Domain names are integral to the success of a web site — and established domain names, like well-known companies, carry with them automatic recognition, which makes finding an expired domain name a tremendous advantage. Simply put, in the highly competitive and heavily trafficked internet, simply having a web site is not enough to attract the attention of potential clientele, even if they search for the exact services you are offering. If you have a new domain name, you are starting from scratch. SEO, or search engine optimization, is a process that requires hundreds of links and specially formulated keywords to make your web site appear on the page one results of a major search engine.
Old domain names often come with a certain residual SEO, due to having existed long enough to have built links, page rankings, and consequently, established a kind of cyber-reputation with the major search engines. Naturally, there are a few factors to consider when taking on an expired domain name. You want to choose a domain name that features in its title a primary keyword that summarizes the goods or services that your company offers. An old domain name that has associations that run counter to the one your business or enterprise has may not help you at all. Once you’ve found a matching keyword, the older the age of the domain name, the better.
Luckily, these keyword driven expired domain names are easy to find. There are several web sites that are dedicated to helping find recently expired domain names in a variety of fields. Places such as Pool.com regularly monitor and collect recently expired domain names. If you’re about to launch a company, it’s a good idea to start checking sites like these on a frequent basis to get an idea of what’s out there. Recommission offers an expired domain search tool to help drill down on the newest list of expiring domain names. With our advanced search tools you can scan through a list of 40,000+ expiring domain names in a matter of minutes.
On occasion, the owners of a domain name will sell their domain directly to you, even if it has not yet expired. If you can find a particularly relevant, highly trafficked domain name that suits your business perfectly, it is well worth the effort to contact the owners and find out if they are willing to sell the name. You will save yourself a great deal of time and energy on virtual marketing by having a pre-established presence on the internet.
However, be wary. Always conduct thorough research on any potential domain name. On occasion, some domain name vendors will provide what is known as a false page rank. You can verify the domain name ranking by making sure the domain name itself, and not a re-directed version, appears when searched for directly in the search box of a major search engine. If you can’t find the domain name, or the website appears to have no links whatsoever, you may be dealing with an untrustworthy vendor.
Ultimately, finding a good expired domain name is like buying a well-known, prosperous company. You’re starting with communal good-will, an established reputation, and a solid, identifiable location. What you make of it after that is up to you — but you’ll be off to a great start.