poll I am at 5000+ now, how many domains in your "keeper" portfolio?

[Recons.Com]

So, I finally crossed the 5000 threshold. Let's share here the portfolio sizes we currently have.

For the poll, I am asking to include only the keeper names, those you are likely to renew, not the heavily discounted names you are holding for a year only. But feel free to mention that portfolio size in the comments too.

As for my portfolio, It seems in past year I have more than doubled the size, buying over 2500 names just from GD auctions/closeouts. Most names are with the GD (see the screenshot) but I also have couple hundred at Epic, Dyna combined.

And I rarely drop names now, with probably under 1% being pruned.

 

[DrJacoby]

Now that I've thought about it, "knippe" has grown on me. I like it a lot more than "kvinnan". It has a wider range of use, and it sounds like a furniture from Ikea.

 

[Recons.Com]

Nice! Norway is a very beautiful country. Amazing fjords and mountains.

"Kvinnan" means "the woman" (as you probably already know). There's nothing wrong with the word, but I just don't know how to use the domain.

Thanks for validating ) Well, with 5 million Swedish women out there, I am sure there will be an idea for it, from women products to empowerment, to a magazine, to awards...

Here are some examples:

https://karriarkvinnan.com/

https://www.medicinkvinnan.com/

https://kvinnanbakomfasaden.com/

https://medelklasskvinnanstystavral.com/

 

[Recons.Com]

Now that I've thought about it, "knippe" has grown on me. I like it a lot more than "kvinnan". It has a wider range of use, and it sounds like a furniture from Ikea.

Haha )) First I thought it is a German last name and liked it enough even before found the other meaning. But, yes, it rolls off the tongue very well (for those who know how to pronounce Scandinavian language words) and the meaning is widely usable for ecommerce.

 

[NLP]

Interesting. What is the reason for trying to stay at around 300? Management? Risk aversion?

Ease of management, and quality over quantity.

I'm not full-time — domains have always been more of a side hustle, so there is no way I'd have the time or the resources to manage a larger portfolio (at one time, I had 600, and dropped quite a few).

At 300 names, I've usually had between 1-5 4-end user sales a year. That's purely passive, no outbound. I've always just kept my names listed at Sedo and Afternic.

This year, because of the added downtime due to current events, I'm able to spend more time connecting with other investors (here and on Twitter), and listing on different marketplaces. I'm looking into Efty, and DAN, and just listed a couple of names on DNWE this week (I also bought my first name there last week, a 1999 two-word .com).

I really love your branding, and your WP site at RightBrand. I still see some Lorem Ipsum text on supporting pages at Recons (I'm sure you're aware).

 

[J.R.]

When I first entered the domain game in 2016, I accumulated 500 domain names.

It was only after discovering RicksBlog.com that I learned the importance of quality over quantity. Today, I only own 50 1-2 dot-Coms and I have sold a total of 10 URLs. I got a lot of joy, out of seeing the trash that I purchased in my 1st year drop. For me, its about selling in order to eventually get that 1-2 word keyword or dictionary term category killer dot-Com - but we know those are in that $xx,xxx range.

If I could own 5,000 quality, 1-2 word dot-Coms with commercial meaning, I'd take it. But most will be lucky to ever own 1 truly premium domain name 1-2 word dot-Com with commercial meaning.

I hate paying renewals on URLs with none to little value.

 

[rumevic]

Thank you, your names are awesome.


Used to do only make offer. Started pricing about a year ago. Sales are down overall in volume, but average price is up significantly. The majority of my portfolio is sweet spot priced. My favorite names are priced based on best and highest use case and used as a price anchor for any negotiating.

It works for me though. I might revisit pricing if it stops working.

"...My favorite names are priced based on best and highest use case..." --
Do you mean how many TLDs registered?
Thanks!

 

[Recons.Com]

how much domains to you sale a year?

Here is the answer to the similar question:

Sell through: I normally look at annual numbers at the year end. And I use weighted portfolio size, accounting for the fact that it is fast growing portfolio and I cannot use year end number. For 2019, the weighted portfolio size was around 2500 and I sold 35+ domains. If for 2020 my weighted number will be at 5000, I'd expect 50-60 sales in total. Starting from 2021, I am targeting 2%+ sell through, so if I have 7500 names weighted, I should have 150+ sales.

 

[trelgor]

Thank you. I am content with that. What counts for a brandable most is the meaning, plus it is short, catchy, 2 syllables etc.

I have lived in Norway for 6 years as an expat. Although did not become fluent, picked a little of the sense of the language.

By the way, picked also Kvinnan.com

What do you think of this one?

About swedish, norwegian, danish: Don't go there if the term is not super premium. All of these countries have strong ccTLD:s, not like .us. On top of that, there is virtually no aftermarket even for top main TLD names. "Kvinnan" means "The woman" and would not have much "brand juice". Sure "Knippe" could be an IKEA furniture name, but that's it.

 

[trelgor]

Kudos also @Recons.Com for getting down two main principles to success. Hard work and consistency.

 

[Recons.Com]

When I first entered the domain game in 2016, I accumulated 500 domain names.

It was only after discovering RicksBlog.com that I learned the importance of quality over quantity. Today, I only own 50 1-2 dot-Coms and I have sold a total of 10 URLs. I got a lot of joy, out of seeing the trash that I purchased in my 1st year drop. For me, its about selling in order to eventually get that 1-2 word keyword or dictionary term category killer dot-Com - but we know those are in that $xx,xxx range.

If I could own 5,000 quality, 1-2 word dot-Coms with commercial meaning, I'd take it. But most will be lucky to ever own 1 truly premium domain name 1-2 word dot-Com with commercial meaning.

I hate paying renewals on URLs with none to little value.

I hear you. There is little certainty in domain investment, and yet it somehow works out if you spread out wide enough net. Think HugeDomains with 6 million or so names. Most of those are plain awful. Any good name I analyze to buy has often a HugeDomain or BuyDomains held longer/worse version or even few at a time. Yet, the formula still works. You need about 0.4-0.5% sell through if you are pricing in the sweet spot of 1500-5000$, to pay for your renewals, and the rest pays for your other costs and provides profit for your investment.

Rick, for all his visibility, huge sales, some great names, holds a small portfolio compared to HD, BD, Mike Mann etc. or even to some on the forum. His missed on the opportunity to play also the numbers game. I think he claims to have sold for around 30-40 million worth with the portfolio of around 6000 names (lots of them strange choices, imo), he might have done 5 times better with a wider net and system.

 

[Recons.Com]

About swedish, norwegian, danish: Don't go there if the term is not super premium. All of these countries have strong ccTLD:s, not like .us. On top of that, there is virtually no aftermarket even for top main TLD names. "Kvinnan" means "The woman" and would not have much "brand juice". Sure "Knippe" could be an IKEA furniture name, but that's it.

Thanks ) I am collecting ready-to-go inventory not just for a specific country, but also for clients who want a specific feel. Think Wikipedia using the word "wiki", Hawaiian for "quick" for the brand. They could have used quickpedia, but went with wikipedia. So, Kvinnan could be a fashion brand with a great not-obvious at the first glance meaning behind.

I have similar names with the meaning in French, Japanese, German, Russian, Turkish, Italian... For example, Mandriano, a cowboy/shepherd in Italian, LaCherie, My (the) Dear in French, Hara Heta, I am hungry in Japanese, Yunaya, a young lady in Russian etc.

 

[Recons.Com]

Kudos also @Recons.Com for getting down two main principles to success. Hard work and consistency.

Thank you, sir ) I really appreciate it coming from you.

 

[trelgor]

Thanks ) I am collecting ready-to-go inventory not just for a specific country, but also for clients who want a specific feel. Think Wikipedia using the word "wiki", Hawaiian for "quick" for the brand. They could have used quickpedia, but went with wikipedia. So, Kvinnan could be a fashion brand with a great not-obvious at the first glance meaning behind.

I have similar names with the meaning in French, Japanese, German, Russian, Turkish, Italian... For example, Mandriano, a cowboy/shepherd in Italian, LaCherie, My (the) Dear in French, Hara Heta, I am hungry in Japanese, Yunaya, a young lady in Russian etc.

Example: In a weak moment I purchased ”Idrott” dotcom. It means more or less sports, athletics, et. al. Want to buy, really cheap, great deal?

Underlying streaks of applicable foreign meaning is great, as long as the name is more universal in language form (read english). Keywords not steeped in the ”english form” are not investments for me.

Dotcom is international and international is english speaking naming conventions. Anything else is an odd bird with low expectation, IMO.

 

[Recons.Com]

Example: In a weak moment I purchased ”Idrott” dotcom. It means more or less sports, athletics, et. al. Want to buy, really cheap, great deal?

Underlying streaks of applicable foreign meaning is great, as long as the name is more universal in language form (read english). Keywords not steeped in the ”english form” are not investments for me.

Dotcom is international and international is english speaking naming conventions. Anything else is an odd bird with low expectation, IMO.

I hear you and I am fine with that ) I get some clients with quite specific requests and need to be able to offer few choices in each mini-niche. My business model is not conventional for domain sales. Neither it is for branding. It is a hybrid. And, I will be gearing more towards getting custom branding business for startups and other businesses.

Just to give you examples, when this kind of branding happens:

- Schind Machines operate on http://schindmachines.com/ and it is actually Turkish company using a German name. I own Schind dot com. They did not exist, when I acquired the name.

- La Cherie is French, but quite few companies around the world use either long version in .com or even in local cctlds, like lacherie.si, lacherie.ca... Lacherie4U is a US business, LaCherieBoutique is a Canadian shop, LaCherieLashes - another Canadian biz, LaCherie Couleur is a Japanese one, La Cherie Hanoi is in Vietnam, La Cherie KW is in Kuwait, La Cherie Skin Studio - another US co, and so is I am La Cherie...

 

[trelgor]

I hear you and I am fine with that ) I get some clients with quite specific requests and need to be able to offer few choices in each mini-niche. My business model is not conventional for domain sales. Neither it is for branding. It is a hybrid. And, I will be gearing more towards getting custom branding business for startups and other businesses.

Just to give you examples, when this kind of branding happens:

- Schind Machines operate on http://schindmachines.com/ and it is actually Turkish company using a German name. I own Schind dot com. They did not exist, when I acquired the name.

- La Cherie is French, but quite few companies around the world use either long version in .com or even in local cctlds, like lacherie.si, lacherie.ca... Lacherie4U is a US business, LaCherieBoutique is a Canadian shop, LaCherieLashes - another Canadian biz, LaCherie Couleur is a Japanese one, La Cherie Hanoi is in Vietnam, La Cherie KW is in Kuwait, La Cherie Skin Studio - another US co, and so is I am La Cherie...

Finding a hybrid is very necessary, too many ”lemmings” in domaining, plowing the same old fields.

I’m sorry if I get too specific, but the devil is always in the details. ”Schind” has a german sounding sur-name feel. It is not comparable to dictionary words.

Another example: ”Spoon” would be a massive brand with great application. It probably is. ”Sked”, spoon in swedish, would never be a swedish equivalent brand prospect. It would just sound stupid.

The ”La Cherie” example is good. It has international appeal.

 

[Recons.Com]

Finding a hybrid is very necessary, too many ”lemmings” in domaining, plowing the same old fields.

I’m sorry if I get too specific, but the devil is always in the details. ”Schind” has a german sounding sur-name feel. It is not comparable to dictionary words.

Another example: ”Spoon” would be a massive brand with great application. It probably is. ”Sked”, spoon in swedish, would never be a swedish equivalent brand prospect. It would just sound stupid.

The ”La Cherie” example is good. It has international appeal.

I probably have some other examples too, just can't remember from the top of my head (the downside of too many names, but all that will be eventually automated).

My belief is that a brand needs a good story, or at least it helps. I'd be fine starting a women fashion brand catering globally but inspired by Scandinavian design and arts and minimalism and ornaments and call it Kvinnan. That is how I will be presenting the name. I am also well aware of the nuances each language has regarding each word that per dictionary should be an equivalent. I am fluent in quite few languages and studied many more and generally am well versed in linguistics, an important skill for a branding expert, imo. I do a superficial research when acquiring a name, but of course if I were to recommend to my client, I would do a detailed in depth research.

In no way this is a major part of my portfolio though )) This kind of names represent less than 1% of my portfolio and are there for two reasons: to meet needs of a niche client; to learn myself. Statistically, I need enough names for each subcategory of possible range of variations to be able to draw conclusions, like country-feel names sell/don't sell on par/better with general type etc. So that is why I experiment not just with this kind of names, but with various endings, length, patterns, except the ones I exclude as downright bad for starting a business on.

All these will eventually find its way into my book on branding and its further editions.

 

[Mifuru]

So, I finally crossed the 5000 threshold. Let's share here the portfolio sizes we currently have.

For the poll, I am asking to include only the keeper names, those you are likely to renew, not the heavily discounted names you are holding for a year only. But feel free to mention that portfolio size in the comments too.

As for my portfolio, It seems in past year I have more than doubled the size, buying over 2500 names just from GD auctions/closeouts. Most names are with the GD (see the screenshot) but I also have couple hundred at Epic, Dyna combined.

And I rarely drop names now, with probably under 1% being pruned.

Show attachment 157164

Subtotal 23 + 14 in russian registrar (cctld domains).

 

[Kpett]

Thanks for sharing. So what made you to decide to trim so drastically? And noticed in your signature the amazon book link regarding domain investments. I assume you are the author? Can you share some excerpts from the book? Hopefully, we all can support you by buying a copy.

I have found many domain investors get to a point where they are busy with other things and find its time to reduce their portfolio size. I think there always comes a time when you question the longer term value of some of the names you registered. I tend to go back and forth between domain name investing and developing websites, so when I am in website mode, I auction off names to reduce my renewal budget.

Wrote the book a few years ago, lots of good bits in there. As for this topic, I have a section in Chapter 9 about managing your domain names ... where I discuss portfolio websites and/or spreadsheets to track your names, keeping an eye on expenses, and the importance of a business plan, especially if you are growing a larger portfolio.

Cheers!

 

[xbank]

I am at around 1.2k names spread to 3-4 places but trying to put them in one place as it's easy to manage.

Planned not to cross more than 2k names and than even with 1% of sales, that makes around.40K a year .. and then paying around $10k in renewals.

Sustainable and Also Enjoy Life without working full time.

 

[xbank]

Right strategy. Learn, revisit, reapply. It is like dating. If every next girlfriend have the same problematic traits the previous one had, then the way you choose a date has to change. But if you see a progress in the quality and, eventually, in sales, you are on the right track.

That's the right away .. I like reading this part .. been with more than 100 girls in my life and yes you are right .. every girl is different and every name is

 

[xbank]

Thanks ) I am collecting ready-to-go inventory not just for a specific country, but also for clients who want a specific feel. Think Wikipedia using the word "wiki", Hawaiian for "quick" for the brand. They could have used quickpedia, but went with wikipedia. So, Kvinnan could be a fashion brand with a great not-obvious at the first glance meaning behind.

I have similar names with the meaning in French, Japanese, German, Russian, Turkish, Italian... For example, Mandriano, a cowboy/shepherd in Italian, LaCherie, My (the) Dear in French, Hara Heta, I am hungry in Japanese, Yunaya, a young lady in Russian etc.

But in my opinion geo country domains people, most of the time go with their country TLD, until unless they going worldwide and I have seen many companies they start with the local tld.

I am working with a friend he owns a company and around 1000 names right now .. but they planned to do around 10,000 names in the next 1 year. so let's see and hope for the best

 

[xbank]

@Recons.Com Learning and understanding a lot from you, really gives tremendous energy to get back on things

 

[CobraKai]

@Recons.Com Nice! That's a huge DN bag. Just curious why you decided to keep the majority of your DN's on GD since you have such a large amount? Isn't the renewal fees much higher than most other registrars?

 

[DrJacoby]

Isn't the renewal fees much higher than most other registrars?

It's $8.29.

 

[CobraKai]

It's $8.29.

Is that a special pricing plan? I am seeing $17.99 to renew a dot com domain name in my account.