Domain flipping is the process of buying and selling domain names for profit. It’s a great way to make money online, and it’s relatively easy to get started.
There are several ways to approach domain name flipping:
- Search and find an available domain name that could be useful
- Obtain an expired domain name that has wide appeal
- Buy a name, build a site, and sell it for profit
1. Search for a domain name to flip
In the first case, you will search for domain names that have relevance. This could be to a developing news story, a product concept, or virtually anything. The key is to find something that someone else would want – but before they find it themselves. Most common words have now been taken for domain names, so you do need something that is highly topical or is a twist on an existing idea.
Finding a domain name that is available to register is the first step. You can use a site like GoDaddy or NameCheap to check availability, but keep in mind that “premium” domain names may have a price tag to match, even if they haven’t already been registered.
2. Obtain an expired domain name
In the second case, you will make use of expired domain names. These are domains that have already been registered, but for one reason or another, they are no longer in use.
An expired domain name is one that is no longer registered, and if you act quickly, you can get them before someone else does. However, you may also come across domain names that are still registered but remain unused. If you can contact the owner, they can be a great opportunity to purchase a domain name at a fraction of the cost, and you can then resell it for a profit.
3. Buy and build a website
In the third case, you will purchase a domain name, design and build a website, and then resell it for a profit. This can be a great way to make money online if you have the skills to do it yourself, but you may also need to outsource some of the work in order to make a profit.
Keep in mind that you will need to make sure the website is well designed and user-friendly, as this will be a key factor in whether or not someone decides to buy it.
These sites are often something like an Amazon affiliate site or a site with ads on it. This can be a great way to make money online, but it will take a bit of work up-front – although this can result in a large payoff.
It’s likely that you’ll need to create content for a site like this, and you’ll need to be registered with various affiliate programs. Once the site starts generating an income, you can scale it up or sell it on – the choice is yours.
Mixing it up
Combining options 2 and 3 can be a good way to get your site off the ground. Expired domains may have existing backlinks and already get traffic from search engines, but this is where research becomes important. You need to check if the backlinks are useful – thousands of spam backlinks won’t help your site in the long run.
You can find expired domain names and investigate their backlinks using a tool like Spamzilla.
Where can you sell a domain name or website?
Domain name selling can be done through a site like Sedo.com, or you can go the traditional route and try to find a buyer through classified ads or online forums.
When it comes to selling a website, you have a few more options. You could try to find an interested party through your own social media networks, or you could use a site like Flippa.com, which is specifically designed for selling websites and domain names.
Is Making Money Flipping Domain Names Right For You?
Flipping domain names can be a great way to make money online, but it takes some research and effort to make sure you’re picking the right domains. Keep these tips in mind, do your research, and you’ll be on your way to making a profit in no time.