Domain Backorders – The Do’s and Don’ts for Success
What is a Domain Backorder?
A domain backorder is kind of like a reservation for a specific domain name which is currently registered by someone else.
Once you’ve placed your backorder, the domain registrar will monitor the domain name and try to register it for you as soon as the domain becomes available.
A domain backorder can also be known as “Domain Drop Catching” or “Domain Sniping”.
What is the Difference Between a Backordering Domain and a Regular Domain Registration?
A usual domain registration requires that the name you have chosen is free and not registered at the time the order is placed.
A domain backorder is the complete opposite and is only possible when a domain IS registered and NOT available at the time the order is placed. Whether or not this domain is registered for another 4 years, 10 days or is already in the pending delete cycle, it doesn’t matter! A domain is either available (free) or taken (registered).
The backorder service monitors your domain 24/7 and as soon as the domain becomes available it will try to register it on your behalf.
Why Should I Use a Backorder Service Rather than registering my Domain Manually?
The demand for well-linked and/or aged domain names is extremely high, with many SEOs around the world watching and waiting for these gems to become available.
The competition for these gems is fierce, and it’s not just other humans you have to compete with either, you also have to be faster than all the other backorder services on the market which makes the margin for success or failure milliseconds.
First come – First Served.
Can Backordering Domains be Expensive?
No!
Depending on the service, you might have to pay an additional service fee of around 60-$79 in addition to the normal registration fee. BUT the good news is: You only have to pay the additional backorder fee and the registration costs if your backorder works and is successful!
No Domain – No Cost – Simple.
Which Backorder Service is the Best?
Like in most markets you will get the big players and the little guys trying to catch up and in truth, many registrars offer a backorder service but most of these aren’t worth pursuing as they are simply not fast enough.
The Backorder Services, we recommend, are:
Our advice is to place a backorder on all 3 services, this will increase the chance that your domain registration will be successful.
Although Godaddy is considered a “big player”, we DO NOT recommend you use their Backorder Service, you can Learn more here why you should not place a backorder at Godaddy!
Why are some Domains not Available for Backorder?
It’s very rare that a domain won’t be available for backorder, though when it does happen, it’s usually because that domain is already up for sale as a Premium Auction Domain.
Not all TLDs are supported by all backorder services.
How do Domain Backorders Work in Detail?
When you decide not to renew a domain name and let it drop, that name doesn’t automatically become free and available the day it drops, there are several phases it must go through first. These Phases are known as the “domain life cycle” and can take up to 80 days, depending on the TLD, to complete. Read more about the pending delete process here.
In Short: When you decide not to renew a domain, you enter a 30-day grace period, in case you change your mind. After this grace period, the domain enters a “Pending Delete Phase” which typically lasts around 4 days, it is in this phase the domain will then become available for registration and backorders can be placed.
Yes! My Backorder was Successful – What Happens Next?
Let’s say you placed a backorder on Namejet.com, and they managed to secure the domain name in which you were interested. If you were the only account who placed a backorder on that domain using Namejet then congratulations, you now own that domain.
If however, you weren’t the only account that placed a backorder on that particular domain, then a private auction will begin. This is where all the accounts who placed an order on this domain will be invited to bid, the auction typically lasts around 3 – 5 days and much like eBay, the highest bidder wins.
If your bid is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any costs.
Is Backordering Domains Illegal?
No, backordering domains names is 100% legal.
However, certain keywords in a domain name could fall foul of copyright or trademark rules. For example, a couple of years ago, we registered a domain with “Kitchenaid” in the name. We were contacted by a lawyer representing this brand shortly after and were forced to transfer the domain name over to them, so be wary of this when backordering a domain name.
How Long Does it Take Before I can use a Backordered Domain?
You will usually receive an email with your login details within 3–4 days after the backorder process / private auction has ended. Be sure to check the junk folder in your email client, so you don’t miss the login details.
Tips for Successfully Backordering a Domain
1). Be sure you are registered, verified and ready to go on all 3 of the major backordering services.
2). Be sure to add your payment methods and make sure you’ve topped up your account balance. This allows you to act quickly if you see a particular domain name you’re interested in, it would be a shame if you missed out because your credit card wasn’t verified.
3). In the event of entering a domain auction, make sure you’ve decided on a limit of how much you are willing to pay for that particular domain beforehand.
4). In an auction setting, wait until the auction gets to the end (2-3 minutes before) and add your maximum bid price. Try to avoid small incremental bids at the beginning, it will only push the price higher than it needs to be. More details about how to bid on auctions domains here.
Where can I find Authority Domains to Backorder?
As a RegisterCompass member you are able to search and filter in a huge up-to-date database showing you all the domains which are about to expire within the next 5 days.
All domain names are pre-analysed on different SEO metrics like backlinks, ip popularity, moz authority, SemRush and many more.