How to Flip a Domain Quickly

The domain name industry is perhaps one of the most profitable and fastest growing since the advent of the internet. As online business continues to expand domain names are disappearing by the thousands. With the passing of each day, the value of domains are going up. In fact, domain names may be the only property that is not depreciating in value with the current state of the world economy.

Owning a premium domain name is like having a piece of prime real estate right now, and as we approach the middle of the 21^st century, eventually all of the shorter names will be taken. This means that now is as good a time as ever to begin investing in domain names. The problem is, many people don’t know what to do with their domain name once they’ve acquired it. There are two ways to make money with a domain; you can monetize it for personal use or you can sell it and let someone else monetize it. Either way the goal is to produce a profit as quick as possible.

Set Milestones

Although a lot of a domain’s value lies within the name itself, the majority of it’s measurable value lies within it’s traffic attributes. The name may be priceless, but there is no way to tell how much it is worth based on the name alone. Instead of relying on the name alone, you’ll need to build the value of the website b generating traffic and improving it’s search engine ranking. Sites that have high search engines rankings generally sell for more money, but since we are trying to flip the domain as quickly as possible, this will not be our primary focus. Instead, we’ll want to set a time limit, get as much done as possible, and then put the domain on the market.

Focus on Organic Traffic

While you may not be able to reach the top of the search engine within your desired time limit, you can still generate a phenomenal amount of backlinks, which in turn will boost the value of your site. Aside from general page ranking, potential buyers want to know there are a lot of incoming links pointing towards the domain. This will mean instant popularity and little work on their part, which of course boosts the value of the domain. Generating organic repetitive traffic is the best way to boost the value of the domain.

Selling the Domain

Once you have built up the domain’s value, it’s time to find your clients. There are many ways to sell a domain, but since time is of the essence we’ll need to rule out a couple of options. For example, you can’t squat on the domain and wait for a buyer to come along and make a proposal, as this could take years. While this may be wise for long term investors, it is not suitable for our purpose. Instead, we’ll need to take a more proactive approach and go after the clients. One way we can do this is by signing up to multiple domain auction sites or forums and listing the domain for sale. When listing the domain make sure you list all of the important attributes, including how many incoming links you’ve amassed, how much daily traffic the domain generates, and how much revenue (if any) is generated on a daily basis. If you are new to the domain name game, then you may want to start your price at an undisclosed amount and wait for buyers to make offers. Once you have a pool of offers, pick the highest bidder, sell the domain, and then move onto the next.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Feb 01, 2010 : Domain Names No responses yet

Parking Your Domain for Profit

Internet domain sales represent a multi-billion dollar industry, that is rapidly expanding in the passing of each day. Domains are purchased by the thousands daily, by people all around the world. While the purpose that each domain will serve is vastly different, the stages of domain use can be summarized into three categories; domains in construction, domains in use, and parked domains. These stages are pretty self explanatory, with exception to the stage of parking a domain and we will take a look at common questions such as what is a parked domain? why do they exist?

Some people purchase domains with the intent of using them immediately, while others park them for later use. People also park domains to keep their competitors from using domain names that are similar to their domain name. For example, if you own the domain entitled “nonparkeddomain.com,” then you may want to purchase and park a domain entitled “non-parked-domain.com.” If your business begins to grow, your competitors may want to use the success of your business to their advantage, by buying a domain name that is similar to yours. Competitors may also squat on domains that are similar to yours to prevent you from buying them in the future.

Advertising with a Parked Domain

Monetizing parked domains has become a regular practice by many advertising agencies and domain registrars. Most of the parked domains have links on them that earn revenue for the registrar when someone accidentally types in the address of the parked domain.  Usually the parked domain is littered with links that are relevant to the name of the domain. For example, if the parked domain name is: “profits-from-parked-domains.com,” then you’ll see a number of advertisements related to parked domains. This is primarily how advertising dollars are generated with parked domains.

Assuming Expired Domains

Many webmasters engage in a practice known as drop-catching, in which they assume a recently expired domain. This can be beneficial because the expired domain still has many of the incoming links that the old owner spent so much time building. These links offer a boost in search engine optimization without having to do the work that is usually involved in gathering backlinks. Using this method you can have a domain booming with traffic right after you’ve acquired it. It is important to set up the domain as soon as it expires, because the other webmasters that have linked to it will remove the outgoing links to the site once they realize it is no longer active. Therefore it is important to minimize the amount of time the domain is inactive, to retain all of the backlinks acquired by the previous owner.

Reselling Domains

Another way to profit from domain parking is to buy domains with attractive, easily brandable names and then sell them in the future to interested clients. This is a good way to make money from the needs of others. In fact, many companies buy domain names all day long, and then park them waiting on someone to come along who is interested in the domain name. This is definitely another way to monetize a parked domain,as some domain names even sell for several thousand dollars.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Jan 20, 2010 : Domain Names No responses yet

Domain Security: Keeping Control of Your Website

Finding a good domain name can be very difficult, as each day that passes new webmasters are registering all of the god names. With domains in such high demand, it is no wonder then that there are intruders that will do anything they can to take control of your domain for their benefit.  Everyday hackers develop new tools and techniques used to compromise the security of a website, server or personal computer. One of the latest trends is the practice of “domain hijacking.” The process is far more complex than one might imagine, as it involves the hacker gaining access to the administrative  module of a web hosting service. They are now learning not only how to control websites or computers, but entire networks and web hosting companies are being hijacked and all of the customers are being victimized. Once the hackers have access to the server of the web hosting company, they have the ability to change the rights of ownership to domains, which is where the problem begins.

Results of a Domain Hijacking

Recovering from a domain hijacking can be a lot harder than one would expect, as you will need to prove to the web hosting company that you are indeed the rightful owner of the domain.  Some hackers will even hijack the server that controls your domains traffic, redirecting traffic away from your website. This obviously would result in a loss of visitors and therefore money.  The hackers can even  tarnish your reputation by sending out malicious emails in your name, from your website!

Protecting Yourself from Domain Hacking

Most web hosting services offer varying levels of security, therefore it is important to choose only the highest level of security for your domain. It is also important to contact your web hosting provider and ensure that no changes are made to your account without proper notification and permission. The best way to keep track of any changes made to your web hosting account, is to give the hosting company your mobile phone number and email address, and make sure your account is setup to receive notifications when any changes occur. Staying on top of any changes to your account is the best way to prevent domain hijacking. Just this simple security measure could possibly save you thousands of dollars and weeks worth of frustration.

Reliability Over Cost

Domain hijacking is just one of many real threats that need to be considered when choosing a hosting service provider. If you run an online business, there is no room for compromise when it comes to security. Every measure must be taken to ensure the safety of your business and it’s online reputation. Most cheap web hosting companies cannot afford to offer the highest form of security possible. Keep this in mind when choosing a domain registrar. The cheapest solution is often the riskiest as well, and saving a few extra dollars every month is not worth the risk of losing your entire business in the blink of an eye.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Jan 04, 2010 : Domain Names No responses yet

Targeting Specific Demographics With Domain Names

Most people automatically assume that a .com or .net domain is the best way to get the most traffic and to reach their targeted audience. Of course, this is not necessarily false, as both of these domain extensions add a sense of credibility to your website. However, even though a .com or .net domain extension is generally optimal, there are some situations where using a region-specific domain extension would be more beneficial . Using region-specific domain extensions is especially useful when trying to target a particular demographic. For example, if your target audience is in Canada, then you may want to use a .ca domain. The following are several reasons why one would consider using region-specific domain extensions.

Easily Targeting a Specific Audience

As mentioned above, using a region specific domain will allow you to target a particular demographic or region. Using region-specific domain extensions will make it easier for you to offer products or services that are specifically targeted towards customers in a particular region. Doing this will increase your sales conversions, as your visitors will be more likely to be interested in your product.

Increasing Your Potential Customer’s Trust

Many people are more comfortable shopping with merchants that are local or at least within the country. It gives them the assurance that they will receive fast shipping, and personalized service. Of course, many people do not mind shopping globally, but there is a large group of people that are more willing to purchase goods or services from local merchants.

Enhancing Search Engine Optimization

In some cases a domain with a region-specific extension will receive a higher search engine ranking. One such case would be if someone from China is performing a search for: “web hosting company in china,” a site named webhostingcompanies.cn will often rank higher than a website with a .com extension.  There are also directories that people use to find certain products or services in their area. Your site will appear in these directories if you have a domain extension that is specific to that region.

Maximizing Your Marketing

If you want to maximize the potential and outreach of your business, then you may want to consider registering a .com extension and a region specific domain.  Doing this will make your business viewable to international and national users.  Domain names are relatively inexpensive, yet they are an excellent opportunity to diversify your income stream. Making the right decision in regards to your domain name and extension is crucial, as it will represent your brand and your company online.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Dec 22, 2009 : Domain Names No responses yet

What is Domain Slamming?

Back in the 1980s, many consumers were faced with a problem known as telephone slamming.  This term refers to an illegal practice that involved altering the subscriber’s phone service without their authorization or consent.  The issue of telephone slamming became more evident once the telecommunications industry was deregulated in the mid 80s, particularly following the brutal wars over prices among the major providers.  Once the millennium rolled around and the internet rose to prominence, a similar practice called domain slamming began to rear its ugly head.

Domain slamming involves a third-party company sending a domain owner a notification, typically via fax or email, that appears to be a renewal notice, but is actually a solicitation to purchase something from the sender.  Let’s say you receive a notification indicating that it is time to pay a bill to renew your domain name.  If you are someone who is busy or simply wants to protect their online identity, you just may go ahead and comply to get it out of the way.  What you did not notice is the somewhat cryptic writing in the contract you signed that essentially authorized the company to charge you for its products or services.  This is a common scenario that has occurred a countless number of times.

Types of Domain Slamming

For the most part, domain slamming happen is conducted in three ways.  These types are as follows:

Misleading Invoices- Some of the more unscrupulous registrars commit domain slamming just to obtain new customers.  They send you a bill that appears to come from your existing provider, but it is indeed and order form that once completed, switches you over to their service.

Wrong TLD – Perhaps your domain is registered with .com TLD, but you are receiving renewal invoices for .biz., .net and a host of other extensions.  This should raise a red flag immediately.  If you do require domains in these extensions, purchase them directly from your current registrar and don’t fall for the bait in the email.

Additional Services - In this scenario, the bill actually has the correct domain listed, but is aggressively marketing services that could supposedly benefit you.  Since the proposal is likely originating via spam, this company probably does not qualify as the best option for your needs.  If you are interested in what hey have to offer, perform an online search and find a reputable service that can provide the same thing without running the risk of being duped into purchasing something you do not want.

More Warning Signs

By now, most of us realize that registering a domain name should only cost about $10 per year.  However, the fees charged by domain slammers are usually considerably higher.  Prices like this should instantly trigger a red flag.  Another obvious sign is receiving notification via fax or snailmail.  Virtually every registrar on the market will only send information regarding your domain name by email.  You are probably approached in this manner quite frequently, but it is all about knowing how to recognize the tricks and having the smarts to avoid them.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Nov 23, 2009 : Domain Names Tools No responses yet