Any good business must be accompanied by a great domain name. A domain name is your digital address. It’s how people find your home online. Furthermore, a great domain name makes it easy for people to find, remember and refer your company! A great domain name is imperative and dot com domain names are the gold standard.
So, a new business idea pops into your head, you rush to your computer, and this is what you see:
TAKEN!
What should you do next?
Step 1: Type the domain name into your browser
Did the domain name resolve and display an active website? If so, jump to Step 2. But, chances are no website has been built, and the domain name has just been registered. If you go to the website you will see a parked web page displaying something like this:
This means that someone owns the domain name, but is not actively using it.
Let’s find that person!
Step 2: Open up the “Rolodex” of the internet
Whether or not the current registrant of the domain name you are interested in has a developed website, this trick can help you trace them down.
Go to –> www.whois.sc
You should get to this page:
Once you are there, type in the domain name: allthegoodnamesaretaken.com
You will then find some fascinating pieces of information:
***If no information comes up, rather you see “Whois Privacy” that means the owner of the domain paid extra to keep their information hidden (this doesn’t happen often). Skip to Step 4.
In this case, we have access to the registrants information. Jason Newby owns the domain allthegoodnamesaretaken.com. He lives in Canada, his phone number is (613) 715 – 2950 and his email address is jason@jasonnewby.com
Step 3: Contact the owner
Send the owner of the domain name a short and sweet email. Keep it simple. Here is an example:
Hi Jason,
I came across your domain name allthegoodnamesaretaken.com
Would you be open to selling this domain?
Please let me know. Thank you.
Never show emotional attachment to the name. At this point, we are just looking for a response. Also, never disclose any potential connection you have to the domain prior to closing the deal. For instance, in this example, if you email signature included “All The Good Names Are Taken, LLC” that would be the kiss of death. You immediately give all the leverage to the current registrant by making it clear that you are already committed to the name.
Step 4: Get professional help
The domain industry was born in 1985. This means that early investors still own massive amounts of dot com domain names that have never been turned into active websites. So, registrars such as GoDaddy will say they are taken, but in actuality, they are very much available. But, you can only access them via a professional domain broker.
Our approach in Step 3 often works for domain owners that own a few names here and there. However, it rarely works for owners of domains that have tens of thousands of domains in their portfolio. So, if you want a name that they own, you best get professional help. What we are talking about here is like a real estate agent for domain names. You need a domain buyer broker. Professionals typically deal with $10,000+ domain price levels.
Email us (link) at StarterNoise if you need a domain buyer broker referral.
Step 5: Self service options for premium domains
You must be thinking to yourself at this point, “If domain names are available through GoDaddy they are only $10, now you just told me that domain buyer brokers commonly deal with domains over $10,000, so what about all the domains priced in between?” Great question.
There are some great online secondary markets for premium domains. These self service options give you the ability to search for domains that are currently for sale. Place a bid, or buy online with a credit card for the “Buy Now” price. Just like eBay, but for domains.
Definition of premium domain: A domain that has been registered and is currently being sold on the secondary market at a higher price point than $10.
Some options include:
The best chances you have to get the name you have your heart set on would be to contact the owner directly to see if they respond, and to engage professional help if needed. Domain buyer brokers often “pay for themselves and thensome” meaning they save you more money in negotiation than what their services cost. Using secondary market websites might not get you the exact name you are looking for, but will show you some options and get you started.
Happy name hunting!
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