For any business to flourish online, it should have a website with two essential qualities:
- A well designed and functional website template
- A solid domain name
While a website template is simply a pre-designed web page layout, a domain name is your business’s online address. The domain name not only impacts how customers reach your site, but it greatly affects new potential customers’ first impression of your business. An eye-catching domain name offers many benefits that are well worth the small effort required.
How to Buy A Domain Name?
Domain names are available on various hosting websites and are bought by users for a fee. However, some domains are available for free. For example, with the Boxmode website builder, you can create a free domain directly in the website’s settings.
Besides, you can either buy a new domain name from a hosting site or buy a domain name that is already owned by someone else. There are several good reasons to opt for a pre-owned domain name, including securing something relevant and straightforward. But buying a pre-owned domain can often be challenging for various reasons. Let’s go over what you should keep in mind if you’ve decided to go this route.
Buying A Pre-Owned Website Domain
You can get your hands on a desirable and valuable domain in various ways, such as:
Buying Directly From The Owner
You can directly contact the owner of a domain and make an offer to purchase. Two options are available for that:
- To locate the domain name in the WHOIS directory, a tool to find the domain name owner.
- To contact the owner directly through the website’s Contact Us page.
However, when choosing the second option, be sure to take proper precautions. For instance, doing transactions through escrow is always better than a wire transaction if the seller tries to take the money and run.
Buying From A Marketplace
Since it can be risky to buy a domain name directly from the domain owner, purchasing a domain from a marketplace is generally a better option. You have to visit a popular marketplace like Flippa and make a bid on the desired domain.
If the seller likes the price you offer, they will proceed with the deal and begin negotiating. After this, you will pay for the domain and become its owner. Many people use brokers to complete the deal, as it greatly eases the negotiation process.
Placing A Backorder
You should try this technique if the owner of the desired domain is not willing to sell it. Since domains are rented for a specific period, you can place a backorder on the domain and wait for the period to end.
If the previous owner hasn’t renewed the contract when the period ends, you will be notified about that domain’s availability. However, this is a relatively time-consuming process and requires lots of patience. But it can be pretty rewarding in the end when you finally get your dream domain name,
