The date of expiration is posted. If your dream name is 'on hold,' you'll need to pay close attention to lists. When one you want is finally free, buy it quick.

Expired domain names can be purchased at any domain registration site. I continue to prefer http://www.godaddy.com, since buying a name through them for a year still costs under $10.

Once you've bought domain, immediately make an appointment with yourself for one month BEFORE domain expires, to renew. Don't forget and have your business name slip away!

One last tip: Reserve your own name as a domain. For example, I've reserved http://www.paulamorrow.com. Even though you may never actually use it as a web site, this at least insures that no one else will either! Take your name off market.

The Great Suffix Debate

As more and more people come online, and stronger names are taken off market, there will be more 'suffixes' added to expand registration options. Currently, following endings are available: .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .ws, and .us. With more to come.

If at all possible, choose a domain name ending in .com ('dot-com'). This is still most widely recognized ending, and most popular. When typing in a domain name, people will still, by default, try .com first. The next popular ending after .com is .net -- but always try for a .com name, if at all possible.

As you make this very important decision choose well because, if you're successful, you'll be living with it for a very long time.

In other words, if you fail to act (and act fast) when renewal time comes, it can kill your business ... Almost instantly, too.

Certain web-based services offer people ability to snatch up expired domain names, like http://bizmint.com/ for example. These services may appear to prey on these unsuspecting business owners -- but keep in mind that registrars are really ones to blame.

However, such services can be used as effective tools by business owners who wish to protect their online piece of real estate from potential loss. In fact, services like these offer features that can become extremely helpful in preventing online identity theft.

(Realize that identity theft is not really a "theft." According to Kornblum: "It's hot. It's legal. And if you've got a popular domain name, you can be sure someone's out there just waiting for you drop ball so they can snap it up and run with it.")

Here's a three step process to prevent online identity theft (or to protect you from shady registrars with poor customer service):

1. Join an online service like http://bizmint.com/, and allow for daily email alerts of expired and soon-to-expire domain names to be sent to you moment they arise. (Only a handful of these subscription services offer this important feature.)

2. Create filters in your email reader that watches for specific words, including prospective domain names as well as your own, and immediately flags them as they arrive in your inbox. (And note that BizMint also offers an online tracking service.)

3. And finally, renew your domains as quickly as possible. (Also, some of these services offer members instant registration as well as domain name transfers for existing domains. Therefore, if your registrar's customer service is less than desirable, consider transferring your domain names to better a one.)

So, be sure to verify and be immediately notified well in advance of when your domain names are about to expire. In fact, USA TODAY reported that an average of 19,260 domain names expire every day in last month alone, as opposed to 1,200 just a year ago.

Is your domain name among them? If so, you better watch out.

Simon Grabowski is the owner of several online businesses that serve a growing network of over 23.6 million people. He is the owner of BizMint.com, the leader in expired and soon-to-expire domain names. Grab a great domain name for pennies! Above all, don't let yours fall into your competitors' hands! Join today before it's too late. Visit http://www.bizmint.com/ right now!