How To Buy an Expired Domain Name

If you're looking to launch a new website or blog, you may be wondering how to go about acquiring an expired domain name. While there are a number of ways to do this, the process can be somewhat confusing for those who are not familiar with the domain name market.

So in this blog post today, I will walk you through the process of how to buy an expired domain name. Things like where to find expired domains, to how to evaluate them, and finally how to make an offer. By the end of this post, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect expired domain for your needs.

What Is An Expired Domain Name?

An expired domain name is a domain name that has been registered by an individual, business, or organization but is no longer active. Domain names can expire for various reasons, including non-payment of the annual registration fee, failure to renew the domain before it expires, or intentional expiration by the domain owner.

When a domain name expires, it becomes available for anyone to register. Many individuals and businesses register expired domains for a variety of reasons, including:

To take advantage of established search engine rankings: 

If a domain name has ranked well in search engines in the past, there's a good chance it will rank well again. Registering an expired domain with established search engine rankings can give you a significant leg up on your competition.

To benefit from backlinks: 

Any links pointing to an expired domain will still work after the domain expires. That means you can inherit any backlinks pointing to an expired domain, which can be beneficial for your own website's SEO.

To acquire misspellings of popular domains: 

It's not uncommon for people to incorrectly spell popular domains when they're trying to visit them. By registering these misspelt domains, you can redirect traffic intended for your competitor's website to your own site instead.

Why buy an expired domain name?

Assuming you're interested in buying an expired domain name for the purpose of building a website, there are several reasons why this can be advantageous. 

Backlinks

For one, an expired domain name likely has backlinks from other websites. Backlinks are incoming links to a webpage. They are important for SEO because they are a signal to Google that other websites vouch for the quality of your content. So, if you can acquire an expired domain name with backlinks, this could give your new website a boost in search engine rankings. 

Traffic

Another reason to buy an expired domain name is that it may already have some traffic coming to it. If people were previously visiting the website associated with the domain name, there's a chance they'll type in the URL even after it expires and land on your new website. This could provide you with a nice stream of web traffic without having to do much marketing or promotion yourself. 

What Are The Risks Of Buying An Expired Domain?

Of course, there are some risks associated with buying an expired domain name. For instance, you don't know why the previous owner let it expire in the first place. 

• It's possible they didn't renew it because the website wasn't generating enough revenue to justify the cost. In that case, you could be inheriting a money pit. 
• The domain could have been used for spam or other nefarious activities, which could get your new website penalized by Google. 

So, there are pros and cons to consider before buying an expired domain name. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Check a Domain History

After all, a domain name is an asset that can be bought, sold, or traded just like any other piece of property. Just like any other asset, it is important to do your due diligence before making a purchase. 

A domain history will give you an idea of whether the domain has been used for malicious purposes in the past, or if it has been involved in any disputes.

How to check a domain history

1. Use A Whois Lookup Tool

WHOIS lookup tool will show you the contact information for the current owner of the domain, as well as its registration date and expiration date.

2. A Reverse WHOIS Lookup Tool

You can also use a reverse WHOIS lookup tool to find out who has registered multiple domains. This can be useful if you are trying to track down a cybersquatter or someone who is engaged in trademark infringement.

3. Wayback Machine

Also use the Wayback Machine to see how a website looked in the past. This can be helpful in determining whether a domain has been used for spam or other unethical purposes.

What to look for in a domain history

First, you want to make sure that the domain has been around for at least a few years. This will give you an indication of its stability and also allow you to see how it has been used in the past.

You also want to check to see if the domain has ever been involved in any kind of malicious activity. This can include spamming, phishing, or other types of scams. If you see any evidence of this kind of activity, it is best to avoid the domain altogether.

Don't forget to take a look at the Whois record for the domain. This will give you information on who owns the domain and when it was registered. This can be helpful in determining if the domain is currently owned by someone who is trying to sell it or if it is owned by a company that is legitimate.

How To Buy An Expired Domain Name

Here are the steps that you should take to buy an expired domain name.

1. Make sure the domain is actually expired. You can check this by doing a WHOIS lookup on the domain. If it's returning results, then it's still active.
2. Take a look at the domain's history. Use a service like Wayback Machine to see how the domain was being used in the past. This will give you an idea of what kind of site it could be used for now.
3. Check the link profile of the domain. See if there are any spammy or low-quality links pointing to it. If so, then it's likely that Google will penalize any site that tries to use that domain.
4. Contact the current owner and try to negotiate a price. If they're not interested in selling, then you can try contacting the registrar directly and asking about purchasing the domain after it expires.
5. Make sure you understand all the terms and conditions before buying an expired domain name. There may be some restrictions on what you can do with it, so it's important to know what you're getting into before making a purchase.

The Best Places To Buy Expired Domain Names

Here are a few of the most popular places to buy;

NameJet

NameJet is one of the most popular places to buy expired domain names. They offer a wide variety of domains, and their auction process is very user-friendly.

GoDaddy Auctions

GoDaddy Auctions is another well-known platform for buying expired domain names. They also have a large selection of domains, and their interface is fairly straightforward.

SnapNames

SnapNames is a great option if you’re looking for premium expired domain names. They have a rigorous screening process for their domains, so you can be sure you’re getting a high-quality domain.

Dynadot

Dynadot is another excellent choice for buying expired domain names. They offer competitive prices and have a user-friendly platform.

Flippa

Flippa is a good option if you want to buy multiple expired domain names at once. They offer bulk discounts, making it a cost-effective option for those looking to build up a portfolio of domains.

How To Renew An Expiring Domain Name

The process of renewing a live domain is slightly different from buying an already expired domain because it's still owned by someone else. The process can be complex and time-consuming. Here's a basic guide on how to renew an expired domain:

1. Check the WHOIS database to see if the domain is available for purchase.
2. If the domain is available, contact the registrar to begin the renewal process.
3. Follow the registrar's instructions to renew your domain name.
4. Once your domain name has been renewed, update your DNS settings so that your website continues to resolve properly.

Conclusion

It's important to do your research before you buy an expired domain name, as there are a lot of factors to consider. With that said, if you follow the tips in this article, you'll be well on your way to finding and purchasing the perfect expired domain name for your business. Thanks for reading!