Steps to Successfully Transfer an Expired Domain Name

Purchasing an expired domain can be a smart strategy for quickly establishing authority and trust for a new website. However, transferring an expired domain from its previous owner to you involves some careful steps. Miss one, and you could lose the domain you thought you purchased. In this guide we’ll share top steps on how to successfully transfer an expired domain name in a safe way.

In this article, we will talk about important steps in this process to ensure a smooth transfer when acquiring an expired domain name.

Finding Quality Expired Domains

The first challenge lies in identifying good candidates – expired domains that previously held value. Look for these signals of a quality expired domain:

• High traffic and search engine rankings
• Quality backlink profile
• Positive brand associations
• Clean history (no spam or abuse)
• Domain length under 15 characters
• “.com” extension

If you choose an expired domain and understand its key characteristics and importance but are unsure how to evaluate it, try using a domain appraisal tool. You can input your domain into the search, which will suggest its value.

Search expired domain aftermarket and filter on metrics like backlinks, traffic, and domain/brand relevance. Focus on expired sites in your niche for maximum SEO benefit.

Evaluating Potential Risks

Not every expired domain is worth pursuing. Be sure to evaluate potential risks: Keep reading to review steps on how to successfully transfer an expired domain name in a safe way after acquiring one.

1. Tricky Transactions: Transfer Expired Domain Name

Some expired domains go to auction and sell for exorbitant sums. Others have confusing ownership records. Complex sales may not be worth the hassle.

2. Link Penalties

If a site violated Google’s guidelines, its inbound links may be “toxic.” Make sure no penalties are in place before acquiring.

3. Transfer Expired Domain Name Industry Bans

Domains tied to banned or illegal industries (pharmacy, gambling, etc) often cannot be transferred. Tread carefully.

4. Unethical History

Avoid domains associated with spam, malware, fake news or other shady practices. Google may see these as high risk. Doing due diligence avoids wasted time and money on domains that cannot be transferred or tanks your SEO.

Negotiating the Sale

Once you’ve identified a promising expired domain, you can buy it if it is listed on the market through an online domain auction hosted by domain registrars or reach out to the previous owner or registrar to negotiate a sale. Expect to pay a premium for quality. Use WHOIS data to identify the domain’s registrant and determine if they have other domains for sale.

Be persistent and move quickly – you likely aren’t the only interested party. But don’t get caught overpaying in a bidding war. Set a maximum price based on criteria like:

• Domain name – Short and brandable is ideal
• Backlink profile – More=better
• Current traffic – The higher, the better.
• Search rankings – Pay attention to keywords and position.
• Past site content – Is it relevant to your niche?

If negotiating with the prior owner fails, the domain will go to auction. Use GoDaddy Auctions, Namejet, etc to bid. But again, don’t overpay.

Transferring the Domain

Once purchased, initiate the domain transfer process through your registrar. You’ll need:

• Authorization code from seller
• Admin contact email from seller
• Your account credentials

Time the transfer between registration cycles so the domain does not expire mid-transfer.?

The domain transfer process is simple, but certain requirements must be met. First, ensure the domain has been registered for at least 60 days with your current registrar and is not on hold. Next, unlock the domain and obtain the authorization (EPP) code from your registrar. Finally, initiate the transfer by entering the domain and authorization code on your new registrar’s transfer page. The transfer typically takes 5 to 8 days, but it may take 15 days on some occasions.

Handling DNS Settings

Point your new domain to your existing site’s DNS settings. You want hosting, email, etc to function as before during the transition. Later you can set up proper DNS settings specific to the transferred domain when changing the site content.

Update Name Servers to Transfer Expired Domain Name

Your new registrar may automatically update name servers. But check that their name servers are entered into the domain registry. This ensures you control DNS.

Developing the Domain

Now the real work begins – building up the domain as an asset. Focus on:

• Quality Content – Publish high-quality content optimized for keywords the expired domain ranked for previously. This retains and builds SEO value.
• Link Building – Earn links from reputable sites to maintain trust and authority. But take care not to build too fast, as a sudden influx of links may appear unnatural to Google.
• Traffic Growth – Organically grow search and referral traffic over time. Avoid manipulative tricks or paid links. Google wants to see natural domain development.

Transfer Expired Domain Name Conclusion

With the right expired domain and strategic development plan, you can transform an aged domain into a thriving site and valuable online asset . Just be sure to follow proper transfer procedures in acquiring the domain. Make sure to act quickly because when the domain enters the expiring phase, it has a 30-day grace period, which is the safe window for renewal.

Credit: Claudio Pires at Visualmodo Internet Company