Name Dropping and Catching

[ftaylor]

I'm pretty new to the game and I just want to clarify a few terms and form a better understanding.

Name dropping is when someone chooses not to renew a name right?

How long does a holding period usually last after a domain expires?

I have heard mention of software that lets you watch domains that are being dropped. Anyone know about this?

What is the best way to catch a dropped domain?

Cheers

Finbarr

[HuntingMoon]

I'm pretty new to the game and I just want to clarify a few terms and form a better understanding.

Name dropping is when someone chooses not to renew a name right?

How long does a holding period usually last after a domain expires?

I have heard mention of software that lets you watch domains that are being dropped. Anyone know about this?

What is the best way to catch a dropped domain?

Cheers

Finbarr

it says no advertising, but to answer your questions, 1) yes. 2) the time varies but i would say about 60 days. 3) Pending Delete Domain Watcher 4) use all the major backorder sites: snap/namejet/pool/etc..

be patient and persistent.

[draggar]

Domain also lets you monitor specific domains for changes (renewals, drops, etc..) but if you want keywords then don't go with them, do as HuntingMoon suggested, subscribe to daily emails from Snap, Pool, Namejet etc.

[Tim Schoon]

useful blogpost, from 2005 but still up to date^^
http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/a...xpiring-domain

[ftaylor]

Thanks for the info folks. I'll check it out.

[biggedon]

before you go off exploring the links people post here, which were removed because your questions can be answered without sending you astray

it's important to have a niche' or area in which you concentrate on

imo don't spend any cash on software that claims to provide drop lists.

you can find any domain that is expiring for free at namejet, snapnames or pool.

[Dale Hubbard]

If you are into the .uk market, then I'm your man. The .uk ccTLD doesn't work like the above.

[socalboy]

LOL Finbarr. 99.99%+ of the drops are crap. I'm amazed at what people pick up just because it's a "drop." Way overhyped. Assume almost all are worthless, even those that are multi-bid. Do your research. If you find one on which you want to bid, set a *reasonable* max price. Remember, a great domain can be resold for xxxx-xxxxx, a good one for xxx, and everything else less. Buyer beware! Good luck, Eric.

[ftaylor]

I appreciate the advice folks. I'm just teaching myself at the moment!

[radioz]

You aren't going to find any one word domains dropping in the .COM, .NET, or .ORG world. In the rare even that they do, you must apply for them at one of the auction sites such as Pool.COM, SnapNames.COM, or NameJet.COM. GoDaddy.COM offers a drop service that is cheap and is a non-auction format. You will catch few (if any) top domains there although they can be useful at times for specialty names. They aren't bad for catching lesser extension .BIZ and .US extensions though. '4Domains.COM/backroom' can catch some new extension (.BIZ, .INFO, and .US) names too. You also aren't going to catch even most 'fair' quality names without using a drop catcher. In fact, you likely aren't going to catch ANY names on your own without outside help of some sort.

The only extension to register any 'cutesy' names is really .COM and you should think hard about that especially if you are new. You should also think very hard when registering .BIZ, .INFO, or .US domains. Even good ones are worth only a penny or two on the dollar (at best) as compared to .COM in resale value. A .NET or .ORG name is likely worth about 5-10 cents on the dollar as compared to a like .COM name and that doesn't really apply to 'cute names (ie - 'eBigStuff' or 'Doofy1'). Past tense names (Auctioned, Radioed) and negative names (DanvilleSucks)aren't worth much either. DON'T REGISTER (or buy) OBVIOUS TRADEMARK NAMES, EVER!! I see newbies list some mediocre .BIZ 'one word!' .BIZ domain with a $6K BIN here at DNF all the time. Bad news, that sale ain't gonna happen (with a very few exception that you aren't too likely to see dropping)! Unless it's something like 'Sex' or 'Cars', don't even think about .WS, .CC, .BZ, or most other 'orphan' country code domains'. .TV is a definite exception but it's expensive and I'd recommend care.

Most of us have wasted a lot of money when we got into this business registering names that we really should have avoided. Look for what actually SELLS here at DNF rather than the many absurd prices that you will see for questionably cute or crappy extension domains that likely won't ever sell for much, if anything. You are best to look for niche domains in fields that you really know something about. To that end, a good way to keep appraised of names that you know something about is Pool.COM's 'Keyword Alert' service. You can enter names to watch such as, perhaps, town and geo names for places near you that you know something about and names regarding fields that you know something about.

Good Luck!

[ftaylor]

Thankyou for your very informative post radioz. Appreciated.

[DomainMillionaire]

do a search . theres a ton of resources out there.