Snapnames – A Handy Domain Tool

In the domain world (the world that is constantly changing). There are some handy domain tools that can help you keep ahead of the game. In particular, there is a website called “Snapnames.com” that provides several domain services. However, none greater than being able to place a backorder on an existing (and taken) domain name…

So What’s The Catch – How Much Does This Cost?

Well I would be the first to be skeptical about a domain name service so I appreciate your question.  But as is with every other aspect of the web that we have come to work with  we gain our overall knowledge by using these products – not by theory or academics. We have used Snapnames.com for over 2 years – and to date we have acquired 4 domain names. I have to say it is a buzz when we receive an e-mail stating a domain name has been acquired…

How Exactly Do You Acquire a Domain Name?

OK – we are interested in acquiring a domain name that is important to us or our clients. It is usually a domain name that is rather the primary domain required by a client or it is a very good secondary domain name. The domain name is being held by an owner out there in the “Interland” (Internet Land). I have several options on how to approach acquiring the domain name. One being to contact the owner and ask if the owner is interested in selling the domain name.

So You Would Never Buy A Domain Name Directly?

Well yes I would and I have – but in general you are really rolling the die out there. You need to really know what you are doing. You must understand the real value of the domain name (to you and to the seller – which quite often are not the same).  Recently, I acquired a fabulous domain name for a client. The absolute premier domain name for their business name (and a name that is used all over the country and every state). We purchased the domain for $385.00 which was a tremendous deal.

But Let Me Tell You a Great Snapnames Story…

Over the last 10 years (really from 1997-2007), I was actively involved in promoting Australia. This was with an annual event called the Australian Festival. I am now since retired from this very challenging role (and a recovering Festival Director). Over the course of many years running the festival, and promoting the event primarily thru the web we acquired a very good portfolio of Australian related domain names.

Register Domain With Snapnames (and Let’s See What Happens)…

Usually I will do a “Who Is” to establish the owner of the domain name (and more importantly the expiration date). This expiration date quite often helps you establish the possibilities of the site becoming available. You never know on a domain name – the owner has moved on – the web dude no longer is in business – lots of funny things can happen when the domain is up for renewal…

And Wouldn’t You Know It – Around a Year Later…

Sure enough, just working away – another interesting day at BeareWare (every day is interesting). I received a notification from Snapnames that the domain name – www.australianfestivals.com has been acquired.  For a grand total cost of $59.00. I must say that this was an e-mail that made me smile. Not sure what happened to my “mate” who wanted $10,000.00 for the domain name. But, most likely he had some “bigger” investments to take care.

Domain Expiration – A Little More To It…

And just to make sure I am presenting this Snapnames option to you clearly – when a domain expires – it does not become immediately available on the open market (or whatever market “SnapNames” works with.) When a domain expires it is in expiration mode for approximately 15-30 days. There is actually no guarantee to this time frame and each Registrar can set their standards on this time frame. This period is considered a “renewal period” – which means that no one else can buy the domain during this phase. The owner can renew the domain – sometimes with a penalty fee from the registrar.

So Should You Try Snapnames?

SO – if you have a domain name that you are interested in acquiring – and don’t have the budget to pay the big bucks for it initially (or have tried that route unsuccessfully) then consider adding a back order to Snapnames. It may take a year or it may actually never become available but based on what we have seen with the “wild and unpredictable” management of domain names you might just be pleasantly surprised…

Cheers Mate,

Peter Beare – Webmaster

Peter Beare is CEO of BeareWare, a Website Design & Development Company located just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Since building his first website for a local sports club in 1998 Peter has been a webmaster. Over the last 10 years Peter’s duties with BeareWare have included website planning, design and development, website marketing and sales, as well as database application programming & project management. But when all is said and done, Peter is still a webmaster and this is “Interview with a Webmaster“.