I use to "go for" PendingDelete domain names all the time but slowly stopped doing it because everything that I was going for, would get grabbed by somebody else. Recently, I started using the process again and wanted to share what I do to find the domains.
Even small time domainers have scripts they use and the only thing I have used in the past was the Moniker Domain Grabber from DNWare.com . The problem, Dan the creator of the script clearly has a much fast drop catching script and beats me out. Clearly I get beat out by domain name registrars and dropcatching services like SnapNames.
So I basically try to hand register domains as they drop and stick in 1 domain to run using the MDG script. I get some from time to time but not all that great of results. In a way, I wish domain tasting was still taking place, because I was much better at getting domains back then! 
So I do get domains from time to time but a good deal of work goes into weeding the big PendingDelete lists, so you have to decide if the amount of work and time involved is worth it for you. You also need the basic knowledge of picking good vs bad domain names to go for.
Here are some basic steps that I use to weed the lists while looking for domain names to try and register as they become available to the public (removed from the registry).
I often download the current PendingDelete list for the day at NameJet.com and click the Downloads tab. Once I saved the list to my computer, I open it with Excel. In Excel, I press CTLR + F . The reason for this is to weed out .net, .org and domains with numbers and hyphens in them. Use *.net in the find box and replace them with (blank). *.org *-* *3* etc. You can get the daily PendingDelete list from A Lot of places. I included several in an earlier post about PendingDelete drop lists.
Once I have the list cleaned (takes about 1 minute or 2), I copy the whole list and enter it into my DRT software. (Options, Add Domains)
I want a couple things when I am looking in a large list of domains that will help me search it quicker. My DRT software provides this.
I want to see,
- Domain Length
- Domain Age
- DNS
Those three things are the most important to me. I could careless about "overture" results, link, PR, Alexa etc. Those are just numbers to me and really mean little. I want to find the best domains and I personally think a domain doesn’t need Overture, links, PR, Alexa etc to be good! Overture is a given if it’s good, but keep in mind that data is WAY out of date!
Domain Length helps me sort that way. For some reason, 7 & 11 seem to be HOT numbers for domain names as well. If you are looking for LLLL.com’s again, easy to find them all.
Domain Age helps as many of the better domain names were registered long ago. Sorting by domain age and sending the oldest domains to the top can save a great deal of time.
DNS. Domain Name Servers is important to me because I do not want to invest in a domain name a domainer has owned for years and couldn’t sell it! Looking at DNS on expired domains will often show me sedoparking.com, parked.com etc. This will often tell me just by looking at the domain, it was owned by a domainer and they likely have been trying to sell it and couldn’t. I look for domains that were likely developed based on DNS.
Google Results! Once I see a domain that I think another business may want to use in the PD list, I google the keyword(s) as part of my research before deciding if the domain is worth "going for". This is very important! This google search can easily reveal who your buyer may be, potential traffic to the domain and more! Google search results are important to see as well. Not a popular term, your buyers may be little as well.
Build A List! Once I go through the list (I normally look from the oldest date, until about 2004) Each domain that catches my eye when checking the list, I create a list in wordpad or hand right it down. Then I go through the list and weed that list down to the best ones of that list.
These will be the domain names I "go for". When I say "go for", I mean, try to hand register as they become available starting at 1 PM CT. I use Moniker.com for my registrar.
Again, I do get some domains but it is best to have some kind of good script if you want a higher rate of domains. You should be able to tell what domain names will get backorded by others as well. These are normally pretty easy to pick out. You can double check at NameJet.com and look at the PendingDelete list (up to 11 am CT) and see what others have backordered if you have questionable ones.
Hand register type domains may be worth using a Godaddy backorder on as well. In fact, I got beat out by a Godaddy backorder on two of the domains I went for today. (SurveyMasters.com and BlackBadger.com)
The other domain names I tried to get today were:
AutoJunkies.com (BuyDomains got it) ShopClerk.com and GamerPlace.com .
I built a list of 13 domains today in my wordpad list and went for 5. Of the 5 today, I didn’t get any, so it didn’t pay off for me today but again, you have to decide if it’s worth it or not for you. There are days I go for 5 and get all 5 etc.
This is the poor mans way of investing in decent domain names! If you find a really good one, then it is always best to place a backorder for the domain name using a service like NameJet.com, Pool.com or SnapNames.com . You can also invest in a dropcatching script from a trusted source or build one yourself if you know how.
I often sell hand registered domain names for several hundred dollars and even into the four figure range over time! It’s is also fun in a way if you can grab some!
jzatt
Thanks for sharing! I’m kinda new to the aftermarket and deleting domains, and my process for finding good ones hasn’t been the best/fastest. Looks like I’ll have to by the Domain Research Tool now
Jason at GoDrops.com
ShopClerk.com was a good one with age today. Someone using UK2 GROUP LTD got it, don’t know who that is. Did you go for GameArchive.com two days ago? I loved that one… Snap did too =)
Tony
Jamie, what does Moniker charge you for a .com?
Mike
good read. thanks Jamie. I thought I considered myself fairly advanced in sifting through lists in excel and I didn’t even know about using the wildcard (*) in find & replace
It is interesting to see that someone else is using a lot of the same systems and processes as I have discovered on my own. It is funny now to have a mental image of so many hundreds (thousands?) of others all doing the same thing at the same time each day that I never really thought of before
ZOMG
I too use the DN Grabber software and have noticed that Dan winds up winning a lot of the names I’m going after.
I am starting to wonder if there isn’t something related to that script that doesn’t broadcast what names everyone who uses it is going after, to which he (Dan) can just sit back, read everyones pending registry pings and from those, choose the best names to grab himself…
He is clearly pretty ‘tight’ with some inside people @ Moniker.
Hmmm… I can’t smell the rat yet, but I’m starting to hear footsteps.
John
Nice post Jamie.
Must suck to be beaten by a godaddy backorder though
.
John
IrishDomainer
Great tips! Any recommendations of where to get a fast enough script to grab a few drops?
Cheers,
iD
Jamie Zoch
@IrishDomainer,
I wish I could point you in a good direction but currently I do not know of one. I am working on a couple things and will post about it in the near future if I do.
Jamie Zoch
@John,
Yeah it does suck but I also think that Godaddy has improved their dropcatching a little bit. Not on the gems but for sure decent drops.
Jamie Zoch
@Tony,
Moniker is running a special right now if I can remember correctly. Something like $7.75 for .com’s I think. My normal rates are around $8 something I think.
Jamie Zoch
@Jason,
I was on vacation a couple days a go, so yesterday was the first time I looked at any lists for sometime now.
Tim Davids
Thanks for the post…you always post good stuff for the “common” domainer.
Dan
Jamie
Great post! A few points of clarification for the record. I spend a great portion of my days reviewing the drop lists. I try to uncover those “diamonds in the ruff”. I have many clients looking for certain keyword domains. I enjoy the hunt and the hard work does payoff!
@ZMOG, I can assure you I do not “hijack” your picks… The only information that is sent back to our server is your authentication code to prevent piracy. Integrity always!
Dan
ruizmichell
Verisign makes available data stats for pending delete domains but only available through registrars.
Nigel
Thanks for the insight Jamie. Always good to see how others dumpster dive through the drop list.
I use a Mac, so can’t run DRT. Would be a very handy tool to have. Wish they’d port it to OS X.
On the plus side, I do have access to Unix command line scripts, like awk, so I can create some fairly narrow searches based on keywords, length, and tld. Occasionally I get lucky with hand reg’ing, but for names that I really want, I always backorder.