Domain Name Renewals Create Opportunity

Just as in the property market, the credit squeeze and signs of recession are creating some opportunities in the domain name market.

I can understand why.

I've just renewed a bunch of domain names this morning and have spent a fair bit of cash in doing so.

These renewals add up and that doesn't take into account any new domains I buy or acquire along the way.

Many people have jumped into the domain market, registering any old rubbish just to get started.

They have played at being a domainer for a couple or years (some more than that) and haven't the avalanche of cash coming in that they expected.

The offers to buy their domains haven't come in thick and fast either, despite their almost uncanny ability to spot the unique opportunity for regsistering a whole portfolio of names like, "this-domain-will-earn-me-a-fortune-because-one-day-everybody-will-want-it.com".

Well guess what?

These are the people who are feeling the squeeze.

In amongst the rubbish, there could be a few gems waiting to be plucked up in the drops.

Personally, I don't bother with the drops anymore. They've become too much of an auction and to be frank, there aren't that many niches that I am interested in these days.

However, for those very few areas I am interested in, I have certain domains on watch. Some of these names are .co.uk and others are .com.

The .co.uk ones make easy pickings for a predatory domainer.

The renewal and drop process is very predicatable, so all I do is watch the expiry dates. I then contact the owners and make them an offer.

In many cases, these people are so disappointed with domain names that they are pleased just to get an enquiry about their name.

Do I start off by asking if it's for sale?

Not a chance. I usually drop them a line (or call them if I can find their telephone number) and explain that their domain name is about to expire.

It's the response I get that determines whether I might be onto something good. You should try it.

Believe me, most won't suddenly go out and renew the name themselves and then stick it in an auction. Many be glad to sell a name that is in the redemption period without having to spend another penny on it. That's how short-sighted some people can be.

The fact remains that a lot of people simply can't afford the renewals at the moment and many have forgotten about the treasures they have lurking at the bottom of their sock drawer!

By the way, I'm not one of them!