NamePros Blog

Bob Hawkes · Aug 11, 2022

One of the more popular songs of all time is My Way. The English lyrics, adapted by Paul Anka from the French original, into a version specifically for Frank Sinatra, include “Regrets I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention.”

That got me to thinking about regrets...

James Iles · Aug 7, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we discuss the reported multi-million dollar sale of NFTs.com, which was disclosed this week via a press release. Elsewhere, a domainer shares a one-word .TV sale, and who exactly owns and controls ccTLDs?

NFTs.com Acquired for $15 Million

The big news...

Bob Hawkes · Aug 4, 2022

Many skills can help you make better decisions as a domain name investor. One of them is quantitative decision making. While probability can never firmly tell you what to do, it can help make better decisions in some cases.

Applied probability can be used to help answer questions such as how...

James Iles · Jul 31, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, one domain investor considers the possibility of a portfolio management service specifically for domain investors, and we hear about an ICANN working group that wants to make it easier to hijack domain names. Elsewhere, there's a sizable .TV domain sale, and a service...

Bob Hawkes · Jul 28, 2022

When following domain name sales on NameBio, certain sales seem surprising. In some cases, the price was due to a strong link set. Also, now and then, it might be a domain name that was let to expire by mistake and the owner needs to bid to get it back, or an existing business may be...

James Iles · Jul 24, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, a featured poll asks how many domain sales you’ve had recently. Elsewhere, a six-figure .XYZ sale is reported, and an experienced domain name investor has some advice for new domainers.

How Many Sales Have You Had?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that domain...

Bob Hawkes · Jul 21, 2022

Last week I took a look at Astronomical Terms as Brand Names. We saw that terms like star, sun, moon and nova are each used in many tens of thousands of business names.

I extend the topic in this week’s article, looking in particular at star and constellation names. I also consider what...

James Iles · Jul 17, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, one domain investor announces a $17,500 .TV sale and another domainer secures two sales in a day thanks to following up with old leads. Elsewhere, an investor is done with domaining, and which company will be the next to innovate?

The Next Dan.com?

It...

Bob Hawkes · Jul 14, 2022

On July 12, 2022 the first full-color images were released from the James Webb Space Telescope. The public response to these striking images, and the stories they tell, is a reminder of the fascination with astronomical topics.

Astronomical objects and ideas have long been a source of...

James Iles · Jul 10, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we look at the $65,000 sale of Maga.com and how the domain name is now being used. Elsewhere, an investor advises not pricing your domain names too low, and what made you want to become a domainer?

Maga.com Sold for $65,000 - The New Site is Online

This...

Bob Hawkes · Jul 6, 2022

The first six months of 2022 resulted in 76,000 NameBio-listed domain sales of $100 or more, accounting for a dollar volume of just over $84 million.

That is an increase of 0.9% in number of sales compared to the same six months of 2021, and a 4.1% increase in dollar...

James Iles · Jul 4, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, domain investors react to the news that Dan.com has been acquired by GoDaddy. Elsewhere, we look at the .IO domain extension to see whether it has lost its shine in 2022 and we ask domainers how their portfolios performed in June 2022.

GoDaddy to Acquire Domain...

Bob Hawkes · Jun 29, 2022

The second half of 2021 saw eye-popping sales in exact ETH domain names, even in extensions with few significant prior sales. In this article, I take a look at the current status of those domain names, recent ETH name sales data, and how investors are currently pricing their ETH domain names...

James Iles · Jun 26, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, the subject of a domain swap service is considered, and we look at iOS 16's new Mail feature. Elsewhere, a company completes a $1.6 million domain purchase, and a founder explains why they paid $35,000 for a .IO domain.

Would You Use a Domain Swap...

Bob Hawkes · Jun 20, 2022

There are many ways to acquire domain names: expiring or other auctions, purchases from investors, closeouts, expired names, drop catching, hand registrations, etc.

One acquisition method that is often overlooked is private acquisition. That is, seeking underused domain names by directly...

James Iles · Jun 19, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, we receive news that the Yachts.com domain name has sold for a mid-six-figure fee. Elsewhere, there’s a discussion about whether domaining can be described as investing, and we look at domain name trends of the past.

Yachts.com Sells for $600,000

If you...

Bob Hawkes · Jun 16, 2022

What are the different ways that a business may select a name? What are the implications for domain name investors?

Use A Naming Agency

Startups seeking a name, or an existing business considering a rebrand or naming a new product or service, may engage the services of a naming...

James Iles · Jun 12, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, a domain investor is asking for tactics on how to negotiate down a high asking price. Elsewhere, it's revealed that performer Steve-O acquired a fellow Jackass star's exact-match .com domain, and does one hundred extension registrations automatically make a domain...

Bob Hawkes · Jun 9, 2022

If purchasing a domain name with an existing, or recent, website, one important consideration is how authoritative that website is compared to other websites in the same sector.

If you have plans to develop the domain, that will indicate a starting point you may be able to build upon. Strong...

James Iles · Jun 5, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, a new six-figure sale from 2021 is revealed, and we discuss how to reach domain name owners in a post-GDPR world. Elsewhere, a seven-figure deal from 2017 may have been discovered, and which timezone is best for domaining?

TradeZero.com Acquired for $540,000 in...

Bob Hawkes · Jun 1, 2022

It seems everyone is talking about Web3. But beyond the buzzword, what exactly is Web3?

Many define Web3 in terms of components: cryptocurrencies, NFTs, blockchain, decentralized domains, DAOs, etc. But to my mind, that does not explain in a clear way what makes Web3 fundamentally different...

James Iles · May 28, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we discuss what it means to be a domainer, and a new investor shares what they've learned after spending their first $500 on domain names. Elsewhere, a gaming studio secures a major domain upgrade, and investors share their views on proposed transfer changes...

Bob Hawkes · May 26, 2022

Do we need another automated domain name appraisal instrument? While automated domain name appraisals have their critics, and are certainly not precise instruments, some find them useful in certain circumstances.

While some instruments like Estibot, have been around for a very long time...

James Iles · May 22, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we hear about another .XYZ domain that has sold for a six-figure fee. Elsewhere, a domain owner is looking for advice after receiving a $30,000 offer, and tributes pour in after a successful domain investor passes away.

Rest in Peace, Riz

This week, news...

Bob Hawkes · May 18, 2022

On NamePros, and on social media, a number of investors have mentioned that the last month or so has seen a significant downturn in the domain name aftermarket, both in terms of retail sales and in offers or inquiries.

For example, long-term investor @elmoney started the discussion...

James Iles · May 15, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we look at a potential downturn in the domaining markets caused by world events and falling cryptocurrency values. Elsewhere, how do you respond to inquiries that just request an asking price, and have the last thirty days been slower for you in terms of sales...

Bob Hawkes · May 12, 2022

Let’s step back from the business of acquiring, promoting and selling domain names, and put ourselves in the position of a group wanting to name a business, product, service or organization. Let’s consider the simple question: What makes a good name?

Memorable

Your name...

James Iles · May 8, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, we take a look at Yuga Labs’ latest domain acquisition for their metaverse project. Elsewhere, domainers discuss creative methods to get eyes on a domain and a company shares why it moved away from a one-word .XYZ name.

Yuga Labs Acquired Otherside.xyz...

Bob Hawkes · May 4, 2022

TonyNames, known here under the NamePros handle @blogspotter, has emerged as one of the most consistent domain name sellers. The level of success he has achieved within less than two years of active selling is a rare accomplishment.

Each month he shares a summary of his sales. For...

James Iles · May 1, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, we discuss the latest seven-figure sale to be revealed, and a brand gets a major domain upgrade after its latest round of funding. Elsewhere, an investor shares their observations on domain sales in 2022, and domain names are fuelling the latest NFT craze...

Bob Hawkes · Apr 27, 2022

It is easy to make mistakes in domain name transactions. Sometimes these mistakes can cost us money or opportunities.

Fortunately, habits that require only a bit of extra time can save us from most of these mistakes.

In this article, I am not talking about investing in the wrong domain names...

James Iles · Apr 24, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we look at a company's rebrand from Monthly to Studio.com, and we learn of DC Comics' acquisition of the DC.com domain name. Elsewhere, our featured poll asks how frequently you sell domains, and does anyone close domain deals via PayPal?

Monthly Rebrands to...

Bob Hawkes · Apr 21, 2022

Investors can sell domain names retail, to end users, or wholesale, to other investors who will seek to resell the names. In most, not necessarily all, cases, the pricing will be substantially different. This is because the investor buying wholesale must account for his or her costs...

James Iles · Apr 19, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, two investors share their latest domain sales. One is a $19,500 .TV sale and the other is a six-figure .XYZ deal. Elsewhere, we discuss domain name parking, and does FOMO make you overspend at domain name auctions?

I Sold This .TV for $19,500

A prolific...

Bob Hawkes · Apr 14, 2022

More investors sell successfully at the high 3-figure and 4-figure levels, compared to those with multiple 5-figure domain name sales.

A single 5-figure sale can make a monumental difference in a domain investing career. It might open the door to acquire higher-priced names, a larger portfolio...

James Iles · Apr 10, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we take a look at full-time domain investors and their portfolio sizes, plus a domainer is looking for a more profitable opportunity than domain parking. Elsewhere, an investor is ready to quit the industry and Yuga Labs secures a significant domain name upgrade...

Bob Hawkes · Apr 6, 2022

The shortest domain name possible, at least within the centralized domain name ecosystem, is 3 characters in total, a single-character country-code extension name.

However, for many country-code extensions, single letters are not released, so there are fewer possible short names than you might...

James Iles · Apr 3, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, domain investors reveal whether they predominantly sell domains at retail or wholesale levels, and is domain brokerage a low risk, high reward business? Elsewhere, Helium, a decentralized telecommunications network that operates on Helium.com, has announced a new...

Bob Hawkes · Mar 28, 2022

A NamePros member has purchased the Alter domain name marketplace. Alter will continue operations as a brandable marketplace under the new ownership.

I reached out to the new owner, Filip Erkic, who goes by the NamePros handle @F.E., to learn details of the sale, and his plans for...

James Iles · Mar 25, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, a domain investor is looking for advice on writing off domain purchases in a tax return. Elsewhere, there's a phishing scam targeting domain name owners and registrar GoDaddy acquires DNAcademy.

Advice Needed: Taxes for Domain Purchases

Domain names and...

Bob Hawkes · Mar 24, 2022

Dictionaries define more than a dozen ways that the word the can be used, but as a leading part of a domain name it is most used as a definite article

used as a function word before a proper name to indicate the distinctive characteristics of a person or thing.

or

used as...

James Iles · Mar 20, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we look at the recent sale of Gaming.io on a $105,000 payment plan, questions are answered about scaling up your domain name business, and it's revealed that popular brandable marketplace Alter is to close down.

Is Trading Domains a Thing?

The domain...

Bob Hawkes · Mar 17, 2022

Color is important in branding, whether the color is explicitly part of the domain name or not. If you use a logo or graphical background in domain presentation, it is important to consider the impact of different color choices.

This article looks at which colors are more popular, and the...

James Iles · Mar 13, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, George Kirikos warns domain owners to stop using UK and Australian-based registrars, a WordPress developer acquires an incredible domain name, and did AOL pay $10 million for Games.com?

Red Alert: Get Your Domains Out of the UK and Australia

Aside from...

Bob Hawkes · Mar 10, 2022

Adding a color to a word can make a memorable brand.

A brand like RedBull provides a brand icon known around the world.

The color purple could mean many things, but the mattress company Purple has acquired the name in the .com extension, and spent the advertising dollars, so...

James Iles · Mar 6, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, a domain investor shares the news of their latest five-figure .TV sale, and insurance company Root completes a major domain name upgrade. Elsewhere, a buyer broker shares details of a company’s recent brand protection move, and should time be a factor in domain...

Bob Hawkes · Mar 3, 2022

It is easy to start out on the wrong foot in domain investing.

Whether it is hand-registering too many names, choosing quantity over quality, or investing in sectors or languages that we don’t understand, there are many ways to go wrong. Those initial mistakes can be compounded by poor pricing...

James Iles · Feb 27, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we focus on a ten-year-old company that has rebranded to an ultra-premium .com domain. Elsewhere, we want you to share how much money you started your domain investing career with, and an end-user has asked for advice on choosing a domain name.

Integromat...

Bob Hawkes · Feb 24, 2022

This article looks at 2021 high-value NameBio-listed .com domain name sales. I only included sales with prices of $25,000 or more. There were 369 sales, totalling $62.1 million in total dollar volume.

Many retail sales do not get listed on NameBio. Nevertheless, this...

James Iles · Feb 20, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, a domain investor shares their $8,000 .TV sale and there's a focus on new technologies as we discuss crypto payments and Namecheap's acquisition of Namebase. Elsewhere, the .US extension turns 37 with a timely $99,999 .US domain sale revealed.

I Sold This .TV...

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