Have a concept for a promising online project but the corresponding domain is already in use? If this is the case, your only option is usually to purchase the desired domain. Our guide shows you how to do this in six steps.
1. Identifying the domain owner
In order to buy a registered domain, you first need to find out who the owner is. You have two options here. If a website is actually under the desired domain, there should be information on how to contact the owner. However, a domain isn’t always registered with the intention of being used; domain traders often secure sought-after website addresses so that they can resell them for a profit. Websites like these often have improvised landing pages to let the visitor know that the domain is for sale or to encourage them to click on parking sites, which are full of advertisements. Alternatively, you can use the WHOIS database from the Domain Name Registry to determine a domain’s owner. Each domain administrative agency is obliged to keep a central register where the contact information of the domain owner (or holder) and the administrative contact details are kept. The WHOIS databases are publicly available and can be accessed for free. On the ICANN website you can find out who certain domains belong to. IONOS also provides a domain lookup service.