How do I Invest in Internet Domain Names?

Just as there's money to be made by buying and selling real-world real-estate, there's money in the trading of Internet real-estate, too. Known as "domains," these discreet units of online property can be purchased, developed and sold for considerable profits. Some agents choose to simply purchase domains and sit on them, waiting for others to approach with an offer. Investing in a domain can lead to serious money, and usually only costs a fraction of what a good domain will sell for.

Instructions

Difficulty:

Step 1

Go to a domain registrar. There are dozens to be found, each offering slightly different services at slightly different costs. Popular examples include Go Daddy, Network Solutions, and eNom.

Step 2

Register at the site of your choosing. Since these sites deal with the purchase of a good, be expected to enter your financial information.

Step 3

Search the database to make sure your desired domain name isn't already registered to somebody else. If it's available, you'll be given the option to purchase it yourself.

Step 4

Enter your registrant information. This step is comparable to signing a lease, placing your name and information on the property for the length of the registration term. Once you're done, the domain name is yours, and you can either develop it for yourself or sit on it, waiting to sell it to an interested developer at an increased price.

References

• igoldrush: registering your domain names

Tips & Warnings

• Some unscrupulous "registrars" will put your name on the contact and billing information, but register the site to themselves. This means that they'll technically own the domain themselves, so you won't be able to sell it to others later, even if you've personally invested a great deal of time and money into popularizing its name. Registering a domain name that includes someone else's registered trademark or someone else's name with the intention of charging the person or trademark owner a high price for the domain name can get you into legal trouble. Familiarize yourself with anticybersquatting law if you plan to invest in domain names.
• Some unscrupulous "registrars" will put your name on the contact and billing information, but register the site to themselves. This means that they'll technically own the domain themselves, so you won't be able to sell it to others later, even if you've personally invested a great deal of time and money into popularizing its name.
• Registering a domain name that includes someone else's registered trademark or someone else's name with the intention of charging the person or trademark owner a high price for the domain name can get you into legal trouble. Familiarize yourself with anticybersquatting law if you plan to invest in domain names.