I use DomainTools on a daily basis. In fact, it’s probably one of the five websites I visit most on a daily basis, most specifically for the Whois Tool. One tool I underutilize is the Domain Search tool, and I want to share how it can help you buy domain names.
On the DomainTools website under the “Buy Domains” tab, there is a link for Domain Search. Clicking that link will take you directly to the Domain Search tool. With this tool, you can search specific keywords to find domain names that are registered and unregistered.
One of the best searches is for previously deleted domain names. You can see if domain names in a specific keyword were once registered and are now available to purchase. You can also see the top six TLDs to see what’s available in various extensions. This is helpful because if you find a keyword registered in .net, .org…etc., but not .com, it might be a buying opportunity (assuming there is no TM issue). For instance, if you see ABCFlowers.com is available to register but .net, .org, .info, .biz…etc. are all taken, you might want to grab that .com and try to re-sell it (or park it).
I don’t do much hand registering these days, so I haven’t really taken advantage of this tool. However, now that I’ve found a couple of end user buyers that spend hundreds to thousands on niche keyword domain names, I am going to spend some time trying to find relevant domain names that aren’t registered.
I saved the best for last. This tool is free. You don’t need to be a paying DomainTools member, and you don’t even need a DomainTools account to use the tool.
Nice info. Thanks Elliot.
Incredible info and advice. Thanks for the heads up.
The best free tool is:
zfbot.com
I have closed many sales using this free tool and best of all I hand reg (99cent) DeathCafes.com 2 days ago and getting offers and I just developed the site.
Thank you ZFbot!
Thanks for the nod Elliot. And good timing as we have been working on some big improvements to our Domain Search tool, including expansion to cover a lot more TLDs and also a much-needed new UX. Still in dev but hopefully a Q2 release.
Nice… I found a couple of bugs (ie showing hyphenated names when I didn’t want them showing up). Keep me posted, and if you need any beta testers for the new design, let me know.
Yea, it is free now but sooner than later, you will have to pay for it as it will be incorporated as a package.
Nothing is free in Domaintools
With respect to this tool, I believe they make money from domain registrations rather than a subscription model.
Nice writeup
“One of the best searches is for previously deleted domain names”
Same Tool does this?
Thanks
A solid post and very useful tool. I am going to test this out as soon as possible. Thank you!
You should try whoisrequest.org and you’ll never use domaintools anymore..
I recommend very much the tool that is now the successor of the big DRT tool, which you will find typing eXdomain in google.