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?

 

[Michelle]

39) Remember to use any discount codes when registering or renewing, this will save you lots of money

40) Check the name is not blacklisted

41) Invest in the future, the past has already been bought :hehe:

 

[HcDomains]

42) It is MUCH easier to find a sweet Domain in drop list than develop a new one by yourself



BTW, I have a Serious question here:
I am going to develop my new site DNTips.com (Plz refer the post discussion/279955-dntips-com-develop-it-or-sale.html). Can I list all Tips here as part content of my new site? Or it is against the Intelecture Property of NP (Or members who contributed to this thread) ?

 

[IconPacks]

43) If you start registering lots of domains get yourself a domain reseller account to lower the price per domain.

44) Use domain searching software for advanced domain hunting.

 

[JoeCanadian]

45) Choose your registrar carefully. You want a registrar with decent prices, a good reputation on this board and free pushes. Using a well know registrar makes it easier for people to buy from you. GoDaddy is a good choice - although you have to keep track of discount codes to get their best pricing. Moniker is also a good choice and offers discount pricing to NamePros members.

 

[shockie]

(infoicq: i think it is against intellectual property rights unless you make a note on your site saying it was taken from here)

 

[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.