Ways to Monetize a Domain

This guide is not a sure-fire path to overnight wealth in the domain market. Rather, this guide is intended to help the beginner who desires to become a serious domain name investor; one who is willing to put their time, effort, and a little bit of money into the business.

What this guide will not do is make you a domain name expert. This guide is intended to answer some of the initial questions that most beginners ask, leaving your mind open to new questions and then directing you to the right places to ask those questions.

One of the most important things to remember as you enter the world of domain name investment is to look before you leap.

If the jump in front of you is small (meaning the amount of money you want to invest is small), then it’s not that great a risk to move forward. But if you’re considering a big leap, and you stand the chance of hurting yourself (meaning the investment amount is large and you’re risking a lot), then do some careful research before jumping.

The fact is, registering a few domain names isn’t all that much of a risk and it offers the opportunity to get some experience in the industry. But, taking a big risk you may not be prepared for financially or research-wise (like buying hundreds of domains that begin with the word ‘best’) would cost a lot of money with a very low ROI (Return on Investment). So, sit on these kinds of creative ideas while you take time to research the industry and figure out what works and what doesn’t.

What are the different ways to monetize a domain name?

There are several different categories of domain investment and monetization; below are quick descriptions of each. Some methods are easier than others. Some methods have a higher return than others. They all have their pros and cons, and they all take time and hard work to utilize effectively.

• Affiliate Websites – Think of a good domain name, register it, and then build a website filled with various advertisements for other sites that bear a similarity to your domain name, making money off anyone who clicks on the ads and purchases the advertised products.
• PPC Websites (Pay-Per-Click) – These are very much like affiliate sites, except the revenue generated comes from PPC advertising systems like Google AdSense and Yahoo Publisher Network.
• Domain Parking – There are several services, like sedo.com, where you can “park” your domain. The domain will have a variety of keyword targeted ads, similar to the ppc and affiliate sites mentioned above. You make money off the ads that your parking company puts up. Additionally, you can also list your site for sale at the same time.
• Domain Leasing – Rent the domain name out to advertisers or other interested parties.
• Domain Purchase and Resale – Register a domain or buy an existing domain with hopes of reselling it to other domainers.
• Domain Development – Register a domain name and develop a website for it, with unique content and some sort of business model.