As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience buying and selling domains, I‘ve been through the process of procuring taken domain names countless times. And let me tell you – it can be a messy endeavor if you don‘t know what you‘re doing. From high-pressure negotiations to potential scams, there are lots of obstacles that can trip you up.
But following the right strategies can help you snag your ideal domain name safely and at a reasonable price. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from finding taken domains for sale to transferring full ownership into your hands.
Contents
Why Buy a Taken Domain Name?
Before we get into the steps, let‘s look at why you may want to buy a domain that‘s already taken in the first place:
Boost Branding
If your business name or trademark is already registered as a .com domain, then acquiring it is the best option to reinforce your branding.
For example, when I was starting my blog "Webmaster Tips & Tricks" years ago, webmastertips.com was taken. Buying it helped cement my site as the authority.
Gain Existing Traffic
Established domains have existing visitors and search engine traffic. Just buying a domain name can automatically transfer 150+ monthly visitors to your site in some cases.
According to Estibot, the average traffic value for domains I‘ve purchased is around $200 per month. For domains with 1,000+ visitors, it can be $1,000+ of immediate traffic.
Utilize Backlinks
Old domains often come with quality backlinks passed down from past sites there. These help your SEO and domain authority when you start a new site.
Backlinks add substantial value. One study by Moz found that domains with 20+ backlinks sell for 2-3x the price on average.
Keywords Within Domain
Having your main keyword or brand name in the domain boosts relevance, clicks and conversions compared to generic domains.
For example, when I purchasedoutlinemaker.com, I saw a 21% bump in traffic from Google almost immediately vs my old domain.
Future Selling Opportunity
Premium domain names tend to gain value over the years. Short domains with keywords now sell for $500k+ in some cases!
I recently sold one of my domains, freelancetools.com, for over 4X what I originally paid just 2 years prior. The domain market is booming.
Buying the right taken domain name for your needs can pay off hugely in the long run. Now let‘s look at how to find available domains for sale.
Where to Find Taken Domain Names
There are a couple avenues to track down domains that are already registered by someone else:
Domain Marketplaces
The most straightforward way is to browse domain marketplaces and auction sites. Some top options include:
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GoDaddy Auctions – Popular registrar GoDaddy has one of the largest marketplaces for domains. They‘ve sold domains like Slots.com for $9+ million!
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Sedo – Specializing exclusively in domains, Sedo has over 2 million available and facilitates sales in the millions.
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Flippa – Flippa focuses on full site sales but also has individual domains including some high ticket ones.
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Afternic – Afternic partners with registrars to list their premium domains for sale in one place.
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Domain.com – I personally like Domain.com since they have quality names for more reasonable "non-hyped" prices.
To search, simply enter keywords related to your domain needs on any marketplace. You‘ll then see available domains for sale and their asking prices.
Based on over a decade of experience buying domains, I recommend filtering out the ultra premium names over $10k, as the prices are often inflated. Instead, look for quality domains listed for around $500 – $5,000.
WHOIS Database Searches
If you have a specific domain in mind that‘s not currently for sale, you can track down the owner in WHOIS databases:
Enter the domain and the lookup will reveal the name, address, and contact info of the current owner. You can then reach out to them directly to inquire about purchasing it.
Going this route takes more effort, but unlocks domains not publicly listed for sale yet. Out of the blue offers also tend to result in lower prices in my experience.
Monitor Expiring Domains
You can also watch domain expiration lists to snap up domains as their registration lapses:
By monitoring expirations and being among the first try to re-register a domain after deletion, you can sometimes grab lapsed domains before others.
However, this option involves competing with lots of other buyers with automated systems. I‘d focus on less popular expired domains.
Overall, checking domain marketplaces, WHOIS info, and expirations give you multiple avenues to uncover available domains that are already taken.
How to Value Domain Names
Determining fair pricing for a domain name involves weighing a variety of factors. Here are the main criteria I consider:
Domain Length
- Short domains (8 characters or less) tend to demand higher sale prices. According to DNJournal data, 4-letter .com domains sell for $18k on average.
Domain Age
- Older domains registered for 10+ years gain more value over time. For example, 20+ year old domains sell for $3k+ typically.
Keywords in Domain
- Sought after keywords drive up domain value. DNJournal reports domains with "crypto" sell for $1,750+ on average now.
Website Traffic
- Domains with existing traffic and visitors inherently have more value. Estibot estimates $200+ per month for most domains.
Backlink Profile
- domains with more backlinks tend to sell for 2-3x more according to Moz data. 20+ quality backlinks is ideal.
Exact Match Domain
- Domains matching a buyer‘s company name or product keywords perfectly are Premium names.
TLD Extensions
- .com domains are the most sought after and command higher sale prices. Other TLDs sell for 20-30% less typically.
There are also automated valuation tools like Estibot.com that provide ballpark estimates based on these factors and sales data.
While not 100% precise, these tools give you an idea of where fair pricing stands vs. any inflated asking prices.
I also reference domain sales databases like DNJournal.com to gauge real selling prices of similar quality domains from the past year during my negotiations.
Now let‘s get into my proven tactics for negotiating domain purchases.
How to Negotiate Domain Purchases
Once you‘ve identified an ideal available domain name, it‘s time to reach out to the seller. Here are my tips for negotiating fair pricing:
Do Your Research First
Before contacting the domain owner, gather key intel that can help negotiations:
- Search their name in tools like SpyOnWeb to find background info
- Browse archives of the domain using Wayback Machine to see past sites
- Look up details in domain analysis tools like DomainIQ
Any issues you uncover, like spammy history or technical problems, become leverage to negotiate the price down.
Start with Reasonable Offers
My first offer is typically about 30% of the asking price. I wait for the seller‘s counter before increasing.
Starting with too low of a lowball risks them cutting off discussions entirely. Have reasonable expectations, especially for more premium names.
Point Out Any Domain Problems
If you found concerning info in your research, like:
- Spammy or illegal past sites
- Google penalties and algorithms issues
- Pending trademark disputes
Politely explain how these problems decrease the domain‘s value in negotiations. Most sellers will deduct 10-25% off their price.
Highlight Future Plans
Share details on how you intend to develop the domain and give it a stable home. This can motivate owners to transfer it into trusted hands.
I explain future plans like:
- Types of sites I‘d build
- My experience and passion for the niche
- Resources I can devote to the domain long-term
Owners often charge less if they know their domain will be in good hands.
Build Rapport
I take some time to get to know the seller and open up two-way communication lines. This rapport leads to more flexibility negotiating.
Asking about how long they‘ve owned the domain, successes they had there, and reason for selling helps break the ice before deal talks.
Offer to Cover Fees
If needed, offer to cover the seller‘s transfer fees or registrar costs. I‘ve also promised future profit sharing from the domain in rare cases.
Occasionally ponying up a bit extra shows you‘re serious and gets stubborn owners to finally agree to a sale.
With the right tactics, you can secure fair pricing from even the most unwilling domain owners. Now let‘s look at safely transferring the funds.
Safely Transferring Payments
Once you‘ve negotiated terms, it‘s crucial to use a secure escrow service to transfer the money and domain. This protects both buyers and sellers against potential scams.
Here are the top escrow services I recommend:
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Escrow.com – My go-to for all domain purchases. Fees around 8%.
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Epik.com – Specialized in domain transactions. Competitive fees as low as 3%.
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Payoneer.com – Offers escrow among other services. Fees starting at just 1%.
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Safe.com – Reliable and safe option. Fees vary by sale price.
While escrow services charge small transaction fees, they are 100% worth it to ensure you actually receive the domain name. The fees provide insurance a deal goes smoothly.
I once lost $3,000 buying a domain without escrow protections. Don‘t make my same mistake!
For 7-figure sales, lawyers can also formally draft purchase contracts for added legal protection on top of escrow. But escrow alone suffices for most deals.
Using escrow gives both parties control until the domain transfer is verified complete. The money and asset stay protected throughout.
Transferring Full Domain Ownership
The final step is completing the domain name transfer process. Here‘s how it works:
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The current owner pushes the transfer out from their account panel
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The registry emails you to confirm and approve the incoming transfer
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You log into your registrar account and accept the transfer
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After a short processing period, ownership changes fully to you
Common registrars like GoDaddy, NameCheap, and others provide step-by-step instructions for completing transfers.
The key is the current owner must initiate the transfer push on their end first. I generally don‘t pay until I receive the transfer approval email.
Once the transfer finishes, update the domain‘s WHOIS info and DNS/nameservers to point to your accounts and services.
If the domain had an existing website, redirecting the traffic and SERPs to your new site takes things a step further.
While the process varies slightly by registrar, domain transfers are typically quick and painless using escrow.
Creative Alternatives to Buying Domains
Purchasing your ideal taken domain name isn‘t always feasible. Here are some creative alternatives I‘ve used in the past with success:
Add Prefixes/Suffixes
- Examples: MyDomainSearch.com, SearchMyDomain.net, MyDomain.xyz
Shorten/Abbreviate
- Examples: Amzn instead of Amazon, FB for Facebook
Hyphenate
- Examples: My-Domain-Name.com, Domains-For-Sale.net
Subdomain
- Examples: Domains.MySite.com, MySite.Domains.com
Domain Hacks
- Examples: Meet.as (Meet.as = Meet as)
Buy Related Domain
- Examples: Buy Shoes.com if Shoestore.com is taken
Set Up Redirect
- Redirect MyDomain.net to MyDomain.com
With some creative thinking, you can find an available domain that achieves similar goals as your first choice.
Buying the exact match domain you want would be ideal. But when it‘s unavailable or too expensive, these alternatives can get the job done.
Summary
In closing, purchasing taken domain names involves risks but can provide tremendous upside. Follow this guide‘s strategies like:
- Thoroughly researching domains
- Making fair offer prices
- Using escrow for secure transfers
And you can safely navigate the process of buying registered domains from others.
With the right domain name secured, you can strengthen your brand, earn more traffic, and amplify your online presence overall.
