Can I Reserve a Domain Name Before it Expires?

Reserving a domain name requires back ordering and then auctioning the site.

A domain name is the location of a website on the Internet. For example, the website http://www.yahoo.com includes the domain name yahoo.com. When planning on making a website, you will need to buy both a website and a hosting plan.

Expiration

When a consumer purchases a website, the website is typically his for one year plus about a 40-day grace period. To check when a domain expires, use a tool like the Who Is search engine (See Resource 1). After the grace period, the domain enters a month-long redemption period and then a five-day deletion phase.

Back Order

Using a site like Blue Host or Go Daddy, you can put a back order on the domain name you wish to purchase at any time before the deletion phase. The cost is $10 or more depending on the popularity of the domain name. This does not guarantee that you will get the site.

Auction

If the domain name is not popular, your back order may be able to secure the order. If not, there will be an auction for the domain at the end of the deletion phase. You must use a site like Snap Names or Enom to secure the domain name for a price of $50 or more.

References

• Webopedia: What is a Domain Name
• Mike Industries: How to Snatch an Expiring Domain

Resources

• Domain Tools: Who Is
• Go Daddy
• Blue Host
• Snap Names: Domain Name Auctions
• Enom