There are literally thousands of different ways to make money online. You can start a blog, create an online store, focus on dropshipping, or create an educational course — all of which can net you a big income.
But one way people have been making some big money online is via domain flipping — and now you can do the same.
What is Domain Flipping?
As most of you would be aware, a domain name is that unique set of characters used to direct people to a website. And to use a domain name, you need to first register it so that you have exclusive access to it.
With this in mind, domain flipping is the simple process of finding an expired domain name on the cheap, and then selling it on for a profit.
See, simple.
While there are a few tricks to making it a viable source of income, this is really what it comes down to.
Is Domain Flipping Really That Good?
Something that many people fail to realise that is that your domain name can literally make or break your business.
If your domain name aligns closely with your industry, is short and catchy, and can provide a solid platform for a brand to be built around, it can seriously facilitate your business. In this manner, it can increase website traffic, enhance engagement, and make you more appealing.
It is for this reason that the domain name “cars.com” sold for a whopping 872 million dollars.
As a result, if you stumble across an expired domain name that has a lot of potential, you can easily flip it for a huge profit — and if you do this a few times per year, you can even make a career out of it.
Focusing on Expired Domain Names
If you have been reading closely (which I am sure you have), then you would have noticed I have mentioned the term expired domains a couple of times — and this is for a very good reason.
Because they are worth more.
See, because there are so many websites in existence, there are very few good domain names readily available for purchase. As a result, those domains that are subjectively better, are worth more.
But in most instances they are unavailable because someone has already registered them.
Well, unless they become expired, that is…
An expired domain name is a domain that the owner has failed to renew. These domains are not only going to be better than those that have never been registered, but they also have a history when it comes to backlinks and social mentions — which makes them more visible to google.
This obviously makes them more valuable.
Taking all of this into consideration, expired domains are a great way to turn a profit if you know how to find them — and here are five great tactics to help.
1. Explore Domain Name Marketplaces
There are a number of online marketplaces that help you find expired domains. Many of these also let you search for domain names that align with your specific area of interest through keyword searching.
Two of the most popular options are Expired Domains and Fresh Drop.
As an added bonus, they both offer a free option that allows you to conduct simple searches at absolutely no cost. They also offer a paid monthly subscription that allows for more targeted searching.
2. Search Some Keywords
While this option can be a little more time consuming, it can net you much better domains if you do it properly.
Start by jumping on your search engine of choice, and search for keywords that are relevant to a specific industry. This industry does not necessarily have to align with your interests, as you are simply after a domain to resell for a profit.
Then simply work your way through the results looking for any sites that ‘cannot be found’. Obviously those that appear higher up the list of search results are going to be worth more.
3. Look for Broken Backlinks
Like the above option, this one is going to take some time — but it can be a real money maker if you play your cards right.
This approach has you searching through old articles on really popular websites (Wikipedia, Medium, Buzzfeed, and the New York Times all come to mind) for links to websites that do not work.
This provides a way to find expired domains that already have a great list of backlinks on the web, making them worth much more.
4. Go to Auction
Like domain marketplaces, there are also a number of different auction sites that specialize in expired domains. Obviously this method of buying does mean that you are likely to face some stiff competition for quality domains, but it also increases confidence.
I mean, if ten other people are bidding on an expired domain then it must be good, right?
Some of the most popular domain auction sites include GoDaddy and Name Jet.
5. Make Sure They Are Not Banned
Finally, once you have stumbled across what you believe to be a good domain for reselling, it is time to do a bit of research.
Make sure before you commit to a purchase, you check the domain with Google banned checker and ensure that it is not banned — obviously a banned website is not going to sell for a whole lot.
I should note that if you think the domain is too good to pass up, you can submit a Google reconsideration request and request them to remove the ban.
But again, I would do this before you purchase if possible.
Final Notes
Flipping expired domain names is a great way to make a profit online. While there is a bit of a trick to making it work, if you use the tactics listed in this article, you will be making money in no time.