• Section: Increase Traffic - Category: Domain Name
• Written by E Margaret Macgi

How many times have you bookmarked a web site and, months later,gone back to find that the original content has disappeared andthe new web site appears to be a directory of links? Howfrustrating is that! Have you stopped and considered why this ishappening? If you were the owner of the domain name, how annoyedwere you to find that your domain is live and well and earningsomeone else some money when you couldn't make an honest dollarfrom your old web site?

There are several things which you ought to know about yourdomain name registration. While you pay for the annual renewalof the registration, and especially if you have "locked" yourdomain name, it is yours. However, when you don't renew the namewith your registrar, it goes through a protection scheme of upto 75 days when you can renew the registration and add thedomain name back into your portfolio. After that, it's openhunting season for expired domain names, particularly those withweb traffic.

There are many Domain N

ame Hunters who scour the internet eachand every day looking for valuable domains which show signs ofdeath. The obvious signs are that the domain hasn't been renewedand is in the redemption period. There are several well knowncompanies whose sole role in life is to snap up the expireddomains THE SECOND that they become available again (they havedeveloped software to allow them to do this) - and then theyeither sell them to the highest bidder - or put a directory siteon them which has a whole lot of affiliate links of one kind oranother. Then they sit back and let your work in buildingtraffic bring in a small income each month. As they probably ownthousands of domains, this business can be extremely profitablefor them. All this is perfectly legal and above board. These aregenuine businesses who are breaking no rules and they areexpanding all the time.

What can you do about those unwanted, unprofitable domain nameswhich you have marketed so assiduously?

You have several options.

·You could put a "This domain is for sale" notice on your website and see if someone will make you an offer. ·Considerselling your complete web site - it may be that your competitorsare interested in your site. ·Allow the domain name to lapse andsomeone else may benefit from your work; - but the best solutionmay be to ·Keep your domain registration up to date and sell itat online auction at http://www.sellmydomain.co.uk

There's more! .... Have you also spotted that some domain nameregistrars are putting up a "this domain may be for sale" pageif you allow your registration to lapse for more than three orfour days and they are redirecting your web site to their nameservers and their own directory site. This is happening only afew days after your domain should have been renewed. Arguablydomain registrars have a right to do this, as it is in theirterms and conditions of contract. However, for you theconsequences might be loss of search engine ranking, if youstill wish to maintain your web site. It certainly also meansloss of control of the domain if you do wish to sell it.

In these circumstances, we recommend renewing the domainregistration, even if you do not pay for hosting; then YOU canchoose how to sell the domain and if you'd like to test thewaters by auctioning your web site athttp://www.sellmydomain.co.uk. That's how you can give yourunwanted domains a good send off!

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