Domains of thieves? Yes, a tricky subcategory of those buyers and resellers of the domain that we call domainers .
To buy a deferred or expiring domain name (also known as: trap) is not an illegal activity in itself: you buy domains that no one else requires, and if you mean to use them legally (for personal or commercial purposes), then you are a good domain owner, not a thief.
Of course, being a good domain name means that you need to make sure that the domain names you purchase are not branded, that is, they do not represent registered trademarks, otherwise you can be responsible for cybersquatting , then there are supporters who buy for resale, and this is another legitimate activity.
Unfortunately, not all domains are good marketers. Some, frankly, are pretty obsessed; as soon as they determine a specific domain — which they find attractive for its name, PageRank, link popularity, Alexa or mozRank — they will use all known measures to acquire it, even to the extent that they try to trick the domain owner’s integrity or attempt violate his privacy.
Obviously, the above is NOT legal activity. Registering an unclaimed domain is one thing, but it is unacceptable to force the registrar to abandon his domain name. And rude. I have faced similar violence, and if you did it too, you well know how dangerous this can be for your business.
The following guide was written to suit your situation, while all 6 tips were personally tested as a counter-strategy to protect my own domain names.
1. Never, never let your domain expire
Renew your domain name at least two months before the expiration date and for at least two years. Do not let it expire, because the domainrs can use the option to get the domain – the domain backorder – which will enable them to “pre-order” your domain before it expires and it will become available for registration.
Pay attention to the REGISTRAR-HOLD status of your domain: if it is set to REDEMPTIONPERIOD or PENDINGDELETE, hurry up and update it. There are other status codes besides these two too.
Is Domain Backorder a legitimate purchase?
As a rule, the return of the order is considered legal, although risky for the buyer. In fact, Backorder is just the hope of having the opportunity to acquire a domain name in one day, but the current registrant can renew the domain at any time before it falls, which will exceed the buyer’s purchase. Domain delays are expensive compared to standard domain prices, so this is never the first option to consider when acquiring a domain name. Here are some of the popular domain mismatch websites:
2. Enable domain lock
When a new domain name is registered, your registrar will automatically apply a domain lock. Domain blocking is a security setting that prohibits the unauthorized transfer of your domain name to other registrars, but you can temporarily disable it to allow transfer or enable other settings. In any case, pay attention to the decisive role that this option plays, and do not forget to turn it back on after you finish, because it is a safe system that prohibits cunning domains from stealing your domain.
3. Enable WHOIS Protection
Registrars such as Hover.com and NameCheap.com offer this option for free during the first year of registration. WHOIS protection allows you to completely hide all information related to the domain, including your general information, email address, contact phone number and home address.
All protected WHOIS queries return general registrar information and nothing more. To check your WHOIS information, you can use services such as who.is , or if you use a UNIX-based OS, simply enter your terminal:
whois domainname.com4. Your domain is NOT for sale
Indicate this using the banner on the main page or disclaimer in which you say that every offer to buy your domain will be automatically ignored. If your registrar accepts the “Organization Name” or the optional “Street Address” fields, use the “DOMAIN NOT FOR SALE” field. This strategy will reduce the likelihood that the domain will contact you by email to request a quote.
5. Ignore or report abusive messages
Try to ignore persistent domain name requests. In the (rare) case, they insult or threaten you, notify your email provider and domain registrar or Internet provider, if available. Defamation and threat are crimes and may be prosecuted.
6. Do not give in to requests
The cunning supporters are subtle: they try to manipulate you so that you can understand your sense of security and confidence so that they ultimately acquire your domain without your consent.
Do not give up! Your domain name belongs to you for a reason that you worked hard to increase your reputation and its value in the eyes of search engines. Do not let the “lazy” dominers take advantage of the fruits of your labor. If you are not interested in selling your domain, avoid falling into the trap of an obsessed domain.