strategy Michael Cyger Shares Domain Investing Priorities for 2025

I had planned this week’s article to be about balance and discipline in domain investing. As I was struggling to make progress with that topic, a holiday gift arrived, when Michael Cyger posted a multi-point plan for his own domain name portfolio for 2025.

Mike provided an insightful list of important points to help move toward a higher quality, and better performing, portfolio. With his permission, I share the content of his post in the next section of this article.

Michael’s 11 Point Plan for 2025

Michael Cyger referred to his list in the post as a ‘stack-rank of domain name investing priorities for 2025”


Here is the list exactly as Mike posted, except I added bolding:

1. Cash Flow Generation (converting domains to monthly income)
2. Promotion/Exposure (marketplace listings, outbound marketing)
3. Portfolio Hygiene (proper nameservers, pricing consistency, domains resolve, etc.)
4. Portfolio Pruning (strategic deletions/drops/auctions of lower quality domains)
5. Sell-Through Rate (# of sales per # of domains per year)
6. Network/Relationships (investors, brokers, end-users)
7. Portfolio Upgrades (constantly improving the quality of names in portfolio)
8. Platform Diversification (spread across registrars/marketplaces)
9. Market Competition (watching investor trends)
10. Portfolio Growth (strategic acquisitions)
11. Transactional Risk Management (escrow, contracts)

A few days ago Michael had explained his thinking with respect to the first priority.

*Moving to 5-year lease terms on all domains under $250k.
*Keeping domains while collecting steady payments will be my model. *Failed businesses return domains, but payments stay with me. Switching from one-time sales to monthly passive income, like AirBNB.
*5-year leases let startups launch with lower upfront costs. Zero commission paid by me through Afternic.
*More cancellations? Probably.
*More entrepreneurs launching sooner? Absolutely.

Click to expand...

Please comment below on what you would would add to the list, and what your personal domain investing priorities are for 2025.

Who Is Michael Cyger?

I think almost everyone in domain names know Michael Cyger, one of the most knowledgeable, energetic, positive and friendly people in domain names. He started several key ways that we learn about domain name. Here is a brief overview:

• Mike founded DomainSherpa in 2011, and was the host for six years, before selling DomainSherpa to Media Options in 2017.
• Mike developed Domain Name Academy, now called DomainAcademy, starting in 2015, and selling it to GoDaddy in 2022. See the NamePros article Everything You Wanted to Know About Domain Academy for additional background.

Mike has also developed a number of other projects, including iSixSigma, that he founded in 2000, sold in 2007, repurchased in 2011, and then sold again in 2021. He also re-founded Hashtags.org, sold to Logika in 2015, as well as AdvancedSurvey, that he purchased in 2002 and sold in 2007. He continues to run BainbrdigeIsland.com, has developed a game Pyramid.com, and is currently working on an undisclosed stealth project.

Along the way, Michael Cyger has been honoured multiple times. He was inducted into the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Hall of Fame, was named domain blogger of the year several times, and was the 2021 recipient of the ICA Lonnie Borck Memorial Award.

Further Reading

Here are some NamePros Blog articles related to points in the list:

• Many Ways to Diversify a Domain Portfolio
• Sell-Through Rates: 11 Things
• Dollar Volume Per Listing – DVPL This is an alternative you might want to consider along with sell-through rate.
• Daily Tasks of a Domainer
• Pricing Consistency
• Developing a Domain Name Acquisition Strategy
• Lease-To-Own Payment Plans
• Conducting a Selective Portfolio Review
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Domain Academy.
• A Dozen Things to Consider As We Start 2024

Share Your Priorities for 2025

Please take a few minutes to reflect on your priorities for 2025. What are you planning to change in your approach? What do you want to prioritize? Which of the items from Mike’s list resonated with your own situation?

Here are some points that you might want to comment on:

• Are you planning more lease-to-own sales, and at longer time intervals?
• We sometimes think of diversification only in terms of name niches and extensions, but do you plan to diversify the marketplaces you use, as Mike mentions? Do you plan to diversity across more registrars?
• What tips and techniques do you use for what Mike refers to as ‘portfolio hygiene’, things like consistent pricing, working landers, etc.?
• It is a constant struggle to achieve higher quality names. What helps you to achieve it?
• Do you plan to expand your portfolio in 2025?
• If you feel inclined to share publicly, what thoughts do you have about likely strategic acquisitions? What sort of name do you hope to have better represented in your portfolio?

If you want to read more about some of Mike’s projects, he uses the great domain name hack Mi.ke. The welcome message is “Hi, I’m Mike. I buy, build and sell premium domain names.” Do you know what Mike accomplished from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5, 2019? The site will tell you – hint check out the Fun section.

Mike puts out a free weekly newsletter that is mainly about domain names and development. You can sign up from the intro page at Mi.ke.

@Michael Cyger has been a NamePros member since 2015. He is also active on X @MichaelCyger.

Here once more is the post covered in this article, if you want to see the original and reaction it has received: Michael Cyger Domain Portfolio Plans and Priorities for 2025.

If by your traditions you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you a special and rewarding time spent with family and friends. Or if you simply use this as a time to relax and reflect, enjoy this time. I would like to thank the NamePros community for the interaction, feedback and support for my writing in the NamePros Blog throughout 2024. The very best wishes to you all as we move into 2025.