The futility of marketing your domains for sale

[David G]

The more and more I look at sales (including a number of believed low quality ones for good coin in the latest DNJournal) the more and more I realize it's *mostly* luck if you name sells or not. That is based on the theory if there are for example 1 million names for sale and say 1/2% per year sell based on statistics that means about 14 names will sell per day (per million for sale), irrespective of the strength of any marketing, promotions, for sale websites, email spams, auctions and forum posts.

In other words, what I am trying to say is the futility of trying to market domains, especially selling on a website (without very high traffic, even then dubious value) and on forums. For example, look at the incredibly dismal for sale threads on this and other boards. How can DNF generate so much targeted quality traffic and yet it's rare for sales to occur beyond low price domainer to domainer and flips? The obvious answer is timing and mostly just luck

[draggar]

Every domain that I've sold was sold because I posted it here - how else are people going to know your domains are for sale?

[Carter]

I don't trust in luck!

[David G]

Draggar and Carter must have missed this caveat from my post "....yet it's rare for sales to occur beyond low price domainer to domainer and flips"

[nameadvertising.com]

A good percentage of so called domainers are not domainers at all. Their perception of value is tainted by what they see and hear in a crowd setting like this forum. I am not faulting DNF, but it is easy to get trampled by a crowd in this environment.

I disagree that it it is LUCK. Timing perhaps!

Marketing domains is like a doctor going to a smoker and saying with much convincing why he needs to buy his anti smoking patch. The doctor may make a sale or two, but the smoker rather would use his money to buy more cigs.

Let the smoker come to a relization that his lungs needs a transplant. And you are the only one that can provide him with that.

In other words - Pick good names. The end user has no choice but come to you.

Every domain that I've sold was sold because I posted it here - how else are people going to know your domains are for sale?

That is SCARY!

How are you going to succeed in domaining exclusively making sales here? You must change your domaining vision with planning, quickly and decisively.

[David G]

.......The end user has no choice but come to you.......

Good post Chris.

The above is the point I was making about luck. He may eventually come to you based mostly on luck as far as the end user deciding they want/need the speciific name, goes out looking for it, finds it, and finally decides to buy it for a non-wholesale price.

[nameadvertising.com]

Good post Chris.

The above is the point I was making about luck. He may eventually come to you based mostly on luck as far as the end user deciding they want/need the speciific name, goes out looking for it, finds it, and finally decides to buy it for a non-wholesale price.

Trader,
I disagree once again. Luck plays no part. I am no big shot domainer by any means. But, I am mighty happy with my business. Especially so because I got so late in the game.

Of course we all have some lousy names. That's part of this business. The scenario you presented above may be true. It does play out like that. But not in my case. When I buy names, I have zeroed in my kill already. If you take this approach, you can't and will not fail.

Just know before hand the sales cycle and the sacrifices you are willing to endure in the process.

[Carter]

Just re-say the same thing: I don't trust in luck.
If fdhgdfhgjgjkjh.com is sold mean someone wanted this domain and paid for.

[David G]

I forgot to say I was referring to the kind of sales which appear in dnjournal every week and not low price domainer-domainer sales and flips.

[nameadvertising.com]

Sometimes Trader, things all fall in place. And we call it luck. Sometimes we plan for it and nothing happens.

I understand why you say it is luck. You can have a name for years in your possession before a market develops for it or before a buyer has enough resources to pay for your asking price. Or, you may end up selling it sooner at forum prices. This is a choice we all have to make.

If only we had all the answers......

[hugegrowth]

I don't know if it's luck, or just that you have the right name someone wants, and that 'someone' is willing to pay $xxxx for it. There are lots of sales reported in dnjournal in the $2000 to $5000 range that don't look like anything special. Meaningless LLLL.com, domains with dashes, etc. Hard to explain but a lot of them happen at sedo and Afternic. I don't call it luck because we all pick the domains we buy, and part of the reason most of us buy is possible re-sale, as in would this name have value to anyone else. Perhaps the luck is that the buyer is able to find your name among the millions listed at sedo and Afternic.

[lordbyroniv]

The more and more I look at sales (including a number of believed low quality ones for good coin in the latest DNJournal) the more and more I realize it's *mostly* luck if you name sells or not.

You just put your finger on the domain market - yes - there is ALOT of luck in realizing super high prices. ALOT of misinformation regarding the true strength and weakness of the domain market. And ALOT of bagholders that will pay SILLY prices for domains

No doubt a bubble has formed in the domain market - no different than the bubble in the rest of the world. The over-abundance of credit has pushed some domains to RIDICULOUS and unsustainable levels - revenue via PPC will NEVER justify the price. I expect a MAJOR correction in many domains as American people choose between renewing domains, buying food or paying rent

Because there is no valid appraisal process or market guide to determine TRUE VALUE many suckers look to the exception and base their view of the market on the exceptions rather than the norm

Buying junk for premium prices is just plain stupid

[draggar]

I disagree that it it is LUCK. Timing perhaps!

I agree with timing. Several times I've posted domains for sale as low as $5 and nothing, then a few months later sell it quickly for $50.

That is SCARY!

How are you going to succeed in domaining exclusively making sales here? You must change your domaining vision with planning, quickly and decisively.

I have some on sedo and my own site - no sales though there yet. I'm also in the process of seriously reducing my portfolio. I'm at about 250 names (mostly garbage) and at the end, either though selling or letting them expire, I'd like to be at under 100, maybe even 50 (but I'll have quality names).

[lordbyroniv]

I have some on sedo and my own site - no sales though there yet. I'm also in the process of seriously reducing my portfolio. I'm at about 250 names (mostly garbage) and at the end, either though selling or letting them expire, I'd like to be at under 100, maybe even 50 (but I'll have quality names).

50 domains is reasonable

I wont hold more than 50 myself - and thats with a little froth

Quality is ALWAYS king

Junk is ALWAYS junk

[draggar]

True, and I'm also going the development route. I might have a handful of domains parked but that's it, everything else either developed or forwarded to a developed site (of mine, few exceptions).

[lordbyroniv]

True, and I'm also going the development route. I might have a handful of domains parked but that's it, everything else either developed or forwarded to a developed site (of mine, few exceptions).

Yuh - im a believer in develop or drop

This Parking thing is for the birds

And buying with the expectation of selling to a sucker aint worth the time

[Banned: dn-101]

As a developer I'm always on a lookout for the right name.
This year we spent xx,xxx on this forum alone
Your theory is just Your Theory

[lordbyroniv]

Your theory is just Your Theory

no duh

[biggedon]

When I buy names, I have zeroed in my kill already. If you take this approach, you can't and will not fail.

i think this point may have been missed, so i'll bump it

it's a very savy approach to selling domains as opposed to marketing them.

the inventory one would hold if truly a master would be low, thus reducing overhead.

i think the vast majority of resellers buy domains first, with the hopes of selling later and have no "immediate" prospective buyers beforehand.

thus, they accumulate domains which may not be productive and have to liquidate far below expected resale values(reseller prices) when renewal time gets close.

You can have a name for years in your possession before a market develops for it or before a buyer has enough resources to pay for your asking price. Or, you may end up selling it sooner at forum prices. This is a choice we all have to make.

If only we had all the answers......

now this point relates to my reply above.

one never gets to have a name for years unless they can maintain the inventory.

i have registered names back in 03 and 05, that are just now getting offers and being sold outside forum venues.
however, no way i could have held them while my inventory was growing, unless they were producing revenue and or sales to maintain themselves.

imo, the longer you can hold a domain, the better chances to sell at a higher price than reseller.

this is because more people become "educated" to domains and their inherent values as time passes.

imo...

[DomainsInc]

i think this point may have been missed, so i'll bump it

it's a very savy approach to selling domains as opposed to marketing them.

Its still hit and miss really. If the people you have zeroed in on aren't interested, then what. You can't exactly sell a domain before you own it, well I suppose you could but i consider that unethical and dangerous.