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The post How To Find Out Who The Domain Owner Is appeared first on HostGator Blog . How To Find Out Who The Domain Owner Is Choosing a domain name is the first step in launching your dream website. However, choosing the perfect domain name can be a lengthy process. You’ve spent time brainstorming domain names, and you’ve finally found the perfect one. You go to register your domain and find that it’s already been registered. This doesn’t have to be the end of the road. You can figure out who the owner of the domain is and get in touch to see if they’d be willing to sell it. You might pay a bit more than registering a fresh domain , but getting that perfect domain could be worth it. Below you’ll learn the benefits of uncovering who owns a domain name, and how to do exactly that. Why Do People Buy Domains? A lot of people buy domains without actually using them. If you’ve found a domain that’s registered, but the site is empty or has a landing page provided by a hosting company, then there’s a solid chance the domain is available for purchase. In some cases, you’ll be able to purchase the site entirely, even if it’s already built-out. Maybe the owner decided to move onto other projects and hasn’t updated the site in quite some time. If this is the case, you should expect to pay a bit more , but if the traffic levels are low the number won’t be outlandish.   The Benefits of Knowing Who Owns a Domain Before you being the process of digging to find the owner of a domain name, it’s important to understand why you’re doing it. Being able to look up who owns a domain name can be very useful for a few reasons:   1. To Get in Touch With a Domain Owner If you want a purchase a domain that’s already registered, then you’ll need to get in touch with the owner. By finding out who the owner is you can inquire about purchasing the domain name.   2. To Uncover the Ideal Time to Reach Out By using WHOIS information you’ll be able to see when a domain is about to expire. This can help you time your bid, so you can reach out with an offer right before the domain is set to expire, or needs to be renewed.   3. Correct Your Own Information If you’ve already registered a domain name in the past, then you might want to verify that your domain name information is accurate. This is especially true if you’ve purchased domains with the intent of selling them down the road.   How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name Finding a domain owner’s information isn’t that difficult. To do this, we’re going to be using the website called WHOIS. This site essentially answers the question: who owns a certain domain name or IP address? Whenever someone registers a domain name they must provide relevant contact information. To perform a domain lookup navigate to the site: https://whois.icann.org/en , and enter the domain name you’d like to lookup. As long as the domain owner isn’t using a proxy or domain privacy service to shield their information, then you’ll be given relevant contact information. Usually, you’ll find information like: Where they registered their domain The owner’s email address and phone number The domain expiration date When the domain was registered You’ll find more information as well, but the above elements will be the most useful to you.   I’ve Found the Domain Owner, Now What? If you’re still interested in making an offer for the domain name, then you’ll have a few different options. The first is reaching out to the owner via email and expressing interest in buying the domain name . The second is using a domain name broker who will handle the negotiation and transfer process for you. There are services like Sedo , which will handle the entire process on your behalf for a fee, o r you can use the HostGator domain tool and place an offer directly through the site. In cases where the domain owner’s information has been hidden, your best bet is to get in touch via the site’s contact form.    Conclusion Hopefully, you have a better understanding of how you can use the Whois lookup feature to find the owner of a domain name. If you run into a domain owner who either isn’t willing to sell the domain or is asking too much that means it’s time to cut your losses and continue your domain search. With hundreds of thousands of potential domain names still available, and a multitude of domain name extensions to choose from you’re bound to find the right domain for your needs. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →