What Address Will People Type Or Click To Access Your Website?
Domain Name Resources
Top Domain Name Registrars & Domain Investor Resources
Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) & Other Domain Name Resources for Business Owners & Domain Investors.
A Domain Name Registrar (DNR) is a service that helps you register your domain name. This is the website “address” that people will type or click to access your website online.
Your hosting provider can be your Domain Name Registrar, but it does not have to be. For when you want to keep the hosting and domain name separate, these DNRs are recommended. For example, you can have your domain registered with GoDaddy and your hosting provided by Siteground or another hosting provider.
This page also lists tools for domain investors. Many of these are tools that we’d use as part of the Domain Name Acquisition Service.
Related pages:
- Website Services
- Domain Name Brokering Service
Mirex Marketing Domains
Register your domain name along with a Mirex Marketing hosting account.
Coming Soon
GoDaddy Domains
Recommended for DNR and other tools. Not recommended for hosting.
Namecheap DNR
A very affordable option for domains. Not recommended for WordPress hosting.
Details, Discounts
Namecheap tends to live up to their name for all of their services. We do not recommend them for WordPress hosting, but for Domain Name registration this is one of the most affordable options you’ll find. Plus they have free Domain Privacy.
ICANN Whois Search
Search for available domain names without being tracked or sidewinded.
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ICANN is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. They are the nonprofit organization responsible for regulating all domain names on the internet world-wide.
Their Lookup tool will simply reveal which domains are registered and which are not. For those that are registered it will give the available information of the registrant. There is no tracking. If you go to other whois searches online, then your IP or your domain search could be getting tracked and if you show interest in a domain without purchasing it immediately, then someone else might buy it before you come back to it.
Domain Name Valuations
Use these tools to help determine the current value of a domain name.
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We have not tested all these tools yet. They will each give you a different number because they use different data to determine the value of the domain. We also do not know if these tools track user behavior like some whois search tools (see description for ICANN for more on whois searches).
https://namebio.com/ – this one is unique since it’s not an AI domain valuation tool, it’s a comparison tool so you can see domains for sale that are similar to the one you’re interested in.
https://www.dynadot.com/domain/appraisal
https://www.godaddy.com/domain-value-appraisal (they probably track searches, same as their whois search)
Sedo
Sedo is the most popular domain name marketplaces, includes premium domains.
Details, Discounts
Almost all hosting providers and Domain Name Registerars (DNRs) can register new domains. However a domain marketplace will list domains that are currently owned, but the owner is already open to selling. If they have listed it in the marketplace then it is for sale.
Sedo is one of the most well-known domain marketplaces.
Flippa
A digital marketplace which has domain names among other digital products.
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Flippa does not just list domain names. It’s a market place for any digital property. It’s a place where people can buy or sell anything digital, such as domain names, pre-built websites, operating ecommerce stores, developed applications, content, social media profiles, etc.
Escrow.com
A common escrow service when purchasing domains from a seller.
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Those who have purchased real estate will be familiar with what an escrow service is. An escrow service takes money from the buyer and holds it until the seller has delivered what they are selling in full. Sometimes they will take the initial deposit and hold it until the seller delivers the rest of the money. That way the seller knows the buyer has committed and the buyer knows the seller can’t take the money and run without delivering what is due. Usually the Title Agency provides this service in a real estate transaction. But what if you’re selling or buying something like a domain name? Escrow.com is one of the most commone escrow services for products bought and sold online, including domain names.
Brand Bucket
A brand marketplace that usually includes premium domain names and logos.
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BrandBucket is unique among domain name market places because it focuses on building a brand instead of just selling a domain name, though every listing includes and is built on a premium domain name for sale. They include a logo with brand.
NameJet
Popular resource for Domain Name Backorders and expired domains.
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Domain backordering is when you place an order for a domain that is currently owned and if it becomes availabel the service will do their best to acquire it for you. A lot has to happen for a domain to expire and become available again. When they acquire the domain it will likely have to stay in your Namejet account for a period of time because they are technically purchasing it for you. Once a domain is purchased it cannot be transferred for a period of time. You pay nothing if they do not aquire the domain. If they acquire the domain then it will be $79, unless someone else has placed a backorder for the same domain. In that case they could auction it to the highest bidder.
DropCatch.com
Another domain backordering service & expired domain marketplace.
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Backordered domains cost $59. You will only be charged if they are successful in securing the domain for you. DropCatch.com does not require a subscription.
If a domain has more than one backorder in the DropCatch system, the domain goes to a public auction.
Clearly this is cheaper than NameJet but NameJet is slightly better-known and we don’t know which is more effective.
More Domain Backorder Resources
Domain Name Backorder services on our watchlist.
More Details
SnapNames – This is actually a sister site for NameJet. We expect their domain backorder service to be similar, but their premium expired domain marketplace might have different options for purchase.
Host Anytime – Domain name backorders are $20.99/year. This is a different pricing model than the other options.
The Following are specifically NOT recommended domain name resources.
Using these resources are common mistakes when buying domain names.
Godaddy’s Available Domain Name Search Is Specifically NOT Recommended – One of the reasons Godaddy is one of the best domain name registrars is because they also have multiple tools for domain name investors. Do NOT go to GoDaddy to search for available domain names, only go there when you know what domain you want to purchase and are ready to make the purchase. If there is time between the instance when you search for the domain name and purchase it, then someone else may purchase it.
Buying a domain name through the marketplace broker only – If you are attempting to purchase a domain name through GoDaddy or Sedo or any other marketplace, then it still helps to have your own broker. The broker in the marketplace will represent the seller. Also, they might not be much assistance with the technical side of you receiving the domain. However, they can be an escrow service.
GoDaddy Hosting is not recommended – It’s a great Domain Name Registrar; we are not a fan of the way they throttle traffic. They are not nearly as good for WordPress Hosting as the other resources we have listed.
Namecheap Hosting is not recommended – Namecheap tends to live up to their name. It is some of the cheapest hosting available, but choosing the cheapest option is not the best idea for a business. Though it’s OK to use for a Domain Name Registrar.
Any “Web Builder” is not recommended for domains, hosting or building a site – We do not consider these to be business-grade sites capable of achieving marketing objectives. See Website Services for more info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Names
If are receiving any Website Services from Mirex Marketing then you do not have to purchase domain names on your own. We can do a video meeting with you to help you through each step. The following are frequently asked questions about domain names:
Frequently Asked Questions about Domain Names
Click the + icon on each to toggle the answer.
How is the Domain Name different from my hosting?
The domain name is the address that people type into their web browser to access your website. Your website is a collection of files stored on the server of your hosting provider.
Think of hosting as renting an apartment or a storage unit, that’s where your website, which is a collection of files, is stored. Now let’s say you wanted to make that apartment open to anyone and everyone who wants to visit, but you don’t want them to have to memorize a numerical address which is long and difficult, so you give it a nick-name that is easier to remember – Happy Place. That’s your domain name. Now imagine everyone has a car where they can say “take me to Happy Place” and the car is smart enough to take them directly to your apartment. That’s their web browser.
What if you change your apartment to a different place across town? You’d still asign the nick name to it so people can still find you (online).
Should I buy a domain name with my hosting provider or keep them seperate?
You can buy your domain name with your hosting provider or you can keep them separate. There are Pros and Cons to both options. It’s more convenient to have them in one place but it’s more secure to have them separate. Mirex Marketing hopes to earn your full and complete trust but we can’t speak for anyone else you may hire who will require access.
Do I need Domain Name Privacy?
You will certainly get spam calls, email and snail mail if you do not have it, especially if registering a domain name that is clearly for a business. Yet, whether you actually need to keep your contact information private would really depend on whether the address for your business is private or not. Most home-based businesses would want domain privacy; a lot of businesses with a public address would want it public and not pay extra.
How is a domain name different from a URL?
For the layperson they are essentially the same. They are both the “address” of your website, though one has a more technical explanation.
A business-grade website should have an SSL Certificate which changes your URL from http://www.yourwebsite.com to https://www.yourwebsite.com (the extra “s” after the http is for “secure”). Though if a user omits the “s” they will still be able to view your website if their browser security features do not block them. There is more information on SSL Certificates on the WordPress Security & Performance Optimization page.
What is an SSL Certificate and do I need one?
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It’s an added layer of security for your website. They were traditionally only considered for ecommerce websites but they are now a requirement of all business-grade websites and an SEO ranking factor. Yes, you need it. It should be included with your hosting provider, though you do have the option of getting it from an external provider.
Getting an SSL Certificate changes your URL from http:// to https:// at the beginning of your website address. The “s” stands for “secure”. There is more information on SSL Certificates included on the WordPress Security & Performance Optimzation page.
What if the domain name that I want is not available?
The first and most affordable option is to find one that is available that works. If it’s available then all you do is pay to register it, which is about $15 a year. The first 1-3 years is often cheaper with promotions.
If it’s not available and you want it badly enough then Mirex Marketing has a domain name brokering service. We can help you make an offer to the owner and if they are willing to sell it, then we can help get it transferred to your account.
Another option is to use a domain backordering service. This is a tool that will monitor when the domain expires and try to buy it for you. It will not be able to buy the domain for you if the current registrant always renews it, so it could be a very long wait.
If you have any trademark claims then you could also try acquiring it through a lawyer. This is more aggressive; it could take more time and cost more due to legal fees. The cost of time and fees would apply whether you acquire the domain name or not.
Does a domain name have to be listed in a marketplace for me to make an offer?
No, it does not have to be listed for sale to make an offer. We suggest using our Domain Name Broker service to make the offer. As part of the service we can help make this offer.
Can I make an offer on a domain name if it has domain privacy?
Domain privacy makes it harder, but not impossible to contact the current owner of the domain. We suggest using our Domain Name Brokering service.
Some of the links to paid resources on this page might offer us a commission at no additional cost to you, if you click on the link on this page to get them. In some cases you might even get a discount by using our links. These are tools that we’d recommend even without the option to receive a commission. Paid or free, they were selected because either we’ve tried them or they have an outstanding reputation within the digital marketing community for being effective and well-developed. The only exception to that is when we provide links to other lists which we don’t control, but they may provide additional, useful resources.
Domain Name Assistance
Do you need help getting a domain name for your business?
Domain Name Acquisition Service
Does someone else own a domain name that you’ve just got to have? Acquiring a domain name that someone owns could cost between $500-$10,000 or more, depending on the history of the domain and other factors. Mirex Marketing can broker this deal for you and ensure that you actually end up with the domain that you’re paying for.
Additional Marketing Resources
Find more information on suggested WordPress plugins, best WordPress hosting providers, tools for SEO and Social Media, and other tools that can be useful for your website and overall marketing. We aggregate these resources to help you save precious time.
Looking for Agency-Grade Resources?
In addition to the resources that we list freely and openly on the Resources section, which are intended for business owners and clients of Mirex Marketing, we have also compiled various agency-grade, developer-grade and publisher-grade resources available on the Downloads page.
Mirex Academy
What good is a tool or resource if you don’t know how to use it. Mirex Academy has multiple free and upgraded classes online which you can learn at your own pace. Check it out to become a rock star in your business.