discuss Do You Run Your Own Domain Portfolio Website?

DanBingham · Sep 4, 2019

If so -

Is it working for you?
What are the benefits?
Did you DIY?

If not,

Why?

Interested to know your thoughts....

manpreet · Sep 8, 2019

I created and was running my own platform for over six months but then realized the prospective buyers mostly prefer an established platform like Sedo or Dan or Afternic or Uniregistry rather than trusting my own platform which just started. By the way, shifted all domains back to Sedo for now.

Tia Wood · Sep 8, 2019

pedropt said:
Yep I developed Nameed,

I like it. Nice and simple.

NicTraders · Sep 9, 2019

stub said:
I cannot say with 100% certainty that they go to my website first before making an offer a domain at Afternic. I'm basing it on the fact that all my domains point to my website. But most of my sales (about 80%) come thru Afternic, which is the first time I here that somebody is interested in my domain. Of course, it is possible that somebody who is interested in a domain, hasn't type the domain into their browser. But I suspect, most do, or would.

I only sell thru Escrow.com, But I'd say its about as rarely as 1 per year, which go thru Escrow.com without any intervention from me. This may be because I make the buyer register on my website if they want to buy a domain from me. Also. Most of my domains are still Make Offer despite my intentions to begin selling more domains at fixed prices, as a new year's resolution in 2019. I also insist that people who want to make offers register, as well. Which probably puts some people making offers, off. But, for me, I want to know who I'm selling too, as best I am able too.

The highest prices I've sold domains at 100% mark-up at Afternic are about $10k. These are situations where I got a direct inquiry and last quote to them about $5k, before negotiations soured. So I priced them at 100% markup on Afternic. Most priced domains at Afternic are only 25% increase over my own website. I don't sell anything below $1k. My average selling prices range between $2.5k - $10k. It's mostly a break-even existence.

Thanks for the insights. I think there's no doubt that buyers do take reputation into account these days (and thus the added security of buying through an established marketplace is appealing). However from what I've read there is a surprisingly high percentage of people who will buy a domain without ever visiting it. And I tend to be like that myself quite often. Admittedly I usually buy off NP, Flippa or from established domainers that I've dealt with before, but I often don't even visit the domain. And if I do it that way I'm sure there are at least some others who do too.

The interesting thing to note from all this though, is that a marketplace like Afternic proves valuable either way, whether a buyer purchases there for trust reasons or simply because that was where they found the domain. It's my belief that a reasonable amount buy there for the latter reason but regardless it shows the benefit of using such a sales platform.

Name Trader · Sep 9, 2019

NicTraders said:
The interesting thing to note from all this though, is that a marketplace like Afternic proves valuable either way, whether a buyer purchases there for trust reasons or simply because that was where they found the domain. It's my belief that a reasonable amount buy there for the latter reason but regardless it shows the benefit of using such a sales platform.

However, it's not my choice (normally) to use an outside company like Afternic for trust reasons. I think it's price gouging rates of commissions, IMHO. I always add the 25% or more to all my priced domains at Afternic. Because it's the choice of the buyer to use them. I try to keep my prices down with the addon cost just being the Escrow.com fee. Which is affordable for the buyer. Not another 25%.

NicTraders · Sep 9, 2019

stub said:
However, it's not my choice (normally) to use an outside company like Afternic for trust reasons. I think it's price gouging rates of commissions, IMHO.

I couldn't agree more!

Kai W. · Sep 9, 2019

I posted a similar thread a few months ago, whether to build my own website, depending on whether the buyer wants to buy or the seller wants to sell

LLLL_Domains · Sep 9, 2019

manpreet said:
I created and was running my own platform for over six months but then realized the prospective buyers mostly prefer an established platform like Sedo or Dan or Afternic or Uniregistry rather than trusting my own platform which just started. By the way, shifted all domains back to Sedo for now.

I think it all goes down to marketing but yeah there are also many people who'd just prefer established markets like GoDaddy or Sedo.

manpreet · Sep 9, 2019

LLLL_Domains said:
I think it all goes down to marketing but yeah there are also many people who'd just prefer established markets like GoDaddy or Sedo.

Yes, and it’s good too in a way, for both buyers and sellers.

Super-Annuation · Sep 10, 2019

domeen said:
Owning your own domain sales site is so 2000 or something like that.
What's the point? There is none.

List at afternic + activate fast transfer and you sell a lot more.
If you don´t like to park with afternic, use sedo or something like that.

maybe if you own 100 000+ domains, it has some point.

Or maybe if you sell some country .tld-s. And you need the marketplace to be in specific language

What are the negatives? Overheads are no more than $150 a year. That's website, domain reg, and email. A great way to manage any inbounds.

Kpett · Sep 10, 2019

Super-Annuation said:
What are the negatives? Overheads are no more than $150 a year. That's website, domain reg, and email. A great way to manage any inbounds.

And you can even do less - Wordpress hosting for $4/month, a hand-regged dot com domain for $10, and contact forms on your website which forward to a free gmail e-mail account, which you use anyway for Google Analytics, etc. That's $60/yr.

Corey · Sep 10, 2019

I create sales landers with a link to Buy Now/Make Offer - which goes to Dan, further, I have portfolio sites showcasing certain niches, a way of promoting a niche using 1 name & 1 website.

Cheers
Corey

topdom · Sep 10, 2019

(Interesting thread, I'm basically subscribing by posting).
So if you have your own marketplace, do you really complete sales there. or finalize transfers elsewhere.
Why should people trust you. I mean, you paypal me and I push the domain to your account; why should they accept it. Also, you ask the buyer whether they got the domain, and they remain silent, or say no, then what do you do.

topdom · Sep 10, 2019

Afternic+fast transfer: Does it have significant advantages over other marketplaces?
Does landing there have any benefits?
I rarely sell at Afternic, but maybe because I don't use fast transfer and don't park there.

Corey · Sep 10, 2019

A combination of completing my own sales & @ Dan

People trust a reputation...eg Corey has been registered at NamePros for over ten years! & Earned a VIP Badge which is awarded to prominent members.

A whois check verifies ownership.

Cheers
Corey

Josytal · Sep 10, 2019

DnameAgame said:
Keep in mind -having a marketplace is simply a marketing tool, nothing more. It alone won't sell a single name.

If your looking to have the type of biz that you are networking, getting interest in your products & (more impt) content, handing out biz cards, speaking at conferences, etc.. - then you need a full website & marketplace. A marketplace that works for your brand. - I would say in that case, chat with @Tia Wood . Because, you don't want someone's style you have to force your brand into.

If you really just want nice landers, with action items, & portfolio & design - pick your poison. The difference here is your not basing your biz/marketing efforts on driving traffic a particular site (reoccuring content traffic, not 1 time sale traffic) - a better fit may be a true domain sales & management platform.

I would recommend getting a platform that does more than sales pages, alone. A "business management" platform as @Josytal mentioned above - you need more to manage a decent portfolio.

Hope that made sense - just pointing out there is a difference in a site to list, promote, a sell Domains vs. a Branded homesite or a Blog -ish kind of deal.

Good Luck,
Brian

Thank you for hitting the nail on the head.
By my observation, overwhelming majority of domainers don't take or relate to domaning as business endeavor. And that explains it all.
Minimum communication, No website necessary, No outbound, No inbound, No off-line business promotion, No advertising ... very soon it will be No domains necessary. LOL!

Name Trader · Sep 10, 2019

topdom said:
(Interesting thread, I'm basically subscribing by posting).
So if you have your own marketplace, do you really complete sales there. or finalize transfers elsewhere.
Why should people trust you. I mean, you paypal me and I push the domain to your account; why should they accept it. Also, you ask the buyer whether they got the domain, and they remain silent, or say no, then what do you do.

All my sales from my website go thru Escrow.com. I don't sell under $1k. Put the trust question on the other foot. Why should I trust anybody I don't know, who isn't prepared to pay via a secure payment method? Escrow don't release payment until they have rcvd the domain. I have never encountered an escrow transaction being cancelled and the buyer scammed me out of my domain. I suppose it could happen in extremely rare cases.

Name Trader · Sep 11, 2019

topdom said:
Afternic+fast transfer: Does it have significant advantages over other marketplaces?
Does landing there have any benefits?
I rarely sell at Afternic, but maybe because I don't use fast transfer and don't park there.

Yes. Buyers trust Afternic Fast Transfer. As a seller, I trust Afternic Fast Transfer. Afternic/GoDaddy are the biggest retailer of aftermarket domain names on the planet. You get more sales using Afternic fast transfer. It's almost painless to setup. It's nice to get the email that they've sold a domain without any additional effort on your part. Even addictive

The BIG problem is to establish the price without leaving too much money on the table. Just set a price you would be happy to receive. If you don't make any sales, reduce your pricing or find better domains. You should review your fixed pricing strategy, according to the market and your needs. I suggest every 3, 6 or 12 months.

topdom · Sep 11, 2019

Actually I'm wondering whether Afternic+dls fast transfer is much better than Sedo+MlsPremium fast transfer. if so, why.
...........................
Big problem with Sedo recently, maybe always. is that actual buyers don't bid, instead some flippers do, and I wonder whether they come from other marketplaces like domainagents, afternic, ..some of them are.
Flippers don't spend any money on domains, they try to connect buyers and sellers, and they "buy" domains for a very low price, but if they can't get money from actual buyers, they don't pay, and nothing can't be done about it, because Sedo doesn't give their IP or email.

My top sale in life happened this way: Domain was parked at my own website, and I received a 5 figure offer at Sedo. I wonder, if domain was parked at Sedo, would I still get the same offer, or would I only see 1 percent of it.

Name Trader · Sep 11, 2019

The services of Afternic and Sedo are comparable. the huge difference is Afternic includes GoDaddy, but Sedo not (because Afternic and Sedo are competitors of course). It makes a considerable difference. Personally, I think they both work in a cranky fashion. But Afternic less cranky than Sedo, IMHO. I get regular sales/inquiries from Afternic, and about 1 sale every 2 years on Sedo. So I basically didn't think it was worth continuing with Sedo. So I stopped (less admin). YMMV.

topdom · Sep 11, 2019

Just the opposite for me, many price requests, but not many offers or sales at Afternic; some offers, many of them lowball, at Sedo and some sales, but half of them don't get paid. In this case this may mean: Godaddy gets an inquiry and make an offer at Sedo to secure a domain, and then before paying, try to secure the money at the other end, and if they can't they just don't pay. Sedo should test this by making 1K offer at afternic, and see if it translates to 100 offer at their marketplace.

Endusers are guilty in all this. They block fair negotiation by not contacting domain owners directly, or responding to outbound emails.
Those who contact are domainers already, and don't pay much.

Name Trader · Sep 11, 2019

@topdom - You can tell which offers are from domainers because they are almost always low-ball. I'm not saying that end-users don't low-ball too. I very much doubt that Afternic are bidding at Sedo, and not paying, officially. But I don't have to worry about such issues because I only use Afternic, and don't use Sedo too

It seems this resolves that problem.

Name Trader · Sep 11, 2019

Why am I talking about Afternic 25% commission, when it's only 20%.Just as a maths lesson...

100% - 20% = 80% +25% = 100%

So I'm adding 25% to the basic amount I want to receive in order to get to the Afternic Sales Price. (Sorry if this is teaching some of you to suck eggs)

Domain Redux · Sep 11, 2019

stub said:
Why am I talking about Afternic 25% commission, when it's only 20%.Just as a maths lesson...

100% - 20% = 80% +25% = 100%

So I'm adding 25% to the basic amount I want to receive in order to get to the Afternic Sales Price. (Sorry if this is teaching some of you to suck eggs)

That's a great approach; I've recently adopted this method.

srisri24 · Sep 11, 2019

I am using Emperor Domains from some time. I use wordpress for it. I should say i have reasonable sales from there. Some times, clients ask me to list on Sedo or another place for sale during negotiations. Having your own market place helps for sure.

Enerika · Sep 27, 2019

DN_Hunter said:
I tried to develop my own site (a couple of times), but in the end I just didn't have enough time to dedicate to it because of my day job. So I've used one of the ready-made sites to list my names.

may I ask , as a "newbie (..YUCK!) ", which of the ready made sites you find to easier and more friendly for beginners?

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