Selling a Domain Name

How to go about it?

[tekjnke]

Hello All.
I have been lurking this site for a while, such amazing information available here. But now I have a question.

I have several domains that I am interested in selling, and am looking for advice about the "right" way to go about this. I have been reading websites of domain brokers and their service fees, etc. Domain appraisers, etc. Frankly, I am overwhelmed. :)

Thanks a ton.

-Tek

[Alternative Future]

Hi tekjnke,

A good place to start is Afternic [afternic.com] they have cleaned up their act also!

HTH,

-gs

[tigger]

I've not looked for a while but what about ebay

[Filipe]

Hm. I've always wondered - is there any good money in domain names? I see people selling domain names for $200 - $300, no fees attached. Depending on where you get it, that's like, $175 - $275 profit. I wonder how many of those are people just trying to unload a domain name once, and how many are repeat sellers who try to make a business out of it.

[Shak]

all depends if your domains are actuall sellable.

99% of domains which get offered in the open market are probably not worth their registration fee.

A look at any of the domain name forums/appraisals site will tell you so, apart from people who value every domain name in the 000s but have never bought a single domain.

2 industry sites are DomainState and DNforum. these are where the buyers and sellers hang out, along with a lot of the comedians.

Shak

[Filipe]

DomainState is really good for appraisals. That is to say, they won't give you false hopes. There are 2 or 3 admins and 5 or 6 users who regularly post there who REALLY know what they're talking about, so you can find out what your domain names are really worth.

When presenting them with your domain names, be sure to mention how much traffic they're each getting (if any. If you don't know how much natural traffic they're getting, park a page there and track the traffic it gets just from clicks and people typing it right in).

If there's already a website associated with it be sure to tell them what kind of commercial value you think it has, and if it makes sales, tell them what those sales are like.

Otherwise, people will tell you that it's either worth what you paid for it (that is, you might be able to break even with it) or that it was a waste of money.

e.g.,

sellonline.com
GOOD - two words, very common, lots of obvious commercial uses, and the keywords "sell online" get 4000+ searches on Overture's Search Term Suggestion Tool.

bestcashopportunity.com
BAD - Doesn't work as a phrase in itself, starts with "best", no obvious commercial application, 3 words, not much branding potential.

[tekjnke]

Lots of great information, thanks a ton.

Question, does a domain name that would potentially be up for sale have to have existing use or traffic? In otherwords, does it have to be something that is currently in use or can it be something that has been registered but is not currently in use?

A few that I have I just have nothing to associate them with, but someone out there might.

Thanks.
-Tek

[Shak]

tek,

fresh or used = no problem.

type in traffiic is always nice, as is ease of remembrance, brandability and type of extension (.com .net .co.uk)

you will never know what they are worth until you try selling or getting an appraisal done.

the market has seen a number of 5 figure sales in 2003, these include .com .net and .co.uk (not sure about any big .org sales though)

Shak