Rose
We try to stay away from voting or endorsement threads since, if allowed, they eventually turn forums into spammy promotional places.
Allow me to answer your question this way: It's not the parking service that "sells" the domain "it's the domain that sells itself".
Awhile back you participated in a similar thread:
[webmasterworld.com...]
I don't think the answers have changed much since then.
It may simply be a case that the domains that you hold aren't highly desirable. If they were you would be receiving a steady stream of email inquiries.
IF your domains are getting any traffic then you should post them in the various domain forums that allow people to post their domains for sale: DomainState, DNForum, NamePros, etc.
...It may simply be a case that the domains that you hold aren't highly desirable. If they were you would be receiving a steady stream of email inquiries.
Hi Webwork, Are you referring to both parked domains and also mini-websites?
I believe the number of inquiries you get are significantly lower (as low as zero) if the domain resolves to a small website since the potential buyer sees it is a functioning site and simply assumes it is thus not for sale and moves on never asking if it was for sale.
I have many desirable domains online for a number of yrs (as long as 5-10 yrs) which are small 1 or 2 pg sites and also get good traffic (including typeins) but have never received an inquiry on availability.
It's a major problem putting a notice or image on the site announcing it's for sale for several reasons, including: 1. Detracting from the visitors perceived value of the site 2. Making the site look cheap or non-legit, 3. The proven fact Adsense does not like sites which are for sale, 4. Even potential Wipo case bad faith evidence.
So what to do to get inquiries and sales?
You could alway place a hint in the WhoIs record.You could even place a hint in the "About" page, such as "This website was once a labor of love but . . . . " Worried about Adsense and having a "for sale" sign on the site? Why not add a link to a "partner with us" page . . more hints within. Why not add an "investors wanted" link? "Investors wanted to help develop this website. Contact me."
I recognize that there clueless people in this world, me too sometimes, but chances are good that the clueless are not going to comprise your "buyer's market", for a variety of reasons. If they are clueless about "simply asking" chances are they will be clueless about value, etc. Folks who have some idea about domain value also have knowledge about the other issues, including the notion that "I can always ask if it's for sale".
My view - my experience - is that 99.999999% of why any domain won't sell is the thing itself - the domain or website - and not what anyone does or doesn't do about marketing it. Over the years I've read 100s of threads about "What can I do to sell my domain(s)" - here and elsewhere - and when it finally got down to it and I took a look at the domains in question my first reaction was invariably "they're junk".
One can market sand on the beach all day but unless it's very special sand ain't no one gonna buy it.
[edited by: Webwork at 5:20 pm (utc) on June 16, 2007]
I really do not think that most buyers would realize (when they see it is a small 1 pg website) it could be for sale or bother to ask.
As far as the more experienced people knowing about domain values (and thinking it can be puchased) it's not much of a factor IMO since most end-user buyers are clueless and non-experienced on the web, knowing almost nothing about domains.
I get a standard contingent fee third, of course. ;)
