Strategies for selling $1mn+ names?

**brian1234** · 07-01-2009, 08:09 AM

Hi,

I am looking to have a fun and engaging discussion about the various strategies that are available for selling a $1mn+ name.

Can we list them and discuss?

Regards,

**TooManyDomains** · 07-01-2009, 08:18 AM

Yeah have 1 of the very best domains on the net or you are better off playing the lottery

Better strategy might be ten 100k names, even better twenty 50k names, even better...

**randomo** · 07-01-2009, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by MoonlightMedia

Yeah have 1 of the very best domains on the net or you are better off playing the lottery

Better strategy might be ten 100k names, even better twenty 50k names, even better...

I'm working on the "20,000 $50 names" strategy.

**biggedon** · 07-01-2009, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by brian1234

Hi,

I am looking to have a fun and engaging discussion about the various strategies that are available for selling a $1mn+ name.

Can we list them and discuss?

Regards,

best to try and talk with those who have sold domains in this range

as those who never reached that milestone cannot detail the experience

though a lot of people don't like to reveal their methods or negotiating tactics for selling domains.

many members have posted their advice, strategy and experiences in selling domains in general, some give detailed info and others are kinda vague.

but how many members will actually read and take heed of this advice?

then again, you have to know who is actually selling domains based on the info they give.

are they just blowing smoke up your arse, in an attempt to gain notoriety and/or promote services, broker skills, without illustrating records of success?

in other words, many talk the talk, but how many actually took that walk.

also, strategies are fine, but unless you have the right domain at the right time and it's seen by the right eyes, then .... you may be waiting for a long time.

and sometimes the "waiting" can be the most important part of your strategy!

imo...

**Banned: democrat** · 07-01-2009, 09:52 AM

I would say slow but steady tends to win the race and normally these million dollar names tend to super high/popular keywords that everyone wants.

unless you have a name that'll blow us out of the water, I think you'd be better selling strong keywords.

**Rockefeller** · 07-01-2009, 10:37 AM

Most importantly, the domain has to be worth a million to a buyer, not you.

**ok10** · 07-01-2009, 10:39 AM

You must have $1mn+ domain like talk.com. You set the price for it and you stick to this price. You wait as long as it takes to get this price.

**Focus** · 07-01-2009, 11:00 AM

What is the domain name so maybe we can discuss further?

I have some SIGNIFIGANT experience to say the least in very high value domain sales.

Some initial advice I can give is to make sure ALL your potential qualified buyers are fully aware the name is for sale and to be in touch with the actual decision makers themselves. Expect to do alot of waiting and back and forth negotiating. You also need to make sure your domain asset is well protected by a well drafted sales contract from a domain name lawyer. (Like John Berryhill or Zak Muscovitch) Offering payment terms with a good down payment can make a very expensive domain name much more affordable and within the reach of more buyers to allow for making a deal with an interested party that may not be able to make full payment up-front. Make sure that no ownership interest is granted in the name until it's paid in full. If in default during the payment period you would keep any payments made and the domain.

**randomo** · 07-01-2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Focus

Some initial advice I can give is to make sure ALL your potential qualified buyers are fully aware the name is for sale and to be in touch with the actual decision makers themselves. Expect to do alot of waiting and back and forth negotiating. You also need to make sure your domain asset is well protected by a well drafted sales contract from a domain name lawyer. (Like John Berryhill or Zak Muscovitch) Offering payment terms with a good down payment can make a very expensive domain name much more affordable and within the reach of more buyers to allow for making a deal with an interested party that may not be able to make full payment up-front. Make sure that no ownership interest is granted in the name until it's paid in full. If in default during the payment period you would keep any payments made and the domain.

I just want to recognize Focus for sharing some really valuable information here. This is the kind of thing that makes forums worthwhile!

**Banned: democrat** · 07-01-2009, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by randomo

I just want to recognize Focus for sharing some really valuable information here. This is the kind of thing that makes forums worthwhile!

I was thinking the same thing earlier but I have some major sinuses but this was VERY well stated. Kudos on Focus!

**brian1234** · 07-01-2009, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by biggedon

best to try and talk with those who have sold domains in this range

as those who never reached that milestone cannot detail the experience

Thanks biggedon, that sounds like good advice to me... and thanks to you as well Focus, you have some really good insights there. Of course, the domain in question should be worth at least this amount, to everyone you make contact with, but the question remains "how best to contact them"?

I've thought recently about sedo's brokerage service, but quite honestly, i'm not convinced they are that experienced in high value (non auction) sales.

I think the kind of thing I am looking for, for inspiration, is knowing how names like business.com sold the first time around - those kind of insights...

Cheers,

**Gerry** · 07-01-2009, 02:23 PM

I am working on my second Million.

I gave up on my first.

**brian1234** · 07-01-2009, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by democrat

I would say slow but steady tends to win the race and normally these million dollar names tend to super high/popular keywords that everyone wants.

unless you have a name that'll blow us out of the water, I think you'd be better selling strong keywords.

Thanks for your input democrat, but I think you may have misunderstood the question. I am not looking for doubt on whether I have a million dollar name, that is not the subject of this thread.. I am asking for simple strategies for selling a name like this.

e.g. placing a targeted ad in the Robb Report, that kind of 'specific' reply/suggestion.

Please remember, this is not an appraisal thread

**stevo** · 07-01-2009, 02:32 PM

Seriously......... How many names would even qualify? On the surface - maybe several hundred or so? Non-TM of course. Then there are the ones which would make no sense, except to the buyer. A million dollars is a lot for a domain right now.

**biggedon** · 07-01-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by brian1234

I am not looking for doubt on whether I have a million dollar name, that is not the subject of this thread.. I am asking for simple strategies for selling a name like this.

e.g. placing a targeted ad in the Robb Report, that kind of 'specific' reply/suggestion.

Please remember, this is not an appraisal thread

brian

if you're moving to the subject of where to place such ads, then that's a whole new topic

again, you'd really have to have a domain that on the surface, that looks like it's worth a mill or you'd have to hang in the circles of millionaires who have the money to throw away and convince one of them to buy at that price.

that convincing can be in the form of a viable business model for the domain or a "tax loophole" that will benefit the buyer.

places to advertise, imo would be intellectual property auction houses like "ocean tomo", fairwinds, high end auction houses like "sotheby's" and the "wallstreet journal".

of course you can always place ads in local newspapers' business section under "auctions"

**Focus** · 07-01-2009, 03:34 PM

If the name is worth a million dollars and can produce signifigant traffic & revenue then I know several buyers that I have worked with in the past and could potentially assist you.

**JEsports** · 07-01-2009, 04:59 PM

If the domain is a generic .com and makes over $15,000/month i have 7 buyers ready. PM me to discuss. Regards.

**DNBA** · 07-01-2009, 05:30 PM

ok i think some people are missing the point of this thread.

To get a buyer in the mindset of of a domain being worth a million dollars, you need to know if they can have the budget for it. Lets say you get an offer for 500k you may have a buyer that can spend 1M. If they come to you, you know they want it for a reason. Otherwise why make such a high offer without being serious.

Talk.com sold for 500k. personally i think that sale was on the very low end actually really cheap. it should of gone for 3M min. Of course toys.com was an interesting sale. This had multiple parties interested to help drive up the price. They both obviously knew the value based on the keyword, brandability and type in traffic. Candy.com for instance was a smart move by the buyers because instantaneously they knew they had customers ready to buy and for life.

So when it comes down to it whats the best way to push that domain to the next level of 1m? educate your client on how powerful this domain would be if matched with the right company. Explain that category killer domains give instant credibility and buyers for life. They are buying an asset that they can always sell later on that will not only retain value but create more. The buyer needs to be in the mindset that Generic 1 word Domains are the equivalent of buying in beverly hills.

Another question is, how do you know your selling to the right buyer? Will holding out get you a better offer. I guarantee that if AT&T was pitched and you told them you were talking to skype and other competitors their ears might be at attention. Its always good to get more then 1 interested party.

**ok10** · 07-01-2009, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by brian1234

I am asking for simple strategies for selling a name like this.

e.g. placing a targeted ad in the Robb Report, that kind of 'specific' reply/suggestion.

I can tell you with very high degree of certainty that ads are not the way to go to promote $M+ domain. You need to put together a list of companies for whom your domain would be the obvious top choice for one of their major projects. Then you send letters and call CEOs. Some people say contact marketing managers. I think CEOs are the right contacts with real top domains. I would not recommend emailing large companies. I would focus selling the name on how good it is and how much better it is than alternatives vs the cost of the name and how the cost of the name can be taken out of their marketing budget for this project.

**Focus** · 07-02-2009, 12:53 AM

JEsports...5.5 years revenue? lol

last big generic I sold was for 25 years plus a base value..

ANY generic name making 15k/mo is an easy 2 mil minimum on a bad day...which is around just 12 years rev..and really should be at least 15 years rev imo (we are talking category kings)