150 Domain tips

[IconPacks]

Hi guys,

Thought it would be interesting to create a thread where everyone contributes a few tips to make a Top 150 domain tips list. Just general snippets of advice/knowledge that might prove useful to other domainers/developers out there. If we get over 150 tips I'll update the thread title.
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Rules
- only 1 sentence per tip.
- must relate to domain names (buying/selling/development etc...)
- tips not facts, so can be opinions.
- no duplicates.

I'll start, with 5 from me.
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1) Create brandable domains by replacing the first letter(s) of a common word.

2) Don't start work developing an idea around a domain that you don't yet own thinking you can grab it when you're ready!

3) Don't use hyphens in the domain if you can help it.

4) Does the domain look good in upper and lower case?

5) Say the domain out loud before registering it, is it easily pronounceable over the phone?

 

[peaches017]

46) Slow down. When you find 10 solid names in your own mind, register only the best one or two.

 

[IconPacks]

47) Be careful with combining words, they might create unforeseen meanings for your domain! (e.g. Pen Island -> www.penisland.net)

48) Parking your domain can provide extra revenue when your domain is idle.

 

[Lasher]

34) Don't buy names that you don't intend to renew.

Have to disagree a little with this one, I registered FindAWII.com back in May knowing it would only be of any value during the pending console launch shortage. It has more than paid for itself 20 times over since then but probably won't get renewed and was never planned to - once there's plenty of these things on the shelves it's PPC will drop like a rock. Perhaps modify to:

34) Don't buy names that you don't intend to renew, unless they are for a specific occasion.

?

 

[Tippy]

... Don't transfer/push sold Domains prior to receiving payment from the buyer.

... If you find an available name check to see if the plural or singular version are also available.

... If you find an available name check to see if there are other similar names available, for example, I regged GreedyCash.com but prior to regging it I looked up GreedyMoney.com and GreedyBucks.com, both were taken.

... If possible search for end users, selling to domain resellers usually isnt the best way to get the max for your Domain.

... If your interested in a domain which looks like its going to be dropped, contact the current owner and make an offer, once the name does drop you might end up paying alot more for it in the end.

... Find yourself an online domainer friend which you trust and discuss the domains your interested in prior to regging them, always nice to get a second opinion.

 

[VisualArtistFrankBonilla]

Forums

55?) Become a member of Namepros.com !


Frank

 

[IconPacks]

You guys wanna number up yours tips?

 

[domainer50]

56) Stear clear of ebay unless you have a solid name.

 

[ecalc]

57) Sales threads with the word "premium" in the title rarely offer premium names.

 

[IconPacks]

58) Use a domain monitor to watch your domains (dns changes, transfers, locks etc...) and domains you are interested in.

59) Use a mark monitor to watch for when certain keywords are registered as domains, e.g. something using your trademark or close to your brand.

60) Watch for news about new TLDs (Top Level Domains) being launched.

 

[MadAboutDomains]

61) Late night registrations are a no go area. You will wake up in the morning and wish that you had never bought it.
62) If creating a website, register related names in all different extensions to cover yourself as it will save money in the long run on Dispute Filings or having to buy them in the future for $100 a piece, when you could have just got them for practically nothing in the first place.
63) Cheapest isn't always best, the registrar may have hidden charges which may otherwise be free on another registrar.
64) If you have a domain name which has a trademark associated with it, unless you are in a "nothing to lose" (apart from the crummy domain) situation, do not offer it to the company with the registered trademark as this will give the company evidence of an "abusive registration"

 

[IconPacks]

65) Before you register a domain specifically for resale, think... would I buy this domain off someone else?

66) Using l33t speak in your domain name limits it's scope and can make it harder to read/promote.

67) Use Whois name protection to hide your contact details from the world, otherwise it's available as public info.

68) Use The Wayback machine to view old versions of sites at a domain, they may even have put a price up or other interesting info.

69) Before grabbing a domain, check if it's been taken in other extensions already.

 

[randomo]

70) When you are expecting domains to drop, check their availability at more than one registrar. While some show a domain as still taken, others may be showing it as available!

71) All other things being equal, a fairly good .com is better than all but the very best .net/.org/.info, etc.

72) Compose your email messages to potential buyers in a word processor; edit them; and then paste them into your email program. (If you compose in the email program, you might accidentally hit "send" when the message is half written. Sadly, I speak from experience!)

73)When you register a domain, don't try to "flip" it immediately for a small profit. Park it and wait for a while (at least a week or two) to see whether it's getting traffic, which could increase its value.

74) Reward people who help you. (For example, if someone posts an available domain that you grab, or gives a thoughtful appraisal to your domain, give them some rep / NP$ / actual $ / etc.)

47) Be careful with combining words, they might create unforeseen meanings for your domain! (e.g. Pen Island -> www.penisland.net)

I saw one like that on a drop list recently - I think it was DomainsExchange-dot-something.

58) Use a domain monitor to watch your domains (dns changes, transfers, locks etc...) and domains you are interested in.

I never knew how great this advice was until today. For the first time ever, I'm monitoring a domain that I own (only because I started monitoring it before I got it). I got an emailed notice that this domain's DNS had changed. Well, it turns out that the registrar had changed the DNS on all of my domains there (hundreds!) from my parking services to the registrar's own parking!

I just finished restoring the DNS settings. This was the last straw - no more registering with that company! (I will refer to them as "Registrar X" ... though their name is in fact RegisterFly.)

 

[IconPacks]

Some good tips so far ... come on guys we can get to 150

Just remember to check for duplicates, and keep the tips short(ish). Here’s some more from me;

75) free online appraisal systems very often give inaccurate (often inflated) evaluations of domains.

76) On some occasions if a great domain is about to drop, it might be worth while contacting the owner directly before it does - because it will almost certainly be snapped up and go to auction for the highest bid.

77) If you have graphics design experience creating quick logo concepts for the domains you are selling can help potential buyers to share in your vision for the domain, and increase the chance of a sale.

 

[VURG]

Have to disagree a little with this one, I registered FindAWII.com back in May knowing it would only be of any value during the pending console launch shortage. It has more than paid for itself 20 times over since then but probably won't get renewed and was never planned to - once there's plenty of these things on the shelves it's PPC will drop like a rock. Perhaps modify to:

34) Don't buy names that you don't intend to renew, unless they are for a specific occasion.

?

OK. Good Point!

 

[Domainate.com]

I say when this thread gets to 150 tips, it be moved to the Newbie section and Stickied, even if some seasoned domainers could also use some of the advice.

 

[randomo]

78) When considering a registrar, find out whether you can cancel (& get a refund for) domains within a few days after you register them. Some, but not all, registrars offer this option.

 

[RegFee]

76?)Stear clear of ebay unless you have a solid name.

79) Don't steer clear of eBay, just price your names correctly.
80) Don't get greedy when responding to Sedo.com offers unless you really know what you are doing.
81) Don't post ANYTHING on Namepros unless you've read about FLUMP
82) If your name gets listed on GreatDomains.com, you cannot sell it anywhere else for 6 months.
83) If your name isn't accept by GreatDomains.com, don't complain to them, just post about it here.

 

[YesBrilliant]

84) Be very careful to not buy low value IDN domain names, from people who previously registered them, when you may think that you were getting a very nice and valuable one, specially .COMs.

 

[briman1970]

My next tips are somewhat in opposition of these two... (#67 on the thread) Use Whois name protection to hide your contact details from the world, otherwise it's available as public info. (#70 on the thread) When you are expecting domains to drop, check their availability at more than one registrar. While some show a domain as still taken, others may be showing it as available!

85) If your reason for registering a particular domain is to sell it, then make sure your who-is info is accurate and up to date, so buyers can contact you quickly and easily.

86) Check domains with DN Analyzer. If a name shows as taken, go to whois.net and confirm that it actually is. Using several registrars to check for available names will result in the name being stolen by a registrar, a taster or a squatter.

 

[RJ]

87) Be diligent in renewing your domains. Don't procrastinate. If possible, consolidate your names to one registrar to make them easier to keep track of.

88) Avoid current event domains. Today's news is next year's junk domain.

89) Learn the basics about trademarks, contract law, and the UDRP process.

 

[B33R]

90) Your domain is worth whatever someone's willing to pay, NOT what someone else says it's worth.

91) Appraisals are an educated guide price, often a total guess, NOT a final price.

 

[estibot.com]

Great, great thread! Rep added to OP

92) Don't hold on to your whole portfolio in hopes of getting high $$$$$$ for each name, renewing hundreds of names per year at high expense. Instead, hold on to some gems, sell the rest for lower prices, move the goods

93) When you sell 10 names for $50 each, instead of using that $500 for regging 50 inferior names, consider buying a single high quality dotcom for $500

94) Make sure you take into account the expenses of regging, renewing, broker fees, software purchases, transfer costs, whois privacy costs etc when planning your budget. If you don't, you might end up losing money in the long run even if you do make some sales

 

[Fleege]

These are more related to the domain business - since most of the best pure domaining tips were gone... GREAT Thread btw.

95) take domian parking seriously. It's set it and forget it but most people fail to set it.

96) Repark your bottom 20% - some names just do better elsewhere but give them time.

97) List your names everywhere.

98) get a good portfolio site.

99) promote your portfolio site with viral marketing and free sites

100) consider free private label storefronts for some of your names.

101) brand your name give it a tshirt or something

 

[gazzip]

102) Don't assume that just because you own the .com that the owners of the equivalent .co.uk - .de - .fr etc will definetly want it or be willing to pay you big bucks for it.

103) Remember that end users/Business owners do not necessarily think in the same way as a Domainer does.


.

 

[YesBrilliant]

88) Avoid current event domains. Today's news is next year's junk domain.

Please allow me to disagree.

Current event domains ARE good to register because if the event is significant (terror attacks, elections, celebrity scandals...) the amount of traffic is also significant and absolutelly worth the registration fee, even though, certainly, the traffic shall die in a couple of months.

You just have to park the domain, and never develop it. Then you just let it drop.

But you got your - nice - profit when you had it!