
| Profit | | | | or adult content or a lot of affiliate links, or if it |
| - The domain name registrant may realize how much | | | | employed questionable search engine optimization |
| a domain is worth and decide to sell it. | | | | techniques, search engines may have banned the |
| - The domain name registrant may have registered | | | | domain. Aside from the possibility of a domain being |
| the domain because of its potential worth, with the | | | | banned, you may not want incoming links from sites |
| aim of selling it later. | | | | associated with these types of content. |
| What makes a previously registered domain name | | | | How to register domains pending deletion |
| valuable? | | | | You've decided on a domain that you want. How do |
| In July 2005, the domain name sold for $750,000, the | | | | you maximize your chances on getting it? |
| highest-valued domain name sale this year. Why | | | | At eNom.com's Club Drop, you can bid on expiring |
| would anyone pay so much for a domain when they | | | | .com and .net domains the day before they're |
| could register a new domain for under $10? | | | | available to the public. You can also be notified when |
| - Instant traffic | | | | domains matching your search criteria become |
| If the domain name previously pointed to a website, | | | | available. |
| search engines have already indexed that domain | | | | The NameWinner system places bids on .com, .net, |
| name. Other websites probably still have links to that | | | | .org, and .info domains for you. It bids only as high as |
| domain. If the domain is listed in directories, these | | | | is necessary to maintain your high bid position up to |
| links bring in even more traffic. You register the | | | | your maximum bid. |
| domain, and the work getting incoming links has | | | | How to profit from your domains |
| already been done for you. | | | | - Selling domains |
| - Surf value | | | | If you have a domain that may be valuable and that |
| Sometimes web surfers search by typing generic | | | | you aren't using, consider selling it at a domain |
| words followed by dot com (or other extensions) | | | | auction. If you already have a buyer for a domain, |
| into their browsers, for example, This particular | | | | you can transfer it securely through |
| domain name redirects to the website for a company | | | | - Paid parking for domains |
| that sells pet products and services. A domain name | | | | With paid domain parking programs, also called |
| like this constantly brings visitors to the website | | | | "domain monetization" or "monetize domains," you |
| without the cost and effort of advertising and | | | | can earn pay-per-click revenue via targeted |
| marketing. | | | | advertisements. These sites offer domain |
| - Easy to remember | | | | monetization services: |
| Your company name may not be memorable, but | | | | - DomainSponsor |
| domains such as and are. People are more likely to | | | | - Park Quick |
| return to a site or pass on the name to their friends | | | | - Domain Spa |
| when they can easily remember it. | | | | - Google Adsense for domains |
| How to find domains pending expiration | | | | With the right knowledge, timing, and a bit of luck, |
| You decide to join the gold rush for valuable | | | | you have a chance as a domain name prospector to |
| pre-registered domains. Finding expiring domains is the | | | | hit pay dirt. |
| first step, but you also need to research domains | | | | |