How to Buy Pre-Registered Domain Names in Kenya (2024)

Get a head start establishing an online presence in Kenya by learning how to find and buy pre-registered domain names. This guide covers everything from finding the right domain to registration.

What is a Pre-Registered Domain Name and Why Buy One?

Let’s start with the basics – what exactly are pre-registered domain names?

They are simply domain names that have been previously registered by someone else. There are a few reasons why someone might want to buy a pre-registered domain name in Kenya:

Established History: A pre-registered domain may have a valuable search engine history, helping your website get noticed more quickly.
Branding: The perfect domain name may already be taken, but a pre-registered version could be available.
Shorter and More Memorable: Existing domains may be shorter and easier to remember than a completely new registration.

Finding Available Pre-Registered Domain Names in Kenya

The first step is to find available pre-registered domains relevant to your niche or business. Here are a few ways to do this:

Domain Marketplaces: Online marketplaces like Sedo, Afternic, and Flippa specialize in buying and selling pre-registered domains. Use filters to find domains with .co.ke or other Kenya-specific extensions.
Domain Brokers: Professional domain brokers can help you search for specific domains and even negotiate the purchase price on your behalf.
WHOIS Lookup: The WHOIS database contains information about domain registrations. If you find a domain you like, the WHOIS information may indicate if it’s available for purchase or lead you to the current owner.
Expired Domain Auctions: Many domains expire each year when not renewed. If you’re patient, you can participate in expired domain auctions to try and snag a domain name of interest.

Factors to Consider When Buying Pre-Registered Domains

Before you jump to buy a pre-registered domain name in Kenya, there are some crucial points to consider:

Relevance: Ensure the domain name is relevant to your business or website.
Pricing: Pre-registered domains can be more expensive than registering a brand-new domain. Compare prices from different sellers and factor this into your budget.
History: Check a domain’s history to make sure it hasn’t been used for any malicious or spammy activities in the past.

Criteria To Use To Pick The Best Pre-registered Domain

Before we do anything, I should warn you; dread carefully here!

Here’s a breakdown of the crucial criteria to prioritize when choosing the best pre-registered domain name:

Relevance to Your Business or Niche

Keywords: Target domains with keywords relevant to your industry and the products/services you provide. This ensures consistency and improves your chances of being easily found in relevant searches.
Brand Alignment: The domain name should align with your brand name and overall messaging. This creates a stronger, more cohesive online presence.

Length and Memorability

Short and Sweet: Shorter domain names are easier to remember, type, and share.
Catchy: Look for domain names that are catchy and roll off the tongue. These are more likely to stick in people’s minds.

Domain History

Clean History: Use tools like Ahrefs or Wayback Machine to ensure the domain has no history of spam, malicious activity, or search penalties.
Positive Backlink Profile: Ideally, the domain should have existing, high-quality backlinks, boosting your initial SEO efforts.

Pricing

Fits Your Budget: Pre-registered domains can vary widely in price. Determine your budget beforehand and focus on domains that fit within that range, balancing price with quality.
Negotiation Potential: Don’t be afraid to try and negotiate a lower price, especially if buying directly from the owner rather than via a marketplace.

Domain Age and Extension

Established Domains: Older domains often have a better reputation and search engine history.
Appropriate Extension: Choose an appropriate top-level domain (.com is the most common, but consider country-specific ones like .co.ke if your focus is primarily in Kenya).

Other things:

Trademark Issues: Ensure the domain name doesn’t infringe on any existing trademarks.
Social Media Availability: Check if corresponding social media handles are available for consistent branding across all platforms.

Prioritizing Your Criteria

The importance of each criterion may vary depending on your unique business goals and needs. To refine your decision-making process consider:

Must-haves: Non-negotiables, such as a certain level of relevance or a specific budget limit.
Highly Desirable: Important, but where there’s some flexibility.
Nice-to-have: Bonuses that are not deal-breakers.

Remember – It’s not always about the ‘perfect’ domain. Finding a good enough domain that meets your core requirements while keeping costs and risks in check is often a more practical and successful approach!

Example

Let me illustrate the criteria for picking the best pre-registered domain name in Kenya with some examples:

Scenario 1: Online Fitness Coaching in Kenya

Relevance: Relevant domains could include “[invalid URL removed]”, “KenyanFitness.co.ke”, “GetStrong.co.ke”, or something using keywords like ‘wellness’, ‘coach’, or specific fitness goals.
Length & Memorability: “GetStrong.co.ke” wins. It’s short, catchy, and relevant to the location.
Domain History: Checking Ahrefs shows a clean backlink profile and no negative marks.
Pricing: The domain falls within your budget or room for negotiation exists.
Extension: The .com version may be out of range, but .co.ke is a suitable alternative as your target audience is primarily in Kenya.

Scenario 2: Tech Blog with a Global Audience

Relevance Keywords like ‘tech’, ‘gadget’, or ‘innovation’ should be a feature in a potential domain: “TechBytes.net,” etc.
Length & Memorability: Shorter is generally better, but some creativity could make a slightly longer domain like “TheInnovationHub.com” memorable.
Domain History: You want little to no negative history and a preference for a decent number of quality backlinks for an SEO boost.
Pricing: Finding a strong domain in the tech niche may require a larger budget. Balance your limits with the potential value the domain brings.
Extension: .com is the primary choice in this case, given the global audience.

Example of Bad Choices to Highlight the Criteria

Fitness Blog: A domain like “mycar.co.ke” has zero relevance.
Kenyan Food Store: A long domain like “TheBestFreshProduceNairobi.co.ke” is hard to remember, while “NairobiEats.co.ke” is far superior.
Any Niche: A domain from a site previously used for selling illegal substances or spam activity will be problematic even with a total rebrand.

Note: These are simplified examples – domain selection usually involves a deeper analysis of your competition and your specific target audience.

The Purchase Process

Once you have found a suitable pre-registered domain name, here’s what the buying process typically looks like:

Contact the Seller: Contact the domain’s seller or broker to inquire about availability and negotiate a price.
Escrow Service: It’s highly recommended to use a secure escrow service to process the transaction. This protects both the buyer and seller.
Transfer Ownership: The domain registrar will facilitate the transfer of domain ownership from the seller to you.
Update DNS: You will need to update the domain’s DNS (Domain Name System) settings to point it to your preferred web hosting provider.

How to check and buy expired domains on expireddomains.net

If you are into pre-owned domains, you must know about expireddomains.net.

Let’s go over how to use ExpiredDomains.net to find and purchase expired domains:

Understanding ExpiredDomains.net

ExpiredDomains.net is a popular platform specializing in listing expired, expiring, and deleted domains.expand_more It offers powerful search features, various filters, and detailed information about listed domains.expand_more

How to Check Expired Domains on ExpiredDomains.net

Visit the Website: Go to https://www.expireddomains.net/.
Use the Search Bar: Enter keywords related to your niche or desired domain characteristics (e.g., “tech,” “fitness,” short domain names). You can also refine your search using the provided filters.
Filter Results: Use these filters for a more focused searchexclamation
- Domain Extension: Choose popular ones (.com, .net, .org), country-specific TLDs like .co.ke, or less common extensions.
- Price: Set your price range.exclamation
- Metrics: Look for SEO metrics like backlinks, Trust Flow, Citation Flow, Domain Authority, or Page Authority.
- Domain Age: Search for domains with an established history.
- Traffic: Consider domains with a history of existing traffic.
Examine Domain Listings:
- Click on the domain name for more information and detailed metrics.
- Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to delve deeper into a domain’s backlink profile and potential spam issues.expand_more
- Check the Wayback Machine to view a domain’s previous website content.

How to Buy Expired Domains on ExpiredDomains.net

Backorder: If a domain you’re interested in is set to expire, consider placing a backorder. This means multiple buyers can express interest in the same domain, and if it drops, it goes to auction among those who placed backorders.
Auction: Participate in auctions for domains that are already in the ‘deleted’ state. Note that you will likely face competition from other bidders.exclamation
Buy Now: Some domains have a ‘Buy Now’ option for a fixed price.exclamation If available, you can purchase it directly.

Additional Tips

Domain Availability Check: ExpiredDomains.net has a separate tool to check the immediate availability of a specific domain of your choice.
Set Your Budget: Expired domains can range in price from low to high depending on desirability. Set a realistic budget.
Patience is Key: Don’t rush. Research each domain thoroughly before backordering or bidding on a domain.

Important Notes

ExpiredDomains.net isn’t the only platform for finding expired domains. Consider alternatives like GoDaddy Auctions or marketplaces like Sedo and Flippa.
Buying expired domains always comes with some risk.expand_more Thorough due diligence is essential to avoid domains with problematic history.

You can even check expired .ke domains.

And you will see a ton of results.

Where To Register Your Domain Name in Kenya

Now that you have identified the right pre-registered domain, what’s next?

Since it’s technically expired, you need to register it.

Choosing a good domain registrar is essential for managing your domain. These registrars are accredited by Kenya’s regulatory body (KENIC) for domain registration in Kenya. Here are some reputable Kenyan registrars:

Truehost Kenya: (https://truehost.co.ke/) Offers domain name registration services and web hosting in Kenya.
HostPinnacle: (https://www.hostpinnacle.co.ke/domain-registration-in-kenya/) Provides affordable domain registration with various extensions.
Sasahost: Another popular option.

Considerations when Choosing a Domain Registrar

Domain Prices: Compare prices between registrars for your desired domain extension (.co.ke, .com, etc.)
Web Hosting Packages: Many registrars offer bundled web hosting packages, making it convenient to buy a domain name and get your website up and running.
Customer Support: Good customer support is essential if you have questions or need help managing your domain name.
Security: Choose a registrar with robust security features to protect your domain registration information.

Besides the factors we’ve covered, there are a few more reasons to consider pre-registered domains:

Instant Credibility: Established domains may have existing links and mentions across the web, granting your site greater credibility with search engines.
SEO Benefits: Existing, relevant backlinks can boost your website’s search engine rankings.
Easier Marketing: A memorable, already-registered domain name is easier to brand and market.

Tips for Securing Your Dream Domain Name

Here are some strategies to increase your chances of getting the perfect pre-registered domain:

Act Fast: Good domain names go quickly. If you find one you like, don’t hesitate, or you risk losing it to someone else.
Negotiate: Prices are often negotiable, especially if working directly with the owner rather than a marketplace.
Be Flexible: Think about different domain extensions if your preferred one isn’t available (e.g., .com vs. .net or country-specific ones like .co.ke).

Essential Things to Consider Alongside the Purchase

Buying a pre-registered domain name in Kenya isn’t the end of the story. Here are a few more elements vital to starting your online presence:

Web Hosting: You’ll need a web hosting in Kenya plan to store your website’s files and make it accessible on the internet. Look for hosting providers that offer good performance and reliability.
SSL Certificate: An SSL certificate is crucial for securing your website and encrypting visitor data. This builds trust and is an important factor for search engine rankings.
Web Design: Unless you have design experience, you may need help designing a professional-looking website, further enhancing brand recognition.

Factors That Influence Domain Prices in Kenya

The cost of a pre-registered domain name in Kenya can vary widely. Factors influencing pricing include:

Domain Length: Shorter, easier-to-remember domain names often command a higher price.
Keywords: Domains with popular, high-traffic keywords and relevance to lucrative business niches tend to be more expensive.
Domain Age: An older domain with a cleaner history might have a premium.
Domain Extension: Popular top-level domains (TLDs) like .com typically cost more than some less popular or country-specific extensions.

Should You Consider a Reseller Option?

Resellers offer a way to register domain names and potentially get access to special domain deals. Investigate this if your budget is constrained, and you don’t mind doing some additional legwork to find suitable domains you can purchase affordably.

Pros and Cons of Purchasing Expired Domains

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of buying expired domains as a strategy for establishing or enhancing your web presence.

Pros of Purchasing Expired Domains

Established Backlink Profile: One of the biggest draws of expired domains is the potential for an existing backlink profile. High-quality backlinks from reputable sources can boost your website’s search engine rankings.
Potential for Existing Traffic: If the expired domain previously had a website with an audience, you might inherit some of that traffic. While not guaranteed, it can be a helpful headstart.
Shorter and More Memorable: Established domains might be shorter, easier to remember, and more desirable than fresh registrations. This can help with branding.
Jumpstart Your SEO Efforts: Instead of starting from scratch, you can leverage the domain’s previous ranking history, saving time on SEO efforts.

Cons of Purchasing Expired Domains

Risk of Negative History: The biggest risk is that the domain may have a negative history of spam, malicious activity, or search engine penalties. It’s essential to conduct thorough research before making a purchase.
Higher Costs: Popular or established expired domains can be much more expensive than registering a brand new domain name.
Inconsistency With Your Brand: Finding an expired domain that perfectly aligns with your brand or niche can be challenging. You might need to compromise.
Potential Trademark Issues: Be wary of unknowingly purchasing a domain that infringes on existing trademarks.

Important Considerations

Before pursuing expired domains in Kenya, remember:

Thorough Research: Use tools to analyze a domain’s backlink profile, traffic history, and check for any past penalties. Popular tools include Ahrefs, SEMrush, Majestic, and Wayback Machine.
Be Patient: Finding worthwhile expired domains takes time and effort. Be prepared to search through many before finding a good fit for your project.

Should You Buy Expired Domains?

Purchasing expired domains can be a valuable strategy if you’re willing to invest the time in research and understand the potential risks. It’s particularly beneficial if you’re focused on a highly competitive niche and need a leg up in search engine results pages.

However, if you’re starting with a fresh website or have a limited budget, registering a brand new domain is often a simpler and more reliable way to get started.

KSH 200/MONTH HOSTING

Wrap!

Buying a pre-registered domain name can be an excellent strategy to start your online venture in Kenya with an edge. Remember to buy pre-registered domain names in Kenya from reputable registrars. Choose the best domain for your business, negotiate a fair price, and consider bundling with web hosting in Kenya to streamline the process of setting up your online presence.

Expired Domains FAQs

What are the benefits of buying pre-registered domain names in Kenya?

Buying pre-registered domain names in Kenya can save you time and effort in securing a desired domain name. It also allows you to take advantage of any existing traffic or reputation associated with the domain.

How can I search for available pre-registered domain names related to my business online?

You can use domain registration platforms or companies in Kenya to search for available pre-registered domain names that match your business niche or keywords.

What should I consider when choosing a hosting company in Kenya to buy a pre-registered domain?

When selecting a hosting company in Kenya to buy a pre-registered domain, consider factors such as hosting packages, support team responsiveness, SSL certificate offerings, and the company’s reputation in the market.

Can I transfer a pre-registered domain name to a different hosting provider in Kenya?

Yes, you can transfer a pre-registered domain name to a different hosting provider in Kenya by following the domain transfer process outlined by ICANN and your new hosting company.

Are there any restrictions on the type of domain ending I can choose when buying a pre-registered domain name in Kenya?

When buying a pre-registered domain name in Kenya, you can explore various domain ending options, including country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like .co.ke or generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com, based on your business needs.

How can I ensure the security of my website when purchasing a pre-registered domain in Kenya?

To secure your site, ensure the hosting company provides SSL certificates, regular backups, and robust hosting plans that include security features to protect your website and customer data.

What is the process for buying a pre-registered domain name with a co.ke extension in Kenya?

To buy a pre-registered domain name with a .co.ke extension in Kenya, you need to find a domain name registrar accredited by the Communications Authority of Kenya, check the availability of the desired domain name, and complete the registration process.