August 30, 2023
Hristo Bogdanov
Expired Domains
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In the ever-evolving digital world, expired domain flipping has become a popular practice. But what is it, and how can it be a source of profit?

This article will clarify the concept of expired domain flipping, explaining its core principles and guiding you through its essential aspects.

Key Takeaways:

Expired domain flipping is a practice where people buy expired domain names and then sell them for a profit.
Find Expired Domains by scraping, drop-catching, or buying from resellers.
Evaluate expired domains before buying.
Find a buyer by exploring popular domain marketplaces or auctions, and promote your expired domains on social media platforms and domain-specific groups and forums.
Be aware of the risks: domain flipping doesn’t guarantee profits, and the money you earn is subject to taxes; be careful about trademarks and copyrights.

Еxpired Domain Flipping Explained

Expired domain flipping is a practice where people buy expired domain names and then sell them for a profit.

When a domain name’s registration expires, it enters a redemption grace period, giving the current owner an extra 30 to 90 days to renew it. Expired domain flippers closely monitor these domains and often catch them once the registration has completely lapsed.

How to Find Expired Domains

When it comes to finding expired domains, there are a few effective methods you can use:

Finding Expired Domains With Scraping

Scraping is entering a domain into specialized software, which scans all the backlinks associated with that domain to uncover high-quality expired domains among these links.

For example, you can check major websites like Wikipedia, The New Yorker, and The Guardian for outgoing links leading to 404 pages and check if these domains are available for registration.

The tools we regularly use in our work are Ahrefs and Scrapebox.

This approach is cheap and effective but can be time-consuming.

Buying Expired Domains Directly From Reseller or Marketplace

Buying an expired domain directly from a seller or marketplace will save you time, but the price will be higher. However, there is always a chance to come across a good, underpriced domain.

These are our recommendations for reliable domain resellers:

SEO.Domains: owns over 100k domains (including TLDs) for sale with history and backlinks at “Buy Now” prices.
GoDaddy: the largest platform for domain names on the web, with 21+ million customers and 84+ million domains.
Domain Coasters: popular marketplace for expired spam-free domains with quality backlinks.
Namecheap: popular domain registrar renowned for its cost-effective domain names.

Get Expired Domains by Drop Catching

Domain drop catching, also known as domain sniping, is a method to secure an expired domain as soon as it becomes available. This involves tracking expiring domains and using automated tools to register them quickly. The service registers the domain with your chosen registrar, and it becomes part of your account.

Usually, the cost for drop-catching is slightly higher than regular registration fees, often less than $10, and you only pay if you successfully secure the domain. However, finding valuable aged domains and competing with others to secure them has become more challenging over time, making it increasingly difficult to obtain desirable domains through this method.

How to Evaluate Expired Domain Before Buying

Several key factors can influence the value of an expired domain.

Backlinks: Websites with strong backlink profiles tend to perform better in search results as search engines see these websites as more trustworthy and can also bring in traffic from the websites that are linking to the expired domain.
SEO Metrics: When it comes to evaluating a domain, understanding SEO metrics is crucial. However, it’s important to remember that not all metrics hold the same weight. Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR) are the metrics that truly make a difference.
Niche Relevance: Many online businesses prefer domains that are closely related to their specific industry, location, products, or services. Having a domain that aligns with their niche helps optimize their website’s performance and marketing efforts.
Keywords: Domains with keywords relevant to popular search queries tend to have a higher market value because they can improve SEO. To identify valuable keywords, use tools like Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner to discover frequently searched terms that can be incorporated into your domain names.
TLDs: The choice of your top-level domain (TLD) significantly affects its value. Well-known TLDs like .com and .co may come at a higher cost but are easier to sell due to their established reputation and trustworthiness. Nevertheless, alternatives like city TLDs (e.g., .paris, .nyc, .tokyo) can be advantageous for small businesses and startups seeking to build a local brand presence.
Domain name: even though the domain name is not a main factor when choosing an expired domain and would not affect the power of links or the effect of 301 redirect, a good name can increase domain value. Good names are considered short and brandable words. Also, names containing high-paying and lucrative keywords can increase the value of the domain.

How to Find a Buyer for Expired Domain Flipping?

After you get the domain, it’s time to find a buyer. These are the ways you can do it:

Explore popular domain marketplaces or auctions to connect with potential buyers.
Promote your expired domains on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and domain-specific groups and forums.
Create a dedicated website or landing page showcasing your expired domains and their potential value.
Use paid advertising to reach potential buyers who are actively searching for specific keywords or industries.

What are The Risks Of Flipping an Expired Domain?

There are some risks with expired domain flipping that you should be aware of:

Be Careful of Trademarks

While buying and selling domains is legal, you could face problems with ownership. If you buy a domain that violates another company’s trademark, you might be accused of cybersquatting. Before buying and selling domains, check for copyrights, existing business names, and domain blocklists. Verify your chosen domain’s originality by searching the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) database.

Uncertain Profitability

Domain flipping doesn’t guarantee profits; some domains sell quickly, while others may take months or years to find a buyer. A domain loses SEO value and links while it is without a site.

When a domain remains without a website for a long time, it loses its SEO value and backlinks.

Unlike stocks or forex, domain values are subjective and unpredictable. If you’re new to domain flipping, start with a small budget and increase it as you gain experience.

Taxation on Earnings

Keep in mind that the money you earn from flipping domains is subject to taxes. Maintain records of your domain sales and profits for tax reporting. Consider consulting a financial advisor for better investment planning.