• After a domain name expires it enters an on-hold period. The domain name owner is allowed to renew the domain at any point during this time frame. Depending on the registrar, the on-hold period can last anywhere between 1 and 45 days.
• Next comes the grace period. The domain owner is still able to reclaim the domain during this time, but will usually pay a hefty recovery penalty or fee to do so. The grace period usually lasts 30 days, but again, this depends on the registrar.
• After a domain name bows out of the grace period, the owner has no chance to re-register or re-acquire it. The domain is marked as pending deletion and will be available to the public for registration within 5 days.
• The domain is now free to be registered by anyone through a domain name registrar.

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• Try to keep your domain name on the short side. This can be difficult since many short domains are already registered.
• Limit the number of words in your domain to a maximum of 3 or 4.
• Be sure to register all other TLDs (.net, .org, .biz, etc.) for your domain and have them redirect to your main site.
• Avoid using hyphenated domain names. While it can be good, in theory, for search engine rankings, it will take away from the overall branding value of your site. Hyphenated domains can also send visitors away from your site, as they might automatically type the URL in without the hyphens when thinking of your domain.
• Make it easy to remember. This applies to the spelling of your domain as well. People will remember “DedicatedServerNews.com” much more easily than “DedictdSrvrNwz.com”.
• Millions of registered domains are deleted each day. If the domain name you want is taken, try out a service like DeletedDomains.com to see if it has been recently deleted or put on-hold.
• Check out domain auction sites like DomainersEdge.com to see if there are any domains up for sale that would fit with what you are looking for.

The domain name is the one of the most basic parts of your website, but it is also one of the most important. Take care in selecting the right domain name for your site or company, as it can have a lasting effect, both good and bad, now and in the future.