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information How Do You Sell Geo-Targeted Domain Names?

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Geo-targeted domain names have often been a popular source of income for domain investors, with some still making a living from buying and selling this category of name. However, there are some common questions that need answering. How do you sell a geo-targeted domain name, and what should you take into consideration before acquiring any geo-targeted name?

In this article, we will cover geo-targeted names and why they are popular amongst domain investors. For those who are unaware, geo-targeted domains consist of a combination of a geographical location and a business or profession. Here are some examples of geo-targeted domain names:
  • NewYorkRealEstate.com (Location: New York. Profession: Real Estate)
  • BaltimoreDentist.com (Location: Baltimore. Profession: Dentist)
These names don't necessarily need to be .COM domains, but since .COM is the most popular TLD amongst consumers worldwide, this will be the extension that we concentrate on in this article. If you're in a country other than the US, you could target your local ccTLDs, but this could have mixed results. As always, this isn't investment advice, it's simply an observation on geo-targeted names and how to sell them.

In order to effectively sell geo-targeted domains, you will have to choose a desirable keyword/business and a location with which that business or profession can be associated with. Traditionally, the professions that spend the most on online advertising are real estate agents and dentists.

Real estate agents have a heavy presence online, with most understanding that a good online presence means more leads. This desire for a good online presence has lead to sales such as TorontoRealEstate.com for $140,000 and JacksonHoleRealEstate.com for $85,000.

Dentists also spend a lot of money online. Cost per click estimates that involve dentists and dental products are extremely high. I have read numerous reports of dentists spending around 30% of their gross revenue on marketing.

Finding suitable keywords isn't easy, but looking for professions that already have a strong online presence and have a history of spending money on web development and advertising is a good place to start. Real estate agents, dentists and brokers are three prime examples. NameBio has released a list of the top 100 keywords for geo-targeted domains, which you may find useful.

Teaming the keyword with a popular location should be a priority. You could have the most lucrative keyword, but putting it together with a location that no one's heard of, with a population of just 5,000 isn't going to give you a sellable name.

Personally, I would stick with cities with a population above 100,000 since you'll have enough businesses within that city that want to beat their close competition for leads, and a domain name might be the secret weapon they were looking for. For reference, this Wikipedia page contains a list of all US cities with a population of over 100,000.

There is one keyword that should be avoided at all costs when you're buying geo-targeted names, and that keyword is 'realtor'. Although it is a term that's used regularly in the US, it is trademarked and is policed by lawyers for the National Association of Realtors.

Finding names that are of investment quality could be difficult. There may be some opportunities to hand register domains, depending on your keyword and location, but in general, I've found the best names are found via private acquisitions or via expired domain auctions.

Once you've found an adequate name, you'll no doubt be looking to sell it on to an end-user. If you're doing this via outbound sales, you'll need to find suitable leads by manually searching through Google, or other search engines. You may also like to use services such as LinkedIn, but you'll want to concentrate on Google.

Finding advertisers on Google, as well as those companies listed near the top of Google's search results (and even those on the second page), may prove to be good prospects to target. Advertisers may want to own the domain as another form of online advertising, while those vying for the top spot on Google may jump at the chance of owning the generic geo-targeted domain. Remember, there's only one company in the entire city that can own that name. If it's a good enough domain, you'll have a number of companies inquiring about it.

To effectively sell the name, you need to speak to the right person. Typically, for geo-targeted names such as real estate domains, you'll want to speak to the business owner, as they usually take on numerous roles within their business, with marketing manager being one of them.

Your personalized email should be fairly brief, outlining the fact that you are looking to sell your domain. I believe that initial emails shouldn't take up too much of the prospective buyer's time, and if you get no answer, you may wish to follow up on your initial enquiry. As always with outbound sales, please be aware of email marketing legislation such as the CAN-SPAM act of 2003.

Are you a successful geo-targeted domain investor? Share your own tips below.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Thanks for sharing. To me these names will sell with a high value if the population is high and the targeted keyword is of high value. I have one I am trying to sell and the highest I have gotten for it is $100, since the person in question already has the dot net and I am trying to sell the dot com. Non of the others I contacted replied my email.
 
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great article...best way to get the best offer from a geo domain is develop and rank it for the term....charge a few companies listing fees and usually one will want to buy you out.
 
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Hey james ,good article,I really dont know what real estate people pay per click ,but I can tell you this. For professionals that make up to 6% when they sell your home , These people are the cheapest,lowest grubbiest domain buyers ,if they actually ever do buy. Put them on the bottom of your geo names ,if they ever do buy they wont pay more than 300-400 bucks . Maybe in the higher brackets you may have better quality buyers ,but the typical realtor is Tight as can be. Im sure other domainers will agree.

My experience with real estate agents is the same. They will spend hundreds or thousands on fly swatters, note pads, and fridge magnets, but they won't pay $X,XXX for a valuable geo domain in their area. Crazy.
 
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Very well done James, an interesting overview of geo domains!
 
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a very helping article
thanks
 
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My experience with real estate agents is the same. They will spend hundreds or thousands on fly swatters, note pads, and fridge magnets, but they won't pay $X,XXX for a valuable geo domain in their area. Crazy.
Still true
 
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I seriously caution people who concentrate on buying only aftermarket GEOs. GEOs that are outbounded only sail for $350 at the average HIGHEST. That means, if you sail only 1 in 10 GEOS, you're spending $280 (if closeouts) for 10 domains, but only sailing for $350ish. That's risky because you need to keep up a 10% sail rate, which isn't feasible tbh. Even the long-standing GEO ppl sail less than that over time.

And remember that GEOs really don't sail on NP, so it's not like you can easily recoup your investment if none of your GEOs sail.
 
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There is one keyword that should be avoided at all costs when you're buying geo-targeted names, and that keyword is 'realtor'. Although it is a term that's used regularly in the US, it is trademarked and is policed by lawyers for the National Association of Realtors.

I will vouch for this I had two, one in .com and one in .ca
I ended up dropping both of them after a namepros member was kind enough to inform me of the trade mark. The .com ended up being picked up by someone else and I have been spreading the news on namepros ever since.

In the years after I have seen numerous members with Realtor domains and I send them a gentle warning every time.

It is good to see a mention of it in this article. (y)

PS. It goes to show you that a made up trademarked word cannot be used in other applications and REALTOR is one of the most heavily defended trademarks in the world. It does not matter what second word you add if they see you use it you will have to defend yourself.
 
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I seriously caution people who concentrate on buying only aftermarket GEOs. GEOs that are outbounded only sail for $350 at the average HIGHEST. That means, if you sail only 1 in 10 GEOS, you're spending $280 (if closeouts) for 10 domains, but only sailing for $350ish. That's risky because you need to keep up a 10% sail rate, which isn't feasible tbh. Even the long-standing GEO ppl sail less than that over time.

And remember that GEOs really don't sail on NP, so it's not like you can easily recoup your investment if none of your GEOs sail.
So how do you suggest we handle geo domains. Any tips on selling without outbounding?
 
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So how do you suggest we handle geo domains. Any tips on selling without outbounding?

GEO won't sail unless outbound. If you wait inbound, unless you own something hot like BostonAuto.com, then trying to sail ShreveportEmergencyMedicine.com by pure inbound is risky because even after 10 years, it may not sail.
 
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I seriously caution people who concentrate on buying only aftermarket GEOs. GEOs that are outbounded only sail for $350 at the average HIGHEST. That means, if you sail only 1 in 10 GEOS, you're spending $280 (if closeouts) for 10 domains, but only sailing for $350ish. That's risky because you need to keep up a 10% sail rate, which isn't feasible tbh. Even the long-standing GEO ppl sail less than that over time.

And remember that GEOs really don't sail on NP, so it's not like you can easily recoup your investment if none of your GEOs sail.
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your right
 
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can you tell me which keyword are sell geo domain and which country
 
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I sell GEO domains frequently either via inbound or direct sales on venues like GoDaddy.
No outbound involved.

A couple in the last week were LakewoodChiropractor(dot)com & LongBeachAcupuncture(dot)com.

Brad
 
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I sell GEO domains frequently either via inbound or direct sales on venues like GoDaddy.
No outbound involved.

A couple in the last week were LakewoodChiropractor(dot)com & LongBeachAcupuncture(dot)com.

Brad
how much or Bin
 
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I have Albuquerqueforklift.com. What is a good price to sell this domain?
 
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I have Albuquerqueforklift.com. What is a good price to sell this domain?
 
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I sell GEO domains frequently either via inbound or direct sales on venues like GoDaddy.
No outbound involved.

A couple in the last week were LakewoodChiropractor(dot)com & LongBeachAcupuncture(dot)com.

Brad

oh nice. I have Oakland///Se/o in king. Do you think it will sell by inbound if I just wait? I outbounded it to around 40ish people, but the only response I got was a $40 offer that never went any higher than that.
 
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Very helpful detailed article
 
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Which is more preferable in selling a Geo targeted domain?

State + ( products or services ) or Cities + ( products or services)

?

Even states are 98% unavailable.
 
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Thank @James Iles for sharing valuble tips to sell geo targetted domain , your tips still relevant in 2020 (may be always work in the future too ) and personally I also apply that strategy to approach some local buyes.
 
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@James pls when buying geo domains do we need to consider the number of monthly search of that geo + keyword on google before buying it? Thanks as i await ur answer
 
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