How to catch a domain name

[Curt]

Hi all, I'm not much of a domain guru and have never had to fight for a domain name. I'd just like to know what stages are involved when it comes to catching a desired domain name.

I'm guessing:

Check whois to see when it expires

then book it in on 'caught.co.uk' or similar domain catchers?

Is that right?

I really don't know how you lot catch domains, I guess it's some sort of software that does it but if you lot could put me on the right path that would be great.

I'm new to this and am enjoying getting into it as a hobby.

Many Thanks

 

[Ashton]

Right, just when its about to drop, put your hands out - the trick is to bring them down as it falls into them, that way you absorb the shock!

Heh, you're pretty much spot on. You see its suspended and can book it with the drop catchers, the drop catchers are tag owners who use software to open sockets to the nominet server to query the domain 5 times a second, once its available (any time in a 24 hour period) the nominet server replies differently and they then send a register command for the domain.

Catching is a complicated process, there are lots of competitors, you're script needs to be great (if you dont know a coding language then I would say don't bother) You also need a significant amount of luck.

I'd say you're best bet is to book with the public catchers and any private catchers you can, if you post 'need a catch on april 29th, offering £' its likely you will get a few messages from interested parties.

Often private catchers will consider taking public requests for ease and because they have caught or not caught all the domains on their list for that day (and yours may still be available)

Good luck!

 

[Curt]

Thanks for your reply. Do you know how long it takes to drop after the domain has expired?

I've been reading up on it a little and I think there is a redemption period of about 45 days?

Cheers

 

[monaghan]

The drop cycle is dependant on the "domain type", the .uk domains will suspend after 30 days and be deleted after 90 days. The delete times are random during the day of deletion.

Presently the domain can be renewed at any time before deletion, some domain owners will renew within a day or 2 of deletion, generally if the domain is not renewed within a week or so of suspension it will go on to be deleted.

 

[lethal0r]

you're script needs to be great

The delete times are random during the day of deletion.

I hear it said a lot that a good script matters. but if delete times are random, how can you create a good script? are certain times of day more common? is the drop always on the hour?

 

[monaghan]

timing (as in random drop times) is not the only factor in catching. Many people devote hours at a time to tweaking their scripts. You have the internal time of the script, network time and many, many other factors to consider

 

[sdsinc]

I hear it said a lot that a good script matters. but if delete times are random, how can you create a good script?

At some point yes, it's free for all but because access to the registry is capped you must optimize and tune a few things.

 

[Curt]

So what if I go ahead and use a domain catcher to try and get my domain, what if they want the domain for themselves? do they just refuse to try and get it for ya?

Also what tools are used to see what domain names are dropping? surely there's an easier way rather than doing a whois on every site you want?

who's the best catching company to use?

apologies for newbie questions

 

[monaghan]

I can't speak for others, but I do catch names personally, however, in the interests of a level playing field, I have my own account on domainjunky.co.uk and use this to book names, so sometimes my desired names are already booked and I guess sometimes I book names before customers.

Anyone accepting a booking and then catching for themselves is likely to find a lot of negative feedback, so I would guess the chances of this happening will be quite small.

As for which is best, book in as many places as you can to increase your chances of getting the name you want, there are a lot of "no win no fee" catchers, (there was a similar question a few weeks back, so use the search and there'll be at least 1 list of catchers)

There's no formal list of all .uk dropping names as Nominet don't publish, so you'll have to build your own or buy into someone else's lists.

 

[Curt]

Awesome, thanks for the reply.

When you are going after a domain, what are you looking for in particular?

What local search volume is enough to attract people to pay half decent money?

Thanks for your help

 

[monaghan]

What to look for varies from person to person!

Decide what you want and what you want to do with them and go for names that meet your requirement.

 

[payne]

What are the public drop catching services for .UK domains?

I'm aware of caught.co.uk, domainmonster.com and domainrecover.net - Have I missed any big/reliable ones?

What sort of success rate do you get with the big ones? (Assume the competition would be... competitive!)

Cheers

 

[scottmccloud]

If you mean back ordering domains with companies like 123 reg, then don't bother, waste of time.

 

[payne]

Hi Scott,

I mean say if I backordered a potentially competitive domain at caught.co.uk and domainmonster - is there anywhere else I should (could) also backorder to make it more likely for me to get it.

Cheers.

 

[payne]

I've tried using domainmonster and domainwatchlist for two drops and not got either, that's why I ask. Be good to know of more options.

Does anyone know if domainwatchlist.co.uk is still active by the way?

 

[Retired_member41]

I'm sure they are as i always see them catching good domains.

DM and dwl are very good so you have probably just been unlucky.

Book 20 and if you get 1 surely that's a result.

Try lots of catchers that's what the experts seem to have done in the past.

 

[payne]

Thanks Caz.

And sorry for hijacking your thread Curt!

 

[crispybacon]

There's some great info here. Thanks to monaghan and others for shedding light on this!