Transferring website name - and other queries

Eliza_2

Dear all

I want to set up a website for our recently started small business so have been looking at a domain name. By checking on 123 reg I find that the one I really want is registered to someone but the website is very dead. 123 says it won't become available until Feb 2013. I've googled the name of the guy who has had it since 2005 and have his contact details etc.

I just wondered about the etiquette of contacting him to ask to transfer it to me, it won't be costing him much so how much should I offer? And then how do I go about transferring it anyway. At the moment we do have a very rudimentary site with a slightly different name, so how do we merge the two so that people find the new one - when I get it - if they use the existing address.

I will be looking to set it up myself, everyone recommends Wordpress though I've never done anything like this before so looking forward to learning. We really only need opening hours, contact details, our newsletter etc on it, no shopping cart or anything like that. Is this something a complete newcomer would be able to do?

Thank you for all the advice - so many questions!!!

Liz

Jnelhams

I haven't had to do this for a while now, so be gentle. Basically email the chap, ask him if he would be interested in transferring the domain name to you, don't mention money at present or the fact that you have a similar named web site as you never know he maybe willing to transfer for a very small sum, although it is a common practice for certain domain names to be held unused to keep competition away, or simply to wait until someone is up for paying a nice big offer.

There is the insidious practice of "cyber squatting" where jokers register websites that they spot as being similar to someone elses, and demand stupid amounts of money to release them. - This practice can be challenged via the various Internet Dispute bodies like ICANN but it's a hassle.

Some Domain Hosting companies can also be very naughty charging silly amounts of money to transfer the hosting to another Domain Host, so if you're target web site is on one, you may be stuffed.

Assuming the seller agrees to sell he simply needs to give you the access password and login for the Domain Host, you log on and change the Admin and Ownership details, and of course password! Oh and he may have to contact his hosting company telling he's sold it to you.

Next you need to change the DNS settings to those of your new Domain Host company (well I can't remember the exact process, it's been a while, others will no doubt give you the full process) but I know on a good host such as 123Reg who are an excellent choice by the way the process is very simple, and once completed the website should start to be visible on the Internet over a few hours.

As for getting a website to re-direct you to another site, it's usually very simple case of filling in the desired website address in the re-direction option box in the Domain Hosting Admin menu, and it should update in an hour or so.

Hope that helps a bit :cool:

Figment

Although the domain name may not be costing him much, the name may have a value on the open market.

Domain name reselling is big business, and good ones have been known to change hands for tens of thousands of pounds.

You won't know unless you ask, but the guy may want to hang onto it, may have a new site being built etc.,

If he agrees to sell and you agree a price, then (assuming he registered it through 123-reg) the simplest method would be for you to open an account on 123-reg. How he goes about transferring depends on the domain suffix. If it's a .??.uk, then he has to formally agree to the transfer and change of registrant via Nominet ((a simple form and a few mouse clicks - costs £10 + VAT, payable by either him or you) and then the domain is moved from his 123 account to yours.

If it's a TLD (.com/.net) then he can just transfer it to your account and you change registrant details on receipt

Moving between different registrars is more complicated.


Once you have the new domain, your old one can be set to 'point' to the new one, so that anyone typing the old address is automatically sent to the new site.


I can't comment on Wordpress, as being a professional web designer I don't use it.

Eliza_2

Thank you so much for such speedy helpful replies. I think the reason he registered it is that the people who previously had our business intended to go further with it but gave up because of illness. Looking at his profile he runs websites for similar hobbies and is obviously the secretary etc for a couple of clubs to do with this leisure activity. So I think it was just a good idea that didn't materialise. It's co.uk.

I will email him then, thank you. I'll think about the rest of your email too as I really need to swot up on the rest of it so that I understand.

Thanks again

Little_Moo

Good luck approaching the guy with the co.uk domain name, i hope he agrees to transfer the domain name your looking for :-) I'm waiting myself for a domain i want, come available Feb 26th and it's from Siteopia.com - I've got my fingers crossed.

If you only want a shop window website, you could consider a SiteBuilder tool? The guys above do a pretty good one. It's really easy (even I managed it) you just drag and drop your content onto the pages. http://www.siteopia.com/sitebuilder

Figment

Little_Moo wrote: »

Good luck approaching the guy with the co.uk domain name, i hope he agrees to transfer the domain name your looking for :-) I'm waiting myself for a domain i want, come available Feb 26th and it's from Siteopia.com - I've got my fingers crossed.

If you only want a shop window website, you could consider a SiteBuilder tool? The guys above do a pretty good one. It's really easy (even I managed it) you just drag and drop your content onto the pages. http://www.siteopia.com/sitebuilder

Is 26th Feb the renewal date or deletion date? There's 90 days between one and the other.

S0litaire

Since everyone's answered the main question i'll jump on about Wordpress.

Once you have your hosting sorted it's a simple matter of creating a database (these day's it a couple of menu clicks and typing in a name for the database, a username and password for it.)

As for Wordpress, there's a simple "5 min install" guide, it's really easy to work through if you have the database name and details already.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

amonaghan

Part of my business is dealing in domain names and registering domains on expiry ("Catching"). If the current owner is a professional domain investor you can usually expect to pay the market value for the domain (which can be just a few quid to thousands depending on the actual name). If the owner is just holding on to it because the domain is on an automatic renewal cycle and he has no use for it, I would expect that you can "bung him a few quid" for his time.

As you mention the domain is a .co.uk you must ensure that you also complete the "Registrant Transfer" process (which is done via Nominet), simply moving the domain from 1 registrar to another will not transfer the ownership of the domain. This step is often overlooked and can cause issues down the line but is a simple step for the seller to initiate.

Happy to look at the domain for you and see if the owner is "one of the usual crowd" or just a casual owner. If so, send me a private message.

Jemma-T

amonaghan wrote:

Part of my business is dealing in domain names and registering domains...

Hmmm.

amonaghan wrote:

Happy to look at the domain for you and see if the owner is "one of the usual crowd" or just a casual owner. If so, send me a private message.

I'd say the OP shouldn't tell anyone anything. Their present domain registrar/hosting company will have all the info they need in their FAQ.

PM'ing strangers (especially one who is in the 'business') your intentions would be silly.


As for the OP's query, I own a few domains myself and would never let them go as they usually mean something. Saying that I did give one away once by emailing the owner of a similar domain (but with an awful hypen!) and he initially thought I was a scammer. I'd rather it go to him that someone doing a bit of squatting.

amonaghan

Jemma,

That's a bit harsh, try to do someone a favour and look what response you get! I'm hardly going to be posting on a popular forum and then try and steal the domain, that's not going to do my reputation any good is it.

I'd be surprised if a hosting company has much in their FAQ's about purchasing a domain name from another registrant, your host may do, but none I've used do.

Some of us businessmen do still have a bit of common decency and genuinely want to help others even if there's not a sale in it - so if the original poster wants to contact me (you are welcome to keep the domain name to your self and let me know the current registrant / TAG), feel free. Many "in the business" domain owners will welcome an approach to purchase the name, after all, most don't register a domain just to keep it away from others, then want a return.

Jemma-T

amonaghan wrote: »

That's a bit harsh

Yes, perhaps you are right but it's nothing personal is it?

People need to be a bit less trusting as there's so much out there to cause damage -hence why we have this forum with so many questions/views/opinions.

I don't like seeing people robbed so that's where the strong comments come from. Of ocurse I'm not suggesting you were doing anything untoward but what I said is still the best advice for the OP.