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blog How Many End Users Does a Domain Really Need?

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How Many End Users Does a Domain Really Need?

Every time I look at a domain, I end up back at the same question. Who would actually buy this?

Not who could use it. Who'd write the check.

There's a big difference between those two, and I've talked myself out of remembering it more times than I'd like to admit.

It's easy to convince yourself a name has hundreds of buyers. Own something in accounting software and you can pull up a list of accounting firms that runs for pages. Own a construction name and there are more contractors within... Read more at SullysBlog.com
 
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I was contacted yesterday by a domain investor who told me he has a premium domain name for sale that he had just registered. At first glance, I had no buyer in mind for the domain name. Then I asked AI, and it found some companies that could potentially use it. But would those companies actually buy the domain name? That’s another question.
 
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Hi

some domains don’t need endusers, for the seller to earn a profit

there are plenty of domain investors to make money from

always has, always will be, as long as the cycle continues

imo…
 
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In reality, you only need (1) buyer as every domain is one of a kind.

It's not like a normal product, where you are selling identical inventory.

However, the more potential buyers the more likely a sale is.

Brad
 
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This is the filter I keep coming back to too.

I used to build those big prospect lists and call it research. Then I'd look at the names that actually moved and realize they weren't the ones with 200 "could use it" companies. They were the ones where I could point at a real shop and say, yeah, that word is already how they talk about themselves.

Local service names make it obvious. If I can't picture a truck or a yard sign with the word on it, the category size doesn't matter.

Five serious buyers beats a spreadsheet every time.
 
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This is one big factor yes, I prefer 100 obvious than 5 tho. Depending what market too.
 
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Raw buyer counts are easy to inflate. For lead research, I find it more useful to separate prospects into three groups:

A. Active companies already using the exact name
B. Companies using the name with a modifier, abbreviation or weaker extension
C. Companies in the category that could theoretically use the name

A and B provide evidence for an acquisition thesis. C is mostly optionality.

I would also record the company’s current domain, why an upgrade would matter, evidence that the business is active, and what cheaper naming alternatives it has. Ten verified A/B prospects can be more meaningful than 200 category matches

That still does not predict a sale, but it makes the buyer-pool assumption much easier to audit :xf.cool:
 
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Yeah, I’ve made this mistake before. Just because a lot of businesses could use a domain doesn’t mean they actually want to buy it. I think it’s better to have a few real buyers in mind before spending money on it.
 
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Yeah, I’ve made this mistake before. Just because a lot of businesses could use a domain doesn’t mean they actually want to buy it. I think it’s better to have a few real buyers in mind before spending money on it.
That distinction matters: a business can fit the category without having a reason to replace its current name or domain.

I’d separate “this company could use it” from “this exact domain would solve something their current domain doesn’t.” Even then, that is evidence of fit not proof they would buy.

Thinking of the purchase you mentioned, what initially made those businesses look like credible buyers, and what later changed your view?
 
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One serious buyer can be enough, but finding them is the hard part

How do you tell which names have real demand ?
 
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