Previously registered domain names

With close to 80 million domain names registered worldwide, chances are that domains you're interested in are or have previously been registered. Domains often change registrants, though, so a previously registered domain may be suitable for you.

If you're lucky, a domain you want will have already expired and be available for registration at any domain name registrar. It may have been in use, or a domainer or speculator may have registered it with the hopes of it increasing in value and then dropped it. Domains that are about to expire and are considered valuable are typically backordered, which increases the likelihood of being able to register the domain but carries no guarantees. Many domains are also for sale from current registrants.

When considering an expiring domain, an about-to-expire domain, or a domain for sale, the factors to consider when choosing a domain name apply. Previously registered domains have some additional advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of using previously registered domain names

• They may still have backlinks pointing to them, which can help with search engine optimization, at least initially. (If the website you create at the domain doesn't have content relevant to the pages the backlinks are on, the links will have less value.)
• If the domain was previously for a website in the same industry as the site you're using it for, such as web hosting, your site may attract some traffic destined for the previous site, especially if the domain still has backlinks.
• The length of time a domain has been registered is a factor in search engine ranking. If you buy a domain from the current registrant or buy an expiring domain before it's dropped, the registration date will not change.
• The domains were registered before, so they probably have value to other people as well. (If they were dropped and not re-registered, their perceived value is obviously less, however.)

Disadvantages of using previously registered domain names

• If the domain was used for questionable purposes, such as porn or spam, it will have that association with it.
• If the domain was for a company that acquired a negative reputation, that reputation will pass to the new domain registrant. It can be overcome to some degree, but bad company reviews and other negative content about the company could remain online forever.
• If you backorder a domain or buy a domain from the current registrar, it will cost more than registering a domain that's currently available.

See also

• Domain names
• How to choose a domain name
• Domain name registrar
• The dos and don'ts of domain registration
• Backordering domains