How to Buy a Domain Name That’s Already Registered – 7 Proven Strategies

By:

Andrew Richard

March 8, 2025

•

5 min read

You’ve finally come up with the perfect name for your business. You type it into a domain registrar, hit search… and boom—it’s already taken.

Annoying? Yes. The end of the road? Not even close.

If the domain you want isn’t available, you’ve still got plenty of options. You might be able to buy it, backorder it, or find a killer alternative. At Snagged.com, we help businesses secure the domains they need—without overpaying or getting scammed.

Here’s how to snag (see what we did there?) the best possible domain for your brand.

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1️⃣ Check If the Domain Is in Use

Just because a domain is registered doesn’t mean it’s actually being used. Many domains sit unused for years—either parked, held for investment, or forgotten.

How to Check the Domain’s Status:

✅ Visit the domain – Does it have an active website, or is it just a parked page with ads?
✅ Look up the WHOIS information – Use Whois Lookup or ICANN Lookup to check ownership details.
✅ Search Google for the domain – See if it's tied to an existing business, brand, or social media.
✅ Check Archive.org – The Wayback Machine lets you see if the domain was ever used for anything significant.

💡Snagged Pro Tip: If a domain is parked, it’s often available for sale. At Snagged.com, we help businesses identify and acquire these domains through direct outreach and negotiation.

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2️⃣ Get Smart with Domain Valuations

Before making an offer, you need to know what the domain is actually worth. Overpaying can wreck your budget, while a lowball offer might get ignored. A little research can go a long way in making sure you’re negotiating from a position of strength.

How to Research Domain Prices

✅ Check past sales data – Use NameBio.com to see real-world domain sales. Filter by length, TLD (.com, .ai, etc.), and price range to spot trends.
✅ Use valuation tools – Platforms like Atom’s Domain Appraisal Tool give you a pricing estimate. While not perfect, they provide a useful starting point.
✅ Compare similar domains – Look at domains with the same keywords, length, and TLD to see what they’ve sold for.

Key Factors That Influence Domain Value

✅ TLD matters – A .com is typically more valuable than other extensions.
✅ Shorter is better – One-word domains and 2-3 letter combos usually command higher prices.
✅ Keyword strength – Domains with high-value keywords (e.g., “Insurance.com”) sell for a premium.
✅ Brandability – Easy-to-remember names are more attractive to businesses.

💡Case in Point: Voice.com sold for $30 million in 2019—the highest publicly reported domain sale ever. Why? It was a premium one-word .com with massive branding potential.

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3️⃣ Try to Buy the Domain

If the domain isn’t being actively used, there’s a good chance the owner is willing to sell. But reaching out the wrong way could cost you thousands more in negotiations.

How to Contact the Owner

✅ Check the website for a contact page – Some owners make it easy for buyers to reach them.
✅ Use WHOIS details – If the owner’s email is public, send a direct inquiry.
✅ Work with Snagged – Negotiating a domain sale can be tricky. We handle the entire negotiation process to get you the best deal. (Check out Snagged's Guide on Domain Brokerage)

How to Make an Offer (Without Overpaying)

✅ Start with the right Ask – Don’t start with ****"How much do you want?". That signals desperation. Instead, ask:“Would you consider selling this domain?”
✅ Make a fair first offer – If it’s a premium .com, expect at least $2,500 - $10,000+.
✅ Be patient – Domain negotiations can take weeks or months.

💡Case in Point: Tesla originally didn’t own Tesla.com—it was taken by a guy who refused to sell. Elon Musk negotiated for 10+ years before finally buying it in 2016 for $11 million.

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4️⃣ Use a Backordering Service

Domains don’t last forever. If the owner forgets to renew their domain, it goes into an expiration cycle and eventually becomes available.

How to Backorder a Domain:

✅ Check the expiration date – Use a WHOIS lookup to see when it expires.
✅ Use a backorder service – Platforms like NameJet and DropCatch will automatically attempt to buy the domain for you. If multiple people put in a bid for the name, it will go to a public auction.
✅ Let Snagged handle it for you – Instead of competing with bots, let us monitor and grab expiring domains on your behalf.

💡Success Rate? About 3-5% of registered domains expire every year, but popular names rarely get dropped. Still, it’s worth setting up a backorder just in case.

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5️⃣ Consider Legal Options

If the domain contains your trademark, you might have a legal case to claim ownership.

When You Might Have a Legal Case:

1️⃣ If someone is sitting on the domain – Was it registered only to sell at a premium?
2️⃣ If it directly infringes on your business name – If you have a registered trademark, you may be able to claim the domain.

How to Take Action:

1️⃣ File a UDRP Complaint – The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) allows trademark owners to dispute domain ownership.
2️⃣ Hire a trademark attorney – If you legally own the brand, a lawyer can help you reclaim it.

⚠️ Caution: Legal action can cost $1,500 - $5,000+ and isn’t guaranteed to work. Need help navigating UDRP claims or legal disputes? Snagged works with domain attorneys to help you explore your options.

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6️⃣ Look for Alternative Domain Options

Sometimes, the best move is to pivot and find an equally strong (or better) domain.

Creative Alternatives:

✅ Try a different extension – If YourBrand.com is taken, try YourBrand.co, .ai, .io, or .net.
✅ Add a keyword – Common ones include GetYourBrand.com, YourBrandHQ.com, or YourBrandOnline.com.
✅ Consider slight variations – A small tweak can make a huge difference.

💡Need help brainstorming? Snagged helps businesses find and secure alternative domain options that fit their brand. (Check out Snagged's Guide on Branding)

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7️⃣ Know When to Walk Away

If the domain is:

❌ Too expensive – owner wants 6+ figures for a non-premium name.
❌ Legally out of reach – trademarked or owned by a big company.
❌ Being used for a real business – they won’t sell unless they rebrand.

Then it’s time to move on and secure a strong alternative domain.

💡The Good News? Many businesses started with a non-ideal domain and still crushed it—eventually upgrading when the time was right.

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💭 Final Thoughts

Let Snagged Help You Get the Domain You Need

Not getting your first-choice domain isn’t the end of the world. With the right strategy, negotiation, and a bit of creativity, you can still secure a great domain name for your business.

Want expert help securing your dream domain? Whether it’s a negotiation, backorder, or premium acquisition, Snagged helps businesses to secure the best domains—without the hassle.

💡Get In Touch: Reach out and we’ll help you reel in your dream domain.