How many times have you bookmarked a web site and, months later,
gone back to find that the original content has disappeared and
the new web site appears to be a directory of links? How
frustrating is that! Have you stopped and considered why this is
happening? If you were the owner of the domain name, how annoyed
were you to find that your domain is live and well and earning
someone else some money when you couldn’t make an honest dollar
from your old web site?
There are several things which you ought to know about your
domain name registration. While you pay for the annual renewal
of the registration, and especially if you have “locked” your
domain name, it is yours. However, when you don’t renew the name
with your registrar, it goes through a protection scheme of up
to 75 days when you can renew the registration and add the
domain name back into your portfolio. After that, it’s open
hunting season for expired domain names, particularly those with
web traffic.
There are many Domain Name Hunters who scour the internet each
and every day looking for valuable domains which show signs of
death. The obvious signs are that the domain hasn’t been renewed
and is in the redemption period. There are several well known
companies whose sole role in life is to snap up the expired
domains THE SECOND that they become available again (they have
developed software to allow them to do this) – and then they
either sell them to the highest bidder – or put a directory site
on them which has a whole lot of affiliate links of one kind or
another. Then they sit back and let your work in building
traffic bring in a small income each month. As they probably own
thousands of domains, this business can be extremely profitable
for them. All this is perfectly legal and above board. These are
genuine businesses who are breaking no rules and they are
expanding all the time.
What can you do about those unwanted, unprofitable domain names
which you have marketed so assiduously?
You have several options.
·You could put a “This domain is for sale” notice on your web
site and see if someone will make you an offer. ·Consider
selling your complete web site – it may be that your competitors
are interested in your site. ·Allow the domain name to lapse and
someone else may benefit from your work; – but the best solution
may be to ·Keep your domain registration up to date and sell it
at online auction at http://www.sellmydomain.co.uk
There’s more! …. Have you also spotted that some domain name
registrars are putting up a “this domain may be for sale” page
if you allow your registration to lapse for more than three or
four days and they are redirecting your web site to their name
servers and their own directory site. This is happening only a
few days after your domain should have been renewed. Arguably
domain registrars have a right to do this, as it is in their
terms and conditions of contract. However, for you the
consequences might be loss of search engine ranking, if you
still wish to maintain your web site. It certainly also means
loss of control of the domain if you do wish to sell it.
In these circumstances, we recommend renewing the domain
registration, even if you do not pay for hosting; then YOU can
choose how to sell the domain and if you’d like to test the
waters by auctioning your web site at
http://www.sellmydomain.co.uk. That’s how you can give your
unwanted domains a good send off!
Margaret MacGillivray is a self-confessed domain-aholic! – She
has bought and sold domains and web sites and software for
several years now. Find out more at
http://www.sellmydomain.co.uk – where listing your domain for
sale is free, with a modest commission paid only if it is sold.
