Y'all wanna shoot the moon?

[Rob Monster]

ICYMI, during October, Epik sold 3 domains above $250,000.

In the interest of helping folks sell more domains for bigger money, I want to share openly what I think works pretty well when responding to retail inquiries.

Here are my two go-to response templates for answering inbound inquiries:

Template #1

Hello <firstname>,

Thanks for the inquiry.

Names of this caliber routinely sell for over $100,000.

We also sometimes do domain leases with a purchase option.

If you have budget, I will do my best to get something done for you.

Happy to advise.

Regards,
Rob



Template #2

Hello <firstname>,

Thanks for the inquiry.

You are probably looking at well into 5 figures USD for this domain.

Alternatively, it is likely possible to do a lease with a purchase option or seller-finance.

Depending on your budget, happy to advise.

Regards,
Rob


Obviously, if you have some specific comment about the domain or about the person inquiring about the prospect, that can be helpful, but usually this is a great way to just see how high is up.

During October, we saw a 2 word domain sell for $253,750. By most standards, this domain was absolutely nothing special. The domain was however strategic to the buyer.

A lot of purchase prospects end up becoming leases and financings, depending on the budget situation of the buyer. The point is to never underestimate how high is up. It is much better to: Shoot the moon!

And now you know!

 

[Recons.Com]

Yep, I guess 350k now, couple of years ago, there is a past post of 300k.

When I first started, my first few years, I literally kept a text document and kept track of them daily. He's very open with the sales, on Facebook/Twitter. I would take a month, average it out, that's where the $20,000 day amount came from. So once you get that and you know how many domains he has, then the math/model is easy to figure out. What was interesting to me at the time, was the average amount, low x,xxx

So:
low x,xxx sales = singles
those big sales he gets sometimes, like a $70,000 sale or something = home runs and I'm sure doubles and triples in the mix.

20K/day at 300K names seems reasonable. 1%x300k=3k/year or 8-9 names a day at 2-2.2k average would give you the same number.

 

[wwwweb]

Yep, I guess 350k now, couple of years ago, there is a past post of 300k.

When I first started, my first few years, I literally kept a text document and kept track of them daily. He's very open with the sales, on Facebook/Twitter. I would take a month, average it out, that's where the $20,000 day amount came from. So once you get that and you know how many domains he has, then the math/model is easy to figure out. What was interesting to me at the time, was the average amount, low x,xxx

So:
low x,xxx sales = singles
those big sales he gets sometimes, like a $70,000 sale or something = home runs and I'm sure doubles and triples in the mix.

I see a name like acehandymanservices.com, and acehandymanservice.com for a total of $35K, to ace hardware for those long tail domains this an amazing feat. How many of us would have jumped at $5k, $10k, $15k?

He is continually harping that domainers sell to cheap, and he is giving people gifts at 5 figures, so I get where Rob is coming from
Shoot for the moon. Unless you ask, you will never receive, but as mentioned above also asking extreme pricing, you will kill a lot of potential deals, so it really comes down to luck as if you can hit a few of these a year, your way ahead, otherwise you better have a safety net to cover your renewals.

 

[wwwweb]

20K/day at 300K names seems reasonable. 1%x300k=3k/year or 8-9 names a day at 2-2.2k average would give you the same number.

I think he states his average is closer to $7k.

I believe Uni stated last year their $50M in sales averaged out at around $9k.

 

[JB Lions]

20K/day at 300K names seems reasonable. 1%x300k=3k/year or 8-9 names a day at 2-2.2k average would give you the same number.

That's literally what I did at the time. I couldn't picture owning 300,000 names but I could picture 3,000 and did the math and thought, hmm, this has potential. At the time I was 100% affiliate and started to do this on the side, now domaining is over 95% of my income. It's just more fun. And last 10 years, it's been growing every single year.

I think somebody mentioned their biggest sale was one of their favorite names. I guess I'm kind of the same way. The names that I think are my best/favorite, I won't let go unless I get a big number. The other names I'm more flexible on. So it's kind of a mix. Will take the big sale, at the same time, you should have money coming in for renewals and more purchases. People just really need to find whatever works for them.

 

[Recons.Com]

I think he states his average is closer to $7k.

I believe Uni stated last year their $50M in sales averaged out at around $9k.

I don't believe he has stated that. $7K could be the average of sales he chooses to disclose as his monthly top ones. Pretty much anyone with decent and large portfolio can achieve average of $7K, but your sell through will be nowhere near 1%, so your overall math will end up similar or lower than when priced within the sweet spot.

 

[Recons.Com]

That's literally what I did at the time. I couldn't picture owning 300,000 names but I could picture 3,000 and did the math and thought, hmm, this has potential. At the time I was 100% affiliate and started to do this on the side, now domaining is over 95% of my income. It's just more fun. And last 10 years, it's been growing every single year.

I think somebody mentioned their biggest sale was one of their favorite names. I guess I'm kind of the same way. The names that I think are my best/favorite, I won't let go unless I get a big number. The other names I'm more flexible on. So it's kind of a mix. Will take the big sale, at the same time, you should have money coming in for renewals and more purchases. People just really need to find whatever works for them.

That could have been me. My 5 figure sales are not because they were that much better, but because I personally liked them and could have personal use for, including review/org, anem/com, ayro/com, jouz/com, noblemetal/com etc.

 

[JB Lions]

I think he states his average is closer to $7k.

I believe Uni stated last year their $50M in sales averaged out at around $9k.

I don't believe he has stated that. $7K could be the average of sales he chooses to disclose as his monthly top ones. Pretty much anyone with decent and large portfolio can achieve average of $7K, but your sell through will be nowhere near 1%, so your overall math will end up similar or lower than when priced within the sweet spot.

I found the post in the thread where he put BIN's on his 300k names, I guess that's the 7k you were referencing?:

BTW, we already deleted 100,000 names that were deemed not good enough and just kept the best ones. It takes a very long time to weed through 300K domains to find any others worth deleting. We definitely have the very best average quality collection by a mile. The others are 99% garbage while ours are 99% brandable .Com worth about $7K each on average retail, $1K each as a collection

 

[JB Lions]

The post where I did the math, he quoted it and said:

this is rational

referring to:

Here is a very general model (again) of how this could easily work:

300,000 domains x 8.50 = $2,550,000 - renewals
If you sold $20,000 a day on average x 365 = $7,300,000 a year

$4,750,000 left over after renewals for buying new domains, profit or whatever

$20,000** a day with 300,000 domains is like selling $20,000 in a year with 820 domains.

Is that doable?

I made much more than that with 450 domains. So yes, it's pretty easy.

**I got that amount after reading many posts like - https://www.namepros.com/threads/mi...s-best-month-ever.1011941/page-3#post-6095635

Those are just 2 examples. One of those days was $60,000, one day was $17,000. Long time ago, I took a bunch of those posts and averaged them out.

Mike pretty much confirming my math:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/mi...-with-bin-prices.1053164/page-12#post-6502495

This big thread - https://www.namepros.com/threads/mi...-domains-up-for-sale-with-bin-prices.1053164/

 

[Recons.Com]

I found the post in the thread where he put BIN's on his 300k names, I guess that's the 7k you were referencing?:

Probably that is what he is referencing.

also, unbelievable that he had to weed through 400,000 names (100,000 deleted)! You'd think that a guy making few million bucks a year could hire someone to automate most parts of the task?

 

[oldtimer]

I must admit that I don’t have much experience with big domain sales personally, but over the years I have learned a few things by reading about domains and domaining which makes me come up with the following conclusion:

The domain Industry is like an Eco System which includes the bottom feeders who buy and sell domains for a few dollars profit all the way up to those who operate in the stratosphere who handle millions of transactions per year and then we also have many different levels in between. The big fish prey on the smaller fish in this Eco System by buying their domains on the cheap and selling it for much more than they could have done so themselves or by selling all those new gold prospectors tools and equipment of the trade and encouraging them (whether truthfully or falsely which is up for debate) that there is gold in them hills to give the smaller fish hope for registering and buying more and more domains.

Now there are some real opportunities in domaining at all levels, but for one thing any discussion about domain sales has to happen between people at the same level otherwise what each side is saying is going to come across as being wrong or crazy to others. For another thing certain successes that are happening at the higher levels by the big fish can not easily be duplicated at the lower levels by the smaller fish because just being a big fish makes a lot of difference in how successful a domainer can be. The big fish because of their already established financial situations can easily turn down lower offers in order to obtain those six or seven figure domain sales which a smaller fish would never be able or willing to do and will most likely end up surrendering their domains at a lot lower amounts even if they happen to have come up with a nice domain by chance. So I say to each their own when it comes to domain sales and strategies as everyone might actually be right with their claims at their own level.

And in conclusion I say shoot for the moon If you have the guts and If you can afford it.

IMO

 

[Recons.Com]

Better advice would be stick to reasonable pricing within the sweet spot of 1500 to 5000 for most of your names to provide regular cash flow. Feel free to select the best 10% of your names and go crazy with the pricing there. You can then compare the outcome in couple of years which model gave you better returns and then adjust the ratio accordingly.

 

[oldtimer]

Better advice would be stick to reasonable pricing within the sweet spot of 1500 to 5000 for most of your names to provide regular cash flow. Feel free to select the best 10% of your names and go crazy with the pricing there. You can then compare the outcome in couple of years which model gave you better returns and then adjust the ratio accordingly.

Keep in mind that you only get one shot at this as good domains are not easily replaceable and you might not be able to keep the same level of inventory in the future.

IMO

 

[capybara]

Recently we began doing this for client domains, notably for clients who are too busy, are traveling, don't care to manage their inquiries, or who just don't feel confident handing responses.

Are you doing it on their explicit consent or you just do it because these clients seem to be like that?

 

[JB Lions]

Probably that is what he is referencing.

also, unbelievable that he had to weed through 400,000 names (100,000 deleted)! You'd think that a guy making few million bucks a year could hire someone to automate most parts of the task?

I don't have that much trust to let an employee or automation handle stuff like that but I don't have those type of numbers. So with 300k to 400k you're looking at about 1,000 a day, some people have a lot more. It would be interesting to take a sneak peak, day in the life of people like Mike, Frank, Huge Domains etc, to see how they go about it. Is it automation, is it employees, is it the main guy deciding, is there a conference every morning to go thru them etc.

 

[Recons.Com]

I don't have that much trust to let an employee or automation handle stuff like that but I don't have those type of numbers. So with 300k to 400k you're looking at about 1,000 a day, some people have a lot more. It would be interesting to take a sneak peak, day in the life of people like Mike, Frank, Huge Domains etc, to see how they go about it. It is automation, is it employees, is it the main guy deciding, is there a conference every morning to go thru them etc.

You don't have to have trust in anybody. You could create an algorithm that gives you candidates for deletion based on length, auto valuations, visits per month, google search etc. Then you fine tune the algorithm based on what the eye test tells you. You still make the decision to delete or keep, just don't have to look at all 400K names.

I am not at that amount yet with about 3600 names now. I just decide at the time of renewal, but keep most of my names. Probably weed off 2-3% percent a year based on the learning curve.

 

[Recons.Com]

Keep in mind that you only get one shot at this as good domains are not easily replaceable and you might not be able to keep the same level of inventory in the future.

IMO

The sweet spot names are the ones easily replaceable at $x to xx level, so that is not an issue. If I got a bargain name that is not easy to replace, than I price it at high xxxx or even higher. Example from my inventory: RedMangoes/com priced at $9K

 

[oldtimer]

You don't have to have trust in anybody. You could create an algorithm that gives you candidates for deletion based on length, auto valuations, visits per month, google search etc.

You are right, and also should factor in the domains that have received offers through the years to further shorten the list that you have to manually evaluate.

IMO

 

[frank-germany]

ICYMI, during October, Epik sold 3 domains above $250,000. We are getting reasonably good at qualifying leads and then backing prospects into leases and financings if they cannot afford to buy the domain.

Recently we began doing this for client domains, notably for clients who are too busy, are traveling, don't care to manage their inquiries, or who just don't feel confident handing responses.

We also hired our first domain broker, John Velinov, @Domain1031 and will shortly announce a Domain Broker Network in development following the acquisition of NameBrokers.com from Troy Rushton.

In the meantime, in the interest of helping folks sell more domains for bigger money, I want to share openly what I think works pretty well when responding to retail inquiries.

Here are my two go-to response templates for answering inbound inquiries:

Template #1

Hello <firstname>,

Thanks for the inquiry.

Names of this caliber routinely sell for over $100,000.

We also sometimes do domain leases with a purchase option.

If you have budget, I will do my best to get something done for you.

Happy to advise.

Regards,
Rob



Template #2

Hello <firstname>,

Thanks for the inquiry.

You are probably looking at well into 5 figures USD for this domain.

Alternatively, it is likely possible to do a lease with a purchase option or seller-finance.

Depending on your budget, happy to advise.

Regards,
Rob

Obviously, if you have some specific comment about the domain or about the person inquiring about the prospect, that can be helpful, but usually this is a great way to just see how high is up.

During October, we saw a 2 word domain sell for $253,750. By most standards, this domain was absolutely nothing special. The domain was however strategic to the buyer.

A lot of purchase prospects end up becoming leases and financings, depending on the budget situation of the buyer. The point is to never underestimate how high is up. It is much better to: Shoot the moon!

And now you know!

Thank youRob for sharing templates


Negotiation is always a delicate process
there never will be a one size fits all approach

every domain is unique
and
every prospect is unique

its more art than science

here is something I go today in my mail

https://blog.blackswanltd.com/the-edge/whats-the-deal-with-anchoring-in-negotiation

Rule No. 1: Extreme anchoring loses you deals that you otherwise would have made.

Rule No. 1 is one of the critical things that sets the xxx Group apart from our academic colleagues

—and quite a few of your average negotiators, too.

When you set an anchor that’s too high, it will drive away deals that you otherwise would have made.

Any good price can be made into a bad deal with difficult terms.

At the same time, with phenomenal terms, you can turn just about any price into a great deal.

You don’t want to drive away what could have been a great deal
because you made the rookie mistake of using a high anchor
and gave your counterpart cold feet.

 

[Sutruk]

Thank youRob for sharing templates


Negotiation is always a delicate process
there never will be a one size fits all approach

every domain is unique
and
every prospect is unique

its more art than science

here is something I go today in my mail

Rule No. 1: Extreme anchoring loses you deals that you otherwise would have made.

Rule No. 1 is one of the critical things that sets the xxx Group apart from our academic colleagues

—and quite a few of your average negotiators, too.

When you set an anchor that’s too high, it will drive away deals that you otherwise would have made.

Any good price can be made into a bad deal with difficult terms.

At the same time, with phenomenal terms, you can turn just about any price into a great deal.

You don’t want to drive away what could have been a great deal
because you made the rookie mistake of using a high anchor
and gave your counterpart cold feet.

Thank you for the link to that article, it was very very interesting to read.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I had thought from the title this was a thread devoted to astrophotography methods for great moon photos. . Would have been very timely what with the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

I see instead it is something about domain names. Who would have thought?!

Bob

 

[Sutruk]

Better advice would be stick to reasonable pricing within the sweet spot of 1500 to 5000 for most of your names to provide regular cash flow. Feel free to select the best 10% of your names and go crazy with the pricing there. You can then compare the outcome in couple of years which model gave you better returns and then adjust the ratio accordingly.

Very good advice.

 

[Sutruk]

One important thing, in my opinion, is to know with who are you really dealing.
I mean, the buyer's budget is what it is. You can't get gold where there is nothing, but you should do your best to wonder with who are you dealing.
I mean, if the other part is a multi million company, there's no way I am going to sell them a good domain for peanuts (peanuts for them).

 

[trelgor]

Interesting thread. A smaller percentage of moonshots and a bulk percentage of safer sells in varying ranges is a strategy that works well, no doubt. You could go crazy scaling it though, thank goodness I’m already mad.

 

[Rob Monster]

This thread was moved to Promotional:

What utter nonsense.

@Mod Team Echo @Mod Team Alfa - Review this one because this is a giant GIFT.

 

[bmugford]

This thread was moved to Promotional:

Show attachment 134389

What utter nonsense.

@Mod Team Echo @Mod Team Alfa - Review this one because this is a giant GIFT.

ICYMI, during October, Epik sold 3 domains above $250,000. We are getting reasonably good at qualifying leads and then backing prospects into leases and financings if they cannot afford to buy the domain.

Recently we began doing this for client domains, notably for clients who are too busy, are traveling, don't care to manage their inquiries, or who just don't feel confident handing responses.

We also hired our first domain broker, John Velinov, @Domain1031 and will shortly announce a Domain Broker Network in development following the acquisition of NameBrokers.com from Troy Rushton.

The beginning of the first post feels like marketing for Epik as I said earlier in this thread.

You are the one who bolded "client" as well to make it stand out, then go on to advertise some upcoming services.

That sure seems promotional to me.

Brad