NamePros Blog

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...

Bob Hawkes · Feb 17, 2022

Great domain names sell themselves.

But that does not mean that there is no role to influence the probability of sale, or to add value.

Not Just Speculators

I sometimes hear those outside our field refer to ‘domain speculators’. That always rubs me the wrong way. While I...

James Iles · Feb 13, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we look at the details of two rebrands, with one company moving to a .IO and one switching to a .COM. Elsewhere, a new investor shares what they've learned after a year in the business, and what's the easiest way to make money with domain names?

Is There an...

Bob Hawkes · Feb 9, 2022

Many domain investors primarily acquire names from expiring domain auctions or closeouts. This article, intended mainly for those relatively new to the field, provides an introduction to efficient ways to find domain names that are either about to expire or have expired.

A Few...

James Iles · Feb 6, 2022

In this week’s Top Topics, a seven-figure domain sale is uncovered by investor George Kirikos, courtesy of a company’s SEC filing. Elsewhere, a domainer explains why they’re happy to pay high commission fees on a good marketplace, and what’s the hardest part of domaining?

Galaxy.com...

Bob Hawkes · Feb 3, 2022

Investing in domain names allows you to be self-directed, have almost complete flexibility in hours, and the ability to work from anywhere. Those advantages can result in a rewarding and healthy side-gig or full-time position, one that allows you to balance other demands and interests...

James Iles · Jan 29, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we decide whether parking .XYZ domain names is ever worthwhile and just how quickly can you build a $5,000 per month income from domaining? Elsewhere, investors tell us how long they spend on domaining activities each day and we seek your input about stress and...

Bob Hawkes · Jan 27, 2022

Whether excited about opportunities, or not a fan of the extension, .xyz is the focus of many recent discussions here on NamePros.

It is not hard to see why the extension has attracted attention. In just the first 23 days of 2022

There were 200 sales of .xyz domain names...

James Iles · Jan 23, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, we look at how domain investors are faring this month. Is this January slower than usual for you? Elsewhere, we discuss whether .COM will be king in five years' time and we hear from a domainer that has sold a name for $6,000.

Is January 2022 Slow For...

Bob Hawkes · Jan 20, 2022

Are we approaching a time when domain names will be considered an asset class, like bonds, stocks, real estate, currencies and commodities?

Will investors be able to hold domain name investments without the need to be directly involved in buying and selling of individual domain names...

James Iles · Jan 16, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, domain investor AbdulBasit Makrani describes how he was able to take a $20,000 and transform it into a $75,000 sale. Elsewhere, we look at how many domain names you need to own before you make regular monthly sales, and a bizarre new regulation from the .IN registry...

Bob Hawkes · Jan 13, 2022

What will happen in domain investing in the coming year?

Will the market continue to surge? Will different extensions or sectors emerge? What will be the hot keywords?

While no one can predict the future with certainty, being receptive to a variety of views, while at the same time exercising...

James Iles · Jan 9, 2022

In this week's Top Topics, a domain investor offers a candid insight into their first ear back in the domain industry. Elsewhere, we're invited to share our domaining targets for 2022, and how did 2021 compare with 2020 in terms of domain name sales?

My First Year Back in...

Bob Hawkes · Jan 5, 2022

The year 2021 was very strong in aftermarket domain name sales, with strong prices, rising numbers of sales, and solidly higher dollar volumes.

Across all extensions, there were more sales in 2021 than in 2020, about 150,800 versus 127,500. The average price increased as well, from...

James Iles · Jan 2, 2022

In the first Top Topics of 2022, we take some time to reflect on 2021 and the most impactful domain industry events of the year. Elsewhere, a domainer shares their thirty-seven factors for valuing domains, and just how much money do you need to make from domain investing to quit your day job in...

Bob Hawkes · Dec 30, 2021

For this last post in 2021, I assembled a list of 21 websites that I find useful. Many of these are well known, but a few will perhaps be new. Although a number of the sites offer a paid service, all provide some level of free service. Please extend this list with your own suggestions in the...

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