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Before the Auction: Bidding on Domain Names continued ...

It costs $35 to register a new domain name with Network Solutions. Use the WHOIS lookup tool to find out whether the one you want is taken. Of course, if you choose to obtain a domain name via online auction, the amount you'll pay will vary greatly. Just be sure to take the usual precautions (checking the seller's feedback, sending emails with any questions you have, and so on) and remember that in all likelihood you still will have to pay renewal fees in the future--buying a domain name is not a one-time purchase.

Going the Distance
Thinking about buying a domain name and auctioning it off for a quick profit? Well, the sad fact remains that a lot of the good domain names (and many of the not-so-obvious ones, and a whole lot of the stupid ones, too) were snatched up long ago. Just check the completed auctions in eBay's domain name category and you'll see for yourself--hundreds of domain name auctions end without a single bid. And even if some of the domain names have potential, the sellers often demand excruciatingly high opening bids. You'll also come across some names that are simply lame, while others are trademark infringement lawsuits just waiting to happen. As always, caveat bidder.

But the domain name landscape soon will be changing as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization charged with managing the infrastructure for Internet addresses, eventually introduces new top-level domain names and new suffixes (".shop" and ".store" in addition to the current ".com," ".org," and ".net"). Some domain name experts believe this will dilute the value of the dot-com name, while others say it will create a larger and more robust domain name market.

Regardless of what happens in the future, online auction sellers who are looking to further establish themselves with a more formal online presence should seriously consider obtaining their own domain name and Web site in addition to having About Me-style pages and the like. It's not only a great branding opportunity that increases your credibility and visibility, but it also give buyers a place where they can find out more about you, your merchandise, and your online auction biz.

Creating an About Me Page
Understanding Lingo
Sending End-of-Auction Emails

Kevin Savetz is a freelance computer technology writer specializing in the Internet. Send him email at savetz@northcoast.com.