Snapnames

Snapnames provides domain name backordering and auction services and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Corporate

SnapNames uses its network of registrars to obtain expired domain names before they are available to anyone else.

Companies reported to be in the Snapnames “Priority Partner program” include: Dotster, Register.com, DotRegistrar, DomainPeople, Moniker and DirectNIC.

The SnapNames Executive Team are:

•    Sudhir Bhagwan – CEO
•    Jack Williamson – CFO
•    Nelson Brady – VP of Operations
•    Kerry Kelley – VP of Marketing
•    Blake Biesecker – Chief Architect & Director of Product Development
•    Mason Cole – Director of Major Accounts & Industry Relations

History

Snapnames was founded in 2000 by Raymond King and Ron Wiener. It was the first commercially available technology for backordering a domain name. In June 2007 SnapNames.com was acquired by Oversee.net.

Elevator pitch for SnapNames by Ray King.

Backordering Companies

Who Are They?

The three largest (public) backordering companies are:

•    Pool
•    Snapnames
•    NameJet

How Do They Work?

There are two main methods that backordering companies use to acquire domain names:

1.    Contracts with ICANN accredited registrars. For example, such contracts may agree to provide domain names exclusively to a specific backordering company.

2.    Owning their own ICANN accredited registrar and using it to catch domain names.
The more credentials that each backordering company has, the higher their chances of acquiring domain names that drop.

How Do I Backorder A Domain Name?

First of all you need to know that a domain name is going to expire! Then you need to order it with a backordering company.

How Much Does It Cost?

That’s the big question. Each backordering company has a different fee structure. However, if more than one person has backordered a domain name, then it will be decided at an auction.
If you are going after a specific name along with other domainers then you better have deep pockets.