advice A tech startup wants to buy my .com personal blog domain, what do I do?

[RadiantNova]

I registered a single-word .com domain ~20 years ago for personal use and have been using it basically just as a blog since then; I make zero money from it. I haven't posted any new content for a while and don't care that much about it, but it still gets a few thousand visits per month because of the older content, and I still use the name as my main pseudonym on a bunch of other sites.

It's an obscure generic noun, not a trademark. I never considered that it might have any commercial value, but recently a company left a message asking if I would be willing to sell it. I haven't responded yet and am not sure what to do.

I researched the company and it turns out they are using this word in some new industrial application. They already have their own unrelated domain name, but I guess it would make sense to use mine to market this particular product or as a more memorable alternative for their company? I snooped around and see that they've received millions in funding from big companies, and are renting booths at tech conferences that cost tens of thousands of dollars, etc. so I think it might be worth a lot to them?

How do I proceed? I'm not good at estimating the value of things like this, and not good at haggling or being demanding.

Some threads I've read said to let the buyer make the first offer. Others say that if you're not an expert you should go through a domain broker who will do the haggling for you. Are those trustworthy?

I also see that I can pay for an appraisal on sites like sedo.com or accurateappraisals.com, and they would take the company's interest into account and not just return an automatic estimate. Is that actually worthwhile? (The automatic estimate sites vary wildly, from <$100 to $5,500.)

 

[SELMimo]

Better to look for a broker.

 

[Bannen]

Sent you a DM. I'm a broker for premium domains (as well as selling my own domains). Got enough on my plate and not looking to broker your domain (even if it's premium), but I can certainly give you a value range and some direction to get started, if you care to share your name with me via DM.

 

[RadiantNova]

Why are y'all downvoting Bannen? I looked through his posts and he seems to be genuinely helpful? Is there some reason I shouldn't talk about it in private? (I'm only being vague in public because I don't want the potential buyer finding this and knowing what I'm thinking.)

 

[Bannen]

Why are y'all downvoting Bannen? I looked through his posts and he seems to be genuinely helpful? Is there some reason I shouldn't talk about it in private? (I'm only being vague in public because I don't want the potential buyer finding this and knowing what I'm thinking.)

Don't even try to figure out the downvotes these days - you could say you love everyone here and thanks for all the help, and I'm giving $100 to every member here, and someone will still downvote you

Many of the long-timers here know who I broker for, and I've done a few 6-figure deals between my seller and members of this forum, and some smaller deals. Plus you/me may have been downvoted simply because you want to keep the domain hidden for now (except for a few long term members whom you might trust to tell, and get their feedback), and whenever you hide anything - even for the best reasons - some of the people here automatically hit the downvote button.

Forget the downvote. Hate the downvote. Become one with the downvote. Love the downvote. And make your own decisions

Welcome to the forum. And you're still welcome to DM me the name, I'll be happy to offer my .02 cents of info and recommendations. Free. As I said, not looking to broker more domains, got hundreds of premiums on my plate already and not enough time even for those.

There, this new post should be good for a few more downvotes! I welcome you into the fold, my downvoting children.

 

[AEProgram]

How about you start simple? What amount of money would you be happy with for the domain? 5000? The asking should be double that.

If you use a broker you will need to tell them what amount you would like after commission. Then leave it up to them.

The longer you wait, the less likely they will buy it.

Don't buy any appraisals.

 

[carob]

Worth checking if the term is registered in other extensions, especially if recently. Try DotDB.com, or historic sales figures at namebio.com

Appraisals are pretty useless, unless possibly they provide a floor price. Domains can and do sell for many times the appraisal price, and sometimes a buyer just has a ceiling they will not exceed.

 

[BaileyUK]

Why not send the domain name to Bannen you've got nothing to lose. He'll know all the checks to perform to help steer you in the right direction regarding pricing. May even be able offer some additional insights. Many of us are willing to give up an hour of our time to help the uninitiated. It's the lazy or damn right incompetent that members are usually reluctant to help

 

[forge]

or accurateappraisals.com, and they would take the company's interest into account and not just return an automatic estimate. Is that actually worthwhile?

Nice try.

 

[wwwulff]

Why are y'all downvoting Bannen? I looked through his posts and he seems to be genuinely helpful? Is there some reason I shouldn't talk about it in private? (I'm only being vague in public because I don't want the potential buyer finding this and knowing what I'm thinking.)

There are no problems with sharing the name with respected members in private and Bannen is well respected here.

 

[winst]

Single word dot com is worth at least 5 figures. If the market is big enough for the startup, then you may be lucky to get 6 figures.

I had similar situations several times: a 3D software company paid $500 BIN, a tradeshow company paid $2.5k, an exercise equipment company branded a service that competes with Peloton paid $40k.

The question to you is: How much is it worth to you to give it up?

 

[RadiantNova]

Why not send the domain name to Bannen you've got nothing to lose. He'll know all the checks to perform to help steer you in the right direction regarding pricing. May even be able offer some additional insights. Many of us are willing to give up an hour of our time to help the uninitiated. It's the lazy or damn right incompetent that members are usually reluctant to help

I did, and he gave a lot of helpful advice. Also pointed out a potential risk of revealing the name to people in private is that they could snatch up similar names and then try to undercut me, which I hadn't thought of. (And if I'm serious about this, I should buy the alternative names, too, so they have fewer options and have to go through me regardless.) He said there are pros and cons to the name and while it's not valuable on the open market, it could be or not for this company depending on what they want it for. I will try to feel them out.

Nice try.

What do you mean?

I had similar situations several times: a 3D software company paid $500 BIN, a tradeshow company paid $2.5k, an exercise equipment company branded a service that competes with Peloton paid $40k.

How did you arrive at those prices with the buyer?

 

[BaileyUK]

Also pointed out a potential risk of revealing the name to people in private is that they could snatch up similar names and then try to undercut me, which I hadn't thought of. (And if I'm serious about this, I should buy the alternative names, too, so they have fewer options and have to go through me regardless.)

Ouch. I never like that kind of thinking. by all means keep the domain name to yourself for all sorts of valid reasons. But, buying up all alternatives is never a winner. If the buyer is genuine then they will have already scouted out alternatives. Thinking that your some how holding the company to ransom (I know you wont like that word - but it's true) into buying just your name is a waste of money.

Stick with selling the name you have, if all these alternatives are available it's hardly unique. When you mentioned you registered the domain 20 years ago, I mistakenly thought it would be a Prime domain..Now it sounds like it is just a personal cherish (we all have them)

Don't forget this offer to buy could be from someone just trying a bit of front-running and they certainly aren't going to be interested in any tactical moves

 

[Bannen]

But, buying up all alternatives is never a winner.

He has the singular, I only mentioned grabbing the plural (in dot com). I didn't mention and I don't espouse grabbing a bunch of other 'tactical' regs, which I agree is almost never a realistic action.

His one-word is valid, and generic, and no TMs by anyone, but it is very niche. It is the kind where an interested company - perhaps the only interested company - might well be attracted to just regging the plural version and leaving it at that.

If the OP had mentioned his domain in this thread, that plural version would have been regged within 5 minutes by someone here... who would then approach the potential buyer (if the OP had mentioned them here, too) with that plural version. The potential buyer does indeed have $millions - looks like tens of millions - in startup investment

There's more to the story, but I'll let the OP fill in any blanks if he wishes.

 

[BaileyUK]

Thanks for clearing that up Bannen. Just shows how a couple of misplaced plurals can create all sorts of worrying scenarios
*names
*alternatives
Then the worrying thought of maybe just a front-runner. I agree adding a single plural or singular makes common sense when it's just sitting there. Good advice

 

[forge]

What do you mean?

Sorry, disregard, I tried to delete but the system would not permit.

 

[otismo]

The whole deal is between you and the end user.

Ignore all communications in regard to the name.

Except the one with the serious $$$ offer-to-buy :

If you feel the offer is too low, ignore it and wait...

DISCLAIMER :

I am NO Expert

Cheers !

P.S.

If it is Life-Changing $$$ for you, grab it.

Good Luck !

 

[Nodws]

appraisal will do no good since value is not directed by market only by the needs of the buyer.
I've had these emails 4 figure values will make them run to the hills, so better to ask directly what is their budget for the branding of their company?
should get around $2k offer if they have investors, if its a garage startup probably 800 would be a deal.

 

[kor]

If we are talking about a popular dictionary word, I can easily say that you are sitting on top of a gold mine.

Do you mind to share the letter count and DotDB exact match count of the SLD?

Is this the first time in 20 years to get an inquiry for the domain name?

 

[Aibob]

I registered a single-word .com domain ~20 years ago for personal use and have been using it basically just as a blog since then; I make zero money from it. I haven't posted any new content for a while and don't care that much about it, but it still gets a few thousand visits per month because of the older content, and I still use the name as my main pseudonym on a bunch of other sites.

It's an obscure generic noun, not a trademark. I never considered that it might have any commercial value, but recently a company left a message asking if I would be willing to sell it. I haven't responded yet and am not sure what to do.

I researched the company and it turns out they are using this word in some new industrial application. They already have their own unrelated domain name, but I guess it would make sense to use mine to market this particular product or as a more memorable alternative for their company? I snooped around and see that they've received millions in funding from big companies, and are renting booths at tech conferences that cost tens of thousands of dollars, etc. so I think it might be worth a lot to them?

How do I proceed? I'm not good at estimating the value of things like this, and not good at haggling or being demanding.

Some threads I've read said to let the buyer make the first offer. Others say that if you're not an expert you should go through a domain broker who will do the haggling for you. Are those trustworthy?

I also see that I can pay for an appraisal on sites like sedo.com or accurateappraisals.com, and they would take the company's interest into account and not just return an automatic estimate. Is that actually worthwhile? (The automatic estimate sites vary wildly, from <$100 to $5,500.)

depends on the name. casinobonus com went for 130k a month or so ago, dialai. com is asking 500k so dont trust the autobot pricing. There is much they do not take into account.