Owning a domain name is comparable to owning a piece of real estate via the internet. If you are seeking to buy an expiring domain name, then consider using a domain backorder service to help secure that domain and your place on the internet.
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Domain backordering is a fascinating process. Your preferred domain backorder provider will keep an eye on when the domain drops, and hopefully retain the domain for you before any competing backorder service tries to secure the name for their customer.
The process of catching dropped domains is competitive due to these providers technology, efficiency, and their connections with the registrars.
Items to Look out for from Your Domain Backorder Service Company
Fees for securing the domain name
Complimentary scanning of the list of domain names expiring
Contact you via email to notify you when your domain becomes available
Hidden costs for the backorder service
Some Providers Charge a Fee and Some Don’t Charge a Fee
DropCatch: DropCatch states that there are no costs to place a backorder. You are charged when DropCatch successfully acquires the domain name on your behalf. If DropCatch is unable to secure the domain that you want, then they won’t charge you for their efforts.
NameJet: You don’t have to pay any cost to place a backorder request using the NameJet platform. You will only owe for the domains that you acquire through NameJet. Customers will be required to pay the backorder amount entered for single backorder sales and will pay the highest winning bid for any multi-bidder auctions.
Pool: States that there are no fees to place a backorder on a deleting domain. You are required to pay if the domain is successfully acquired for you.
GoDaddy: When you backorder a domain name, GoDaddy will apply your payment to the domain name when it expires. If you're the only one who backordered the domain name, it's yours at no additional cost. If it goes to auction, they will use your backorder payment to place the opening bid.
Dynadot: You must have completed a successful order with Dynadot within the last 365 days. If you are new to Dynadot or do not have a recent order history, the easiest way to fulfill this requirement is by creating a prepaid order.
SnapNames: Once you find the domain name you want, the minimum bid price for the name and whether it is available for sale or only available for backorder will be shown next to it.
Backordering domains is not a fail-safe solution. You may come across some minor hiccups in the typical backordering process due to various reasons.
For instance, the domain owner may decide to renew the domain before it is deleted. The name could be on a “Hold” status that has a possible trademark or intellectual property ownership dispute.
The success or lack of success of securing the domain name relies on the level of effectiveness on coordinating the help between different registrars, the cost of backordering the domain in addition to the competence of the person using the backorder service.
Typically it could take up to seventy-five days of the entire deletion process before an expiring domain name becomes available to purchase.
The Deletion Process
A domain owner can register a domain from one to ten years if they continue to renew the domain before the domain name expiration period. If the domain owner does not renew the domain before the expiration, the domain will go through a deletion process until it is finally deleted from the registry.
Source: ICANN
Domain Name Expiration Process
Grace Period: The registrar will put the name on the Register-Hold Status. The "Grace Period" is a period of zero to thirty days when the domain owner can renew the domain at the regular renewal fee.
Although so, the domain owner will not have the full use of the domain, like everyday things like email and the website. Suspension of these features depends on the TOS of their registrar. If the owner would like to use these feature again that have been suspended, then the owner will have to renew their domain.
If the domain owner doesn’t take any action after the grace period, the domain goes into a “Redemption Grace Period” status.
Redemption Grace Period: During this stage, the domain will stay in the redemption period for a month. If the owner would like to recover the domain, then she will have to contact the registrar and go through their process of recovering the domain name.
The registrar will charge a penalty fee around $200 (varies between registrars) and possibly other additional fees. Now once the fees are paid, the name will go into a “Pending Restore” stage for seven days. At this turning point, features like web pages, links, and email access are given back to the owner.
The registrar will submit a restored certificate to the registry, and after approval from the registry, the domain will finally be back to active status.
If the domain remains in the Redemption stage due to no action by the owner, then the domain is moved to the "Pending Delete" stage.
Pending Delete: The domain will remain in the pending deletion period for up to five days. There is nothing the owner can do to recover the domain. The domain will be deleted, and the registrar can't change the status of the domain.
Deletion Stage: After the sixth day, the registrar will delete the name from the registry. At this stage, the significant registrars have batches of expired domain names to release to the public.
The last couple of phases of the deletion period of the domain is the most serious phase for domain traders. Meaning, this is the time when smart, experienced domain investors buy their favorable domains. The registrar will have early information about the status of the domain, and some might pass this information to speculators.
Does Domain Backordering Work?
Yes, backordering domains will work, but it might be difficult to acquire the domain names that you wish due to competition, quick registration by other domain investors or even high purchasing price for the domains. But, you can put your best foot forward and avoid these setbacks by using a reputable domain backordering service.
If you want to secure your desired domain the first thing that you should do is to find the best well-established firm that provides a competing cost with services that will keep an eye on the list of registered domains and snatch them the second that they become available for purchase.
Also, find out how long the company has been established, look for online reviews of their services, and the success rate of securing domains through their domain backorder service.
Domain backordering services have various ways to secure the domain name that you desire through different resources and technology. It is imperative for you to do your research when seeking a service to help you order your domain.
In any event, using a domain backorder service is a favored method for buying an expiring domain name. Moreover, utilizing such a service can bring about excellent results for your domain portfolio or however you may want to apply the domain.
