Naming your online store can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a bit confusing and difficult. You might come up with a good name, only to find that anyone else already owns the domain you want for your store. Do not worry. Using the WHOIS tool, you simply can get all the details you require to find out who owns the domain and make a deal to get it. You might find the business name you want is available but someone else has already claimed the correlation with the domain name. But that does not mean you have to go back to the drawing board.
In some conditions, you can find out who owns the domain (also mentioned as the domain registrant) and contact them to make a deal to buy it. Read this blog for step-by-step guidance on How To Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name via WHOIS.
How To Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name via WHOIS?
- Go to the WHOIS database – To know who owns a domain, head to the WHOIS database. There, you can see details like the registrant’s IP address, name, and maybe their contact information. Keep in mind that some domains keep this information public, but others might use a domain privacy service provider to keep it invisible from view.
- Look up the domain URL – To know the details about a domain, just put the URL into the WHOIS search bar and hit enter. WHOIS will at first display common information like the domain registrar, ID, name, and creation date. From these search results, you can click “View more information” to increase the view and see more details about the domain.
- Detect in case the contact information is private – In some instances, the WHOIS registration data does not show the contact details of the domain registrant in search results. Alternatively, it acts as a middleman between you and the registrant. In another sentence, the WHOIS lookup tool protects the domain owner’s identity details while still providing sufficient information to find a path to contact them. So if you come across a domain where the contact details are private, it means you will be required to take a few more steps to find the owner and reach out to them.
- Find registrant contact information – If the domain owner’s information is hidden, try to search online for the company behind the domain. Check their Contact or About pages for information on their founders or leadership team. If you can not find that, see where the firm is registered and look for applicable databases listing registered businesses. For example, if the domain is owned by a Texas-based organization, you can use local databases to search business ownership by company name, address, or registered agent name.
What to do after finding out who owns a domain?
Once you know the owner name of a domain you want to get, the next step is looking for how to contact them and make a deal to take ownership.
- Get in touch with the domain name owner – The first step is to contact the domain name owner. If you came after the last steps, you should already have their information. But if you require another way to get in touch, here is what you can do. Start by searching their name on Google. If that does not help, databases like Hunter and LinkedIn can help in finding the contact details for the domain owner.
- Make a deal to acquire the domain – If you are successful in contacting the owner try and make a deal for its transfer. Make a quote by thinking about the domain’s value. You can quote a lower figure if the site is outdated and does not rank higher. However, start with a higher offer for sites with a strong online presence. You can continue to make until you reach an agreement or get a counteroffer that is appropriate for both parties.
- Move your site to the new domain – After you acquire the new domain, you should move your site to it. (If you are creating a website from scratch, skip this step and proceed with building your website.)
- Think about other ideas for your domain name – If your wish for a domain name is not available, it is time to look for other domains or come up with new ideas.
How To Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name via WHOIS FAQs
- Who can use the WHOIS database?
Anyone can use the WHOIS database. It is a public resource that provides information about domain names. Every person with an internet connection can use it.
- What is the use of WHOIS?
WHOIS helps identify the domain owner, registration and expiration dates, and other organizational contacts. Moreover, WHOIS can show the registrar managing the domain and give technical information about its organization.
- What type of information can you get from WHOIS data?
Domain’s building and expiration dates, Registrant’s name, phone number, Registered address, Email address, Server information, Technical and administrative fields.
- What is the practical way of finding out who owns a domain name?
The most practical way of finding out who owns a domain name is to try to contact the Domain Registrar with which the domain name is registered.
