Category: Domain Investing 101

It’s the first question every new domain investor asks: “How much is this domain worth?” In a rush for an answer, most people turn to a free domain appraisal tool. You type in a name, and a second later, it spits out a number—sometimes a very big, exciting number.

But can you trust it?

The most popular tool, GoDaddy’s “GoValue,” is used by millions. But is it accurate? Or is it a sales tool designed to make you think you’ve found gold?

In this guide, I’m putting the most popular free domain valuation tools to the test.

We’ll run two real-world expired domains through these automated tools and compare the results to the real data found in a professional SEO audit. The results will show you why you can’t rely on these tools alone.

Read More about Are Free Domain Appraisal Tools Accurate? (We Tested Them)

You’ve done the hard part. You’ve learned how to find profitable expired domains, you’ve mastered how to win a domain auction, and you’ve completed the technical setup for your new site. Now, you’re looking at your new digital asset and asking the most important question: “How do I make money with this?”

An expired domain is a powerful starting point, but its real value is in its potential. The strategy you choose next will determine its profitability.

In this guide, we’ll break down the 5 most common domain monetization options, from strategies that can get you a quick profit to methods for building a long-term, passive income stream.

Read More about 5 Proven Ways to Monetize an Expired Domain (From Quick Flips to Passive Income)

In domain investing, the money you save is just as important as the money you make. The only thing worse than missing a great domain is buying a terrible one.

A toxic, penalized domain is a digital landmine that will consume your time and money with zero return.

While some guides offer generic advice, I’m going to share my personal, 5-step checklist for doing a spammy domain check.

We’ll use Ahrefs and real-world examples from my own audits to show you exactly what a penalized domain looks like so you can avoid a costly mistake.

This is a critical skill in the business of domain flipping, and mastering it will save you thousands.

Read More about How to Spot a Penalized or Spammy Domain (My 5-Step Ahrefs Checklist)

You did it. You navigated the auctions, won your domain, and successfully completed the post-acquisition steps. You now own a promising aged domain, brimming with backlink potential. Now what?

The most powerful strategy for monetizing this new asset is to develop it into a ‘mini-site.’ This is just one of several proven ways to make money with expired domains, but it’s often the most profitable for building a long-term asset.

This is a small, 5-10 page authority site built to capture the domain’s existing SEO value. But you can’t just install WordPress and start writing.

Building on an aged domain is a technical process. If you do it wrong, you’ll lose all the “link juice” you just paid for.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact, step-by-step process I use to build site on expired domain, from the final spam check to your initial content strategy.

Read More about How to Build Your First “Mini-Site” on an Aged Domain (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Congratulations! You navigated the domain auction, applied your bidding strategies, and placed the winning bid. You now own a new domain name!

But the work isn’t over yet. The next few hours and days involve critical post domain acquisition steps to secure your asset and set it up correctly.

Making a mistake here can delay your project, cause technical headaches, or worse, even risk losing the domain you just won.

If you’re wondering “what happens after winning godaddy auction” or any other platform, this guide is for you.

This checklist will walk you through the essential steps, from finalizing payment to pointing your DNS, ensuring a smooth and secure transition for your new digital asset.

Read More about You Won a Domain Auction! Now What? (Your Post-Acquisition Checklist)

You’ve found the perfect expired domain using your search checklist. You’ve done your homework and valued the domain.

The auction countdown timer is ticking… 1 hour left. What do you do now?

Bidding in a domain auction can be a nerve-wracking experience. Bid too early, and you drive up the price. Bid too late, and you might miss out. The key isn’t emotion; it’s strategy.

In this guide, I’ll break down the 7 key domain bidding strategies professionals use, from understanding proxy bidding to last-minute sniping.

These domain auction tips will help you enter your next auction with a clear plan and the confidence to win without overpaying.

Read More about How to Win a Domain Auction: 7 Bidding Strategies for Beginners (2026)

You’ve learned the basics of domain flipping and you know the best domain auction sites. You log into GoDaddy Auctions for the first time and see a list of 75,000 expiring domains.

Where do you even begin? The key to success isn’t luck; it’s having a repeatable process for your expired domains search.

In this guide, I’ll share my personal, step-by-step checklist for sifting through the noise.

I’ll show you the exact filters I use and the “pre-screen” process I follow to quickly find promising domains that are worth a deeper analysis. This is how to find good expired domains without wasting hours.

Read More about How to Find Profitable Expired Domains: A Beginner’s Search Checklist

Feeling lost in a sea of SEO jargon like DR, DA, PBN, and EMD? You’re not alone. The world of domain investing has its own language, and understanding these SEO terms is the first step to making profitable decisions.

An AI can give you a basic definition, but it can’t tell you what these terms mean in the real world of buying and selling digital assets.

This guide is your one-stop resource. We’ll break down all the key domaining terms you need to know in plain English, with expert insights on why each one matters. In the end, you’ll be able to analyze domains with the confidence of a pro.

Read More about An Expert’s Glossary of 25+ Domaining & SEO Terms

So, you understand the value of expired domains and you’re ready to start your search. If you’re brand new to the concept, you might want to start with my foundational guide on what domain flipping is and how to make money with it first.

For everyone else, the critical question remains: where to buy domain names? The internet is filled with dozens of domain marketplace platforms, each with its own quirks and fees.

Choosing the right one can be the difference between finding a hidden gem and getting lost in a sea of junk.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best domain auction sites to help you start your investment journey with confidence.

Read More about The 5 Best Domain Auction Sites for Beginners (2026 Guide)

When I first got into the world of domain investing, I was fascinated by the idea of buying and selling digital real estate.

I’d read stories about people making a huge profit from expired domains, but I was also terrified of making a costly mistake.

If you’re asking yourself, “how to make money with domain names,” you’re in the right place.

This isn’t a get-rich-quick guide. This is a realistic, no-nonsense introduction to the business of domain flipping, based on my own first-hand experience.

We’ll cover the core domain investment strategies, the potential for profit, and the critical skills you need to learn. For a detailed breakdown of the 5 most popular monetization methods, see my complete guide here.

Read More about What is Domain Flipping? A Beginner’s Guide to Making Money with Domain Names (2026)