How would you like to make a 75,000% return on your investment? The domain name, ringtones.com, recently sold for a whopping $750,000 according to DN Journal. The original registration cost was likely around $10.00. This is not typical but it is becoming more and more commonplace as the demand for domain names increase and the available domain names decrease. After all, an estimated 47 million websites were added in 2009 and they all need domain names.
A little about domain names: Domain names are registered through registrars accredited by Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). You might be more familiar with some of the accredited registrars such as GoDaddy, Dotster or others. The domain name (sometimes referred to as the URL) is the address, www.MyDomainName.com , by which viewers find your website. When a viewer looks up a particular website, the request goes to the registrar that documents the name server for that domain name and the name server then points to the web server where the website’s files reside. Think of the name server as a post office. It keeps track of the addresses (domain names) and their physical location (web server/IP). The appropriate web file is retrieved and your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) then interprets the file and presents the page for your viewing pleasure.
Typically, a domain name can be registered for about $10-$30 per year. However, we live in a capitalist society so you can buy an unregistered domain name and resell it for a profit. Since there is a limited supply of unique desirable domain names, many have bought up domain names with aspirations of making money. So are you out of luck? Not really, unless your surname is McDonald and you’re looking to create a family web page McDonalds.com.
The more generic or commonplace the name, the better chance that it’s already been registered. However, domain names are potentially as limitless as the letter/number combinations that make them up. So it’s possible that you can find a name that is specially suited to you. Furthermore, there are a number of suffixes available for each name. Although .com is by far the most recognized, many others exist such as .net, .org, .us, .info and many others, some of which are country specific. If ‘gidgetsandgadgets.com’ is already taken, perhaps ‘gadgetsandgadgets.us’ is available. Most registrars will offer alternative names if the one you choose is taken. (Note: domain names are not case sensitive.)
One thing to keep in mind when purchasing a domain name is that google may place a website higher in the search results if it has a pertinent keyword within the domain name. So if you sell gadgets then you may want a domain name like Bobsgadgets.com. Your web designer should be able to help you choose a name that will work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment