Dead Domains - find out How to give them a Good Send
Off by E Margaret MacGillivray
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!
About the Author
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.
