domain Companions.com

[Furgen]

My post was removed because I said I was not the owner. Oops, didn't realize that and wanted to remain a bit anonymous.

Anyhow, I am the owner of the domain and am trying to get some ideas, input on how I should proceed.

I am not a buyer and selling of domains so really don't know how to go about selling one such as this one but am not new to the whole domain game in that I've had to register a fair number of them for work over the last 20 years.

I registered this domain in 1995 with plans to build a site but never got the chance to.

Around 1999 or so, offers started coming in for the domain and to this day, they come in pretty much every month. A recent one got me talking with my wife about this and with everything going on in our lives, we don't see ourselves using the domain. I simply have too many projects on my plate.

In some cases, I have offered to rent it/lease it via contract to someone who might be very serious and have some good ideas for using it. I would have entertained a deal such as equity in the venture for example but nothing ever came of that.

Now that I am thinking about selling it finally, I have a ton of questions which is what brought me here.

First, how can I value this domain? I've looked online and I've talked with brokers over the years because many have contacted me wanting to broker it for me. Some say sell it for what you feel you are comfortable with and others say it has a specific market value. I don't really buy on the second one because like a house, if someone wants it badly enough because it suits their purposes, they will buy it at what ever they feel they can pay for it.

We have been offered 5 to 6 digits in the past and never kept any contact information because we've always said no thanks.

While we had specific ideas for what we wanted to do with the domain, it seems that countless dating sites have contacted us to see if we would sell. Therefore, we feel our main market might be along the following.

Dating site, Health care, Pets, Animals and countless other areas where this word could fit.

We are in no rush to sell and basically just looking for information on how to best get the word out about this.
If anyone can offer some suggestions, it certainly would be most appreciated.

Hope I'm posting this in the right place.

NOTE: Thank you for your previous posts/thoughts which were deleted and hoping this has not caused too much confusion.

 

[Brands.International]

Nice premium and desirable .com name. What you can do if you want to sell it high is following:
1. You can post the name on Afternic, Flippa, Sedo with "make offer" option, and start receiving offers.
2. You probably know what was the highest offer you received during the years, but when you give your name more exposure on about mentioned auction venues, you will receive much more offers.
3. It is good after some time to make up your mind internally what selling price will make you really happy, lets call it "happy price"
4. When you receive offers, you can start with counteroffers which will be higher than your "happy price" and once settled on the happy price, you can sell

You can hire broker too, but make sure the person has some internal integrity : many brokers will naturally try to talk you down with your selling price, so they can make a transaction and get their commission, this is how this business works.

On the other hand, experienced brokers can have tons of contact to rich investors, funds, etc, so they can really make your name good advertisement. But I would be very cautious to get appraisal from the same person who will be also brokering domain.

 

[james haw]

First, how can I value this domain?

It's hard to value such domains accurately. You should certainly get 5-6 figures for it, as you are not in a rush to sell.

I've looked online and I've talked with brokers over the years because many have contacted me wanting to broker it for me.

To be honest, in my limited experience and knowledge, I think decent brokers don't need to contact people asking if they want their domain brokering, they're already very busy brokering the high value ones which people send their way as they're well known in the industry.
(Not all, of course, but I would speculate most of them).

Dating site, Health care, Pets, Animals and countless other areas where this word could fit.

Yes, a plethora of potential niches, and more besides with things where someone fits this into a project/site which is not in an obvious niche for it


I believe the best thing you could do is get a really good broker. You could do this yourself, but it takes skills and experience to know where and how to list, but more-so how to negotiate high value sales, especially with a domain name which does not have a fixed or even rough price.

Before you do, spend some time chatting with your wife and consider the offers you have already had, and then decide the minimum amount you will take. Do this before a broker contacts people, or you might feel rushed/pressured into a response as then people are spending time and money on your behalf and you instigated movement.

to find the right broker, I would have a poke around on domainsherpa.com, and see the top videos by brokers and what they specialise in.

I wish you every luck with it.

 

[Furgen]

On the other hand, experienced brokers can have tons of contact to rich investors, funds, etc, so they can really make your name good advertisement. But I would be very cautious to get appraisal from the same person who will be also brokering domain.

Thank you for your input. Those are good points to be aware of, especially the last part.

 

[Furgen]

I believe the best thing you could do is get a really good broker. You could do this yourself, but it takes skills and experience to know where and how to list, but more-so how to negotiate high value sales, especially with a domain name which does not have a fixed or even rough price.

Before you do, spend some time chatting with your wife and consider the offers you have already had, and then decide the minimum amount you will take. Do this before a broker contacts people, or you might feel rushed/pressured into a response as then people are spending time and money on your behalf and you instigated movement.

to find the right broker, I would have a poke around on domainsherpa.com, and see the top videos by brokers and what they specialise in.

I wish you every luck with it.

Thank you for your input.

I'm not a domain broker but I'm old enough to know how things work so was wondering if I could do this myself, getting the word out, talking with interested parties. I've had so many brokers contact me that I already know the game of devaluing to me so someone can make money on the selling side.

I have no issues with someone wanting to make money but it should not be a crazy amount win-fall for the broker if they are simply connecting buyer and seller. If I hired someone to take care of everything, then the fee would change of course.

Are there any web sites that would allow me to post that this is now for sale, where posting on those sites would get the word out?

I'm not anti broker but I'd like to learn more about the options before jumping into something.

 

[james haw]

At the risk of sounding cold (and I know we get attached to the funniest of things), either you're attached to the name and so keep it, or (like selling a loved family home and moving on) see it as an item you are selling and sell it. Otherwise you'll possibly never be happy with any price. Often is the case people never sell always grasping for a higher price. Especially with a name like yours where you will get high offers coming in.


You can entirely do it yourself, but consider how much you already know and how much time you have on your hands to study and do all of this. It takes knowledge and experience to get the highest top end prices (or pure luck).

"Professional" brokers will have contacts that take many years to build, businesses and people they can reach out to in order to get higher offers and raise bids between potential buyers. You won't have this and so the visibility you'll obtain will be basic. It's entirely possible that they will get a higher price for your domain name even with their fees factored in.

Of course, it's also entirely possible they will not, but a professional is just that and should have more chance as they're more widely versed in the various aspects that usually takes years of study and experience.

A loose example is, I do my own home decorating and to a pretty decent standard, but if I owned a $3 million house I'd pay professionals to reach the level of quality my non-professional skills cannot reach.


As you're not in a rush to sell, you could try it yourself. List it on Sedo (and others, such as Godaddy - get as much visibility as you can on the major places) and monitor the hits and offers for 6 months - just remember to put a reserve for your minimum desired amount, or just set to "make offer" (as bids are entirely legally binding).

Try to decide on a desired amount, even if it's too high at first and you lower it based on responses. Otherwise you'll just end up procrastinating for-ever, not selling and wondering if you could get more.

Perhaps at the same time reach out to a few of the high end brokers in the industry and see what they say about the name.
ie
http://www.mediaoptions.com/
You have no obligations to sell just getting their take on the name etc.

Best of luck.

 

[Furgen]

At the risk of sounding cold (and I know we get attached to the funniest of things), either you're attached to the name and so keep it, or (like selling a loved family home and moving on) see it as an item you are selling and sell it. Otherwise you'll possibly never be happy with any price.

I knew I should have clarified that . I've edited that comment out. I agree with what you are saying and I don't have that kind of attachment to it or else I would keep it. I'm not selling it because I need to but because I'll never use it and would love to see it being used some day.

The attachment is merely that I hoped to do something with it but if/when the right price comes in, I'll sell it.

Mainly, I just want to learn a little about this process because I have a few other domains I've collected over the years which I've never gotten around to so don't want to rush into anything too fast. Like selling a used car, you want to learn a little about the market and your options.

Thanks for all the other leads. I'll look into those too.

 

[clasione]

You can always sell it as a last resort. I'd try and develop it into a dating site. Great name and solid foundation. You could use a ready-made script to keep development cost low. It would be worth a lot more developed, even if the project did not work out to your expectations.

 

[james haw]

I don't agree that (specifically) 6 figure names are worth more developed. Such high figure names are usually bought by people who have a huge project of their own, and arguably prefer there to be as little history of a previous site as possible.
Just my IMO

 

[clasione]

I don't agree that (specifically) 6 figure names are worth more developed. Such high figure names are usually bought by people who have a huge project of their own, and arguably prefer there to be as little history of a previous site as possible.
Just my IMO

That is a good point, so I will not disagree as there sounds to be a possibility a new owner would prefer there be little to no history, but I still feel the there is more to gain than loose with trying to develop it. I'd probably want to either develop it myself, or if the owner does not have the ability, partner with someone who has a history of some success and give them a share, even if very small, in the business. You'll always get more and better quality of work from someone with some skin in the game.

 

[Furgen]

In fact, web site development is something we've been doing for many years. The problem is it was always for other customers, our ideas always had to wait. Now we are involved in a large project that is finally our own and cannot imagine finding time to develop another project for some time to come.

We could probably hire someone who might be interested in taking this on for us or cut a deal with someone that might be interested in building it and spending the time it needs to be promoted but those deals are hard to develop and often turn ugly as ideas, directions differ.

It seems simpler to just sell the domain to someone who would be all fired up. It would be fun to see an offer where someone put cash up front and offered some equity into the venture. That could be interesting.

As mentioned, I've no idea right now, this is basically just fact finding at the moment and welcoming input from people who very much know more about buying/selling these kinds of assets.

 

[clasione]

There is a HUGE industry conference coming up in January. Could be a good place to the sell the domain... http://namescon.com/

 

[matrigaldo]

I tend to agree with who's telling you to contact some experienced brokers, it's the best chance to sell it at a price that makes you keep the smile on your face for looong time.

 

[S-B]

There is a HUGE industry conference coming up in January. Could be a good place to the sell the domain... http://namescon.com/

The domain would not sell for anywhere near his previous offers at NamesCon. He'll simply get taken advantage of by overzealous and frankly shady brokers.

 

[clasione]

The domain would not sell for anywhere near his previous offers at NamesCon. He'll simply get taken advantage of by overzealous and frankly shady brokers.

So what do you think would be the best venue for him to move this name to an end user?

 

[S-B]

So what do you think would be the best venue for him to move this name to an end user?

Venue? What do you want me to say? Just throw it on Flippa and get a cool million? There is only one way to find end users, that's to look. Venues don't sell domains, people do. The fact is domains of this caliber and difficult to sell. Sure, there are tons of endusers but only a few with the required budget. So you've found an enduser with a budget, well, now you have to hope you hit the right person. Woot! You've hit the right person at the right company with the right budget. Oh but it's the wrong time? A month late? Damn. No deal. Everyone seems to think brokering is easy. Truth is outbound emails aren't effective anymore. LinkedIn? Nope, that doesn't work either. It takes research, phone calls, meetings, and a bit of luck. Ask anyone with a "million dollar domain." Most have held it for 10-20 years and haven't sold it. Sure, they typically say I wanted to keep it but everyone has their price. Don't know why everyone thinks it's "an easy sell." It's not.

*end rant*

 

[clasione]

No wonder why I have not had a monumental domain sales in the last 5 years. I've not done any of that.

 

[S-B]

No wonder why I have not had a monumental domain sales in the last 5 years. I've not done any of that.

It takes a good name and perseverance.

How many 6-figure domain names have been sold on Flippa?

5.

 

[clasione]

Sometimes it seems like Flippa is only place anything is really happening anymore but I really have not been on the forums much these days. It's also been making it's way into DNJournal sales charts a heck of lot more than used to, I can say that.

 

[S-B]

Sometimes it seems like Flippa is only place anything is really happening anymore but I really have not been on the forums much these days. It's also been making it's way into DNJournal sales charts a heck of lot more than used to, I can say that.

Actually it's doing the opposite. Flippa is past its prime. Sales are declining and big sales are unheard of. Mid 6-figures will literally never happen there. Plus who wants to give them a 10% cut for doing nothing?

 

[clasione]

I agree on their cut; it's tremendous.

 

[DU]

Plus who wants to give them a 10% cut for doing nothing?

That's like asking for 7.5% for landing pages

Around 1999 or so, offers started coming in for the domain and to this day, they come in pretty much every month.

I'm sure most of them are low offers but it seems you have the best information on what the name is worth by looking at the offers and the contacts made. You could use a broker if you feel you won't negotiate properly or completely; however, you're still going to be negotiating with a broker on their commission and their flexibility and transparency.

Unfortunately this post will likely get you more low offers and, because domaining is a slimey industry, people could well be off selling your name for you as we speak looking for an arbitrage opportunity.

I would delete this post. I would put up a pleasing and not desperate site and gauge interest and negotiate with anyone serious that is not an unknown account and is willing to work on the phone.

All imho.

 

[S-B]

That's like asking for 7.5% for landing pages



I'm sure most of them are low offers but it seems you have the best information on what the name is worth by looking at the offers and the contacts made. You could use a broker if you feel you won't negotiate properly or completely; however, you're still going to be negotiating with a broker on their commission and their flexibility and transparency.

Unfortunately this post will likely get you more low offers and, because domaining is a slimey industry, people could well be off selling your name for you as we speak looking for an arbitrage opportunity.

I would delete this post. I would put up a pleasing and not desperate site and gauge interest and negotiate with anyone serious that is not an unknown account and is willing to work on the phone.

All imho.

It's half as bad.

 

[DU]

Also - I do think "companion" is a better name and that's not used either.
That will have impact on your valuation, imho. If I had unlimited amounts of cash I'd pay way more for the singular and you'd be the defensive registration.

If you've received 6 figures go for that range but the fact that you see 5-6 figures is a decent indication, imho.

I should probably know who Hai Sen Ding is but they have a tonne of premium names that are parked so I doubt they'll sell low. The whois says "Bill Ding" - perhaps an architectural self-reference.


Good Luck!

 

[Furgen]

When I registered Companions, it was because more than one person makes Companions