Domain backorder is a very important service provided by the domain registrars worldwide. In this article, I’m revealing the best domain backorder services and how does the whole process work.
Basically, placing a domain backorder allows you to register and own the expired domain name immediately after it expires. But it’s not 100% guaranteed as the owner might proceed with a domain renewal
So, you leave a backorder and you pay for it. After being expired, the domain will go right straight to your account unless the owner renews it. Usually, some of the domain names take two-four weeks to be redeemed.
In this article, I’m reviewing the domain name backorder process and how you can use it to register unique domain names. Also, you will get to know the domain statuses and how to catch drop domains using the top best domain backorder service providers.
What is Domain Backorder?
The Domain Backordering is a service offered by various companies that will allow you to register a domain that will expire soon, in order to capture the rights to the domain before anyone else acquires and registers it.
Usually, there is a duration that is uncertain but typically about three hours after which the domain is removed from the files of the registrar. And then registrations are made accessible for someone else for the same domain on the regular rates.
When you place a backorder for a domain name, it is not instantly available to be registered. While the current owner can not renew the domain at this stage, you have to wait until the domain drops if you plan to buy it.
Whether it’s a new brand name or a registered name for years ago, you can place a backorder any domain name that you want. It will not be available for you unless it drops from the current owner and made available again for registrations.
Please also note that not everyone can acquire expired domain names if back-ordered. The owner may renew them, or perhaps they may become HOLD pending the outcome or settlement of a registration mark or other dispute before permanently deleted by the registrar.
The process is more like a “Fetch and Catch” process. You find a valuable domain. And you place a backorder for it. This gives you a chance that you may own it after it becomes available in the registry. Or instead, the current owner may renew it while being in the “Redemption Period”.
Domain Backordering is an awesome way to get valuable domain names that are no longer available to publicly register. Yet, the process is not guaranteed to really get the domain name as the current owner may basically renew the domain anytime during the “Redemption” or “Grace” periods.
Though, you’re not at all losing your money paid for the domain backorder. You firstly pay for the service provider and the registry tries to get the domain for you. If they fail to do that, a full refund will be processed back to your account.
Typical Domain Lifecycle:
The domain name registration and renewal process have a typical lifecycle. The above image has been taken from the ICANN official website. And it reveals the different stages a domain passes by.
Once the domain has reached the “Pending Delete” stage, It publically becomes available for new registrations. And here, you or the backorder service can pick up and register the domain name.
It is not a guarantee that all those who place a domain backorder will get the expired domain name. You can either get or miss it due to different factors that could be affecting the process of Domain Backorders.
Domain Status PendingDelete
It is important to know the status of the domain (expired, redeem, grace period, still pending). Understanding the given domain statuses will give you a very good knowledge if you’re serious about back-ordering a domain name.
You must search for the drop-catching service providers. If the domain is marked as ‘Expired‘ but not ‘RGP‘, Most locations refer to it as a pre-release. And they agree to release the domain name to drop-catching service providers such as; NameJet, SnapNames, and Pool.
Identify which one has backorder and pre-release privileges. This would not be updated and pushed to the auction winner’s accounts unless someone has been bidding on it. When the domain has passed RGP, it may gradually be passed over to the drop catcher unless the owner renews the domain.
The final stage of the cycle is ‘PendingDelete‘. It is removed from the registry in five days and anyone who orders it most quickly receives it. Here, drop-catcher services are provided with the domain because they have the necessary equipment to take it. The ZERO value comes at this stage of the initial registrar.
How to Place a Domain Backorder?
Some of the providing companies will require you to participate in an auction in order to grab your backorder domain name. Such companies have made this process to be either private or public.
All these make them sure that all their customers get an equal opportunity of obtaining the domain names. So, take note of what it takes to win your expired domain before placing your backorder.
You will definitely need to remain focused and attentive. Most companies offering the service have set an unpredictable period of time for availing the expired domain name to their customers. Also, the process of participating in an auction may be private.
Best Domain Backorder Services
There are several domain backorder companies online, but which are the best companies for you? Three big companies are now involved in back ordering domains. It is highly recommended to place the backorder for your desired domain name on all three of these site names. The only risk is that you can compete against each other.
Here are a few companies that are offering affordable domain back-ordering services:
These three services operate through a network of registrars, which hit Verisign servers at very often intervals and capture the most requested domains. However, they know how to catch such domains without being stopped from reaching the site too much.
And what is so good about a domain backorder business such as DropCatch? Domain registrars are the key to this. Let’s dig at the dot-com expansion. The extension (.COM) itself belongs to a register, VeriSign.
If a registrar wishes to sell .COM registrations on their website, they must go to VeriSign and complete all required registrations. Basically domain registrars are given limited options on connecting to VeriSign to only register domain names for new buyers.
While these regular domain registrars have got limited access to the VeriSign database, other drop catching service providers are having more power in terms of back-ordering domain names from VeriSign databases because they’ve been designed for this.
Backorder Process Explained
The ‘Domain Drop‘ process is the three-hours period when the domain is removed and released back to the system for free registration from the official database. You need to watch this particular domain before it expires for a couple of days.
The next thing you have to do is put your history before the domain expires. At the same moment that the drop-catcher wants to snatch this domain for you. There are two things that could happen once the domain is reached successfully:
- Instant Win – If you are the only one to backorder a particular domain name, you are the owner of that domain immediately after it totally expires.
- Privacy Auction – Whether two or three parties backorder the same domain until it is canceled, the domain may be auctioned for a maximum of 3 days for those supporters.
NameJet, Pool, and SnapNames domain backorder services are fully free of charge. You will only pay for the domain when it is secured for you. Otherwise, you will receive a refund for the paid amount since you didn’t get the domain name backorder.
Domain Backorder Tips
First, determine the expiry period of each domain. The best one is the domain name that is to be expired soon. You may also need to place the backorder on time (just before the domain gets expired) to let the domain registrar pick it up for you immediately after it drops.
You also need to understand that the system prevents the current owner from knowing that there are any backorders on this domain. This is to ensure that all the customers either new or existing users get an equal opportunity of obtaining the domain.
It is also very good to understand that it is not always possible to backorder all the expired domains. It – very likely – might be renewed by the owners before being deleted permanently from the registrar’s database.
Another reason could be the HOLD status. At this point, it will be very critical for you to determine the outcome and trademark settlement among others. Such a situation forces the registrar to place the domain under hold.
Godaddy Public Vs Private Backorder
It’s also important not to use GoDaddy to catch a backorder domain name. A PUBLIC Auction will be held on all domains effectively back-ordered by Godaddy. This service helps us to deliver a domain auction. As this is a public auction, there is a great chance for more competition and the price could be very high very quickly.
Many domain registry websites have domain back-order services that allow users, until they expire and get eligible for sale, to keep track of the status of domain names and offers. Many services also include a “No Pay,” custom alerts for specific domain names or keywords, and other domain monitoring features.
Such tools seek to make it faster and more time-consuming to position domain backorders and stable back-ordered domains. These services save customers time and increase their chances of securing an expired domain they have backed up successfully.
DropCatching Software
Software is available on the market, which allows users to try and drop out expired domains. DesktopCatcher is the most popular and the most successful thing out there. The program uses the freely accessible domain registrar API (such as DynaDot) to automatically submit the preferred domain(s) continual registration requests.
To determine when your domain will drop you will have to use websites like ExpiredDomains.net. On that date, however, you enter this software and fire it off! It sits there and continually attempts to register your domain whether or not you are on a PC.
Ideally, once the name is dropped, you register the DOMain (probably within seconds) by one of the registrars that you selected, which is usually less than $10 per registration fee. If the name is not to be very competitive this option is great on domains such as new gTLDs, ccTLD, and common extensions.
The first option I mentioned above (hand registration) will obviously be overrun every time with that type of software. However, it is still not very likely to hit a domain backboard service (such as DropCatch).
Conclusion:
That was exactly how domain backorder works and how to secure your favorite domain. I’ve also mentioned a few providers that are offering a quality service in terms of the domain name back-ordering.
- 9 Best NameCheap Alternatives (Domains & Hosting)
- I Have Bought a Domain Name, Now What? (Full Guide)
Furthermore, you still need to know that such service providers would love to enhance their profit opportunities by placing a domain name in an auction. So, it’s very much recommended that you place the backorder just before the domain expires.
Please let me know shall you’ve got any questions or concerns in the comments section below. I hope that this was a useful piece of information about the best domain backorder services and how does it all works. Feel free to share this article with friends on social media.
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