Afternic Closed Their Marketplace

[scithe]

When you go to Afternic.com there's no option to search for domains. There is a link to GoDaddy where you can search but it doesn't show every name that's available on Afternic.

Interesting.

 

[forge]

Sedo has an incredible opportunity. They were once the go-to marketplace. If they could just bust out of their 2003 dreamscape (and perhaps be less euro-focused) they could probably own the domain aftermarket.

Or is it simply too late for existing players?

 

[internext]

For me, I wish SquadHelp would make a drop-dead simple UI like Dan has. For some reason, I get confused by it. At best, it's not very intuitive to me. I probably need to spend more time familiarizing myself. I love the enhanced marketing capabilities along with all the basics I get from Dan. No drawbacks vs Dan that I can see, short of the simplicity when it comes to just selling domains.

 

[Garet]

Sedo has an incredible opportunity. They were once the go-to marketplace. If they could just bust out of their 2003 dreamscape (and possibly quit being so unflinchingly eurocentric) they could probably own the domain aftermarket.

Or is it simply too late for existing players?

I was also wondering about Sedo. The opportunity is there but they just don't seem innovative or flexible enough these days to move in a meaningful way. They still might benefit a bit from other registrars becoming less comfortable with Afternic no longer being anything more than the name for GoDaddy's listing and syndication service. At this point, Afternic is not an entity. It's just the name of a GoDaddy feature.

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Sedo has an incredible opportunity. They were once the go-to marketplace. If they could just bust out of their 2003 dreamscape (and possibly quit being so unflinchingly eurocentric) they could probably own the domain aftermarket.

Or is it simply too late for existing players?

Good question.

One might wonder if the presence of descriptive landers is contributing to marketplace survival. Dynadot, Sedo, and Dan permit descriptions on the landers. Afternic did not do so until recently adopting the Dan Lander option.

Sedo, BTW, I liked for their integrity. They mandated ownership verifications up front. And they were the only marketplace that refused a listing, based on a "conflict of interest." I admire a company that is respectful of other customers, past or present. Overall, Sedo seemed like a nice marketplace, However, even after trying Sedo landers pointing to them, for me Afternic produced more sales at higher prices.

 

[.X.]

what a disaster

 

[NameGroove]

No, Yes
All of my domains are listed on Sedo, Afternic, Dan, SquadHelp White Label, Dynadot etc...

Sedo claims to show their domains at Dynadot... so do I need to list there directly? That is, wouldn't my names already be listed there? Is there any benefit to listing directly with Dynadot? 0% commission it appears... anything else?

 

[Armageddon]

For me, I wish SquadHelp would make a drop-dead simple UI like Dan has. For some reason, I get confused by it. At best, it's not very intuitive to me. I probably need to spend more time familiarizing myself. I love the enhanced marketing capabilities along with all the basics I get from Dan. No drawbacks vs Dan that I can see, short of the simplicity when it comes to just selling domains.

Agree! Will be a smart move...but maybe don't have money to do this or afraid

 

[NameGroove]

Agree! Will be a smart move...but maybe don't have money to do this or afraid

I have been recently listing brandables with Squadhelp. Yes, the learning curve takes some time. But their CS is truly excellent, no matter when I email they respond within minutes. Truly impressive at answering questions.

Further, using coins, I'm able to get names approved with them and have them listed at Afternic and Sedo. I don't know if SH will actually sell any names for me - but as brandables their landing page with logo and brandable description was better than my generic sales lander - and I didn't lose Afternic or Sedo marketing. Seems a win all around (I'm surely no worse off except for paying a few dollars to get the better landing page - which for a brandable is important imo).

 

[SpareDomains]

Sedo claims to show their domains at Dynadot... so do I need to list there directly? That is, wouldn't my names already be listed there? Is there any benefit to listing directly with Dynadot? 0% commission it appears... anything else?

Sedo MLS covers dynadot but sedo mls costs 20%
Listing in dynadot market costs 10%

Sedo, Afternic, Dan should be step #1
Step #2 should be expanding past the main 3 which for me is SquadHelp White Label 7.5%, Dynadot Market 10% etc...

 

[NameGroove]

Sedo MLS covers dynadot but sedo mls costs 20%
Listing in dynadot market costs 10%

Sedo, Afternic, Dan should be step #1
Step #2 should be expanding past the main 3 which for me is SquadHelp White Label 7.5%, Dynadot Market 10% etc...

OK, so I can definitely see saving 10% by listing with Dynadot is of benefit (although I have to manage yet another registrar). Still, at a 10% savings, might be worthwhile.

As for Dan - what is the benefit there? Aren't they now part of GoDaddy? How will marketing directly with them be beneficial/incremental beyond Afternic/Sedo and direct landers (or SH/BB/BPa landers where approved)?

As for SH White Label - what is the benefit to that over listing via a Premium listing with SH? Who markets the names via the White Label website? If it's me - no one will every find me. If SH markets WL names within their search results, then I can see the incremental value (although I assume the 7.5% commission means they promote these names much less than they would a Premium name, correct?)

 

[Armageddon]

I have been recently listing brandables with Squadhelp. Yes, the learning curve takes some time. But their CS is truly excellent, no matter when I email they respond within minutes. Truly impressive at answering questions.

Further, using coins, I'm able to get names approved with them and have them listed at Afternic and Sedo. I don't know if SH will actually sell any names for me - but as brandables their landing page with logo and brandable description was better than my generic sales lander - and I didn't lose Afternic or Sedo marketing. Seems a win all around (I'm surely no worse off except for paying a few dollars to get the better landing page - which for a brandable is important imo).

Yeh...& No problem with land page
Others give errors like page cant display or 500 error , 400 , 300 or what error you want

 

[NameGroove]

Sedo MLS covers dynadot but sedo mls costs 20%
Listing in dynadot market costs 10%

Sedo, Afternic, Dan should be step #1
Step #2 should be expanding past the main 3 which for me is SquadHelp White Label 7.5%, Dynadot Market 10% etc...

I just realized I'm already listed with Dynadot via Sedo and Sedo is not one of my primary movers of names. Therefore while I could theoretically save commissions by a direct Dynadot listing, it wouldn't increase my volume. Unless Dynadot promotes their direct listings more heavily than they do the SedoMLS ones. Do they?

 

[Jannes]

Good question.

One might wonder if the presence of descriptive landers is contributing to marketplace survival. Dynadot, Sedo, and Dan permit descriptions on the landers. Afternic did not do so until recently adopting the Dan Lander option.

Sedo, BTW, I liked for their integrity. They mandated ownership verifications up front. And they were the only marketplace that refused a listing, based on a "conflict of interest." I admire a company that is respectful of other customers, past or present. Overall, Sedo seemed like a nice marketplace, However, even after trying Sedo landers pointing to them, for me Afternic produced more sales at higher prices.

At Sedo, descriptions are permitted on offer pages, not on landers. Not shown for BIN priced domains.

I'm going to give DaaZ a go.

 

[NameGroove]

At Sedo, descriptions are permitted on offer pages, not on landers. Not shown for BIN priced domains.

I'm going to give DaaZ a go.

Are there any companies providing landers (other than BB/SH/BPa) that allow us to provide descriptions on landers? I know Sedo, Afternic, and Bodis do not.

 

[Jannes]

Are there any companies providing landers (other than BB/SH/BPa) that allow us to provide descriptions on landers? I know Sedo, Afternic, and Bodis do not.

I don't know comprehensively, but at least DAN and DaaZ.

I would (and will) only put descriptions if I have something special to say, for instance if I'm accepting offers for combo deals (domain's singular+plural versions, ai+keyword/keyword+ai pairs etc). Other than that, perhaps very short unique descriptions might work, but AI generated sales pitches, where every single domain name is "catchy and memorable", are worthless imo.

 

[NameGroove]

I don't know comprehensively, but at least DAN and DaaZ.

I would (and will) only put descriptions if I have something special to say, for instance if I'm accepting offers for combo deals (domain's singular+plural versions, ai+keyword/keyword+ai pairs etc). Other than that, perhaps very short unique descriptions might work, but AI generated sales pitches, where every single domain name is "catchy and memorable", are worthless imo.

Dan says "You can personalize your For Sale pages by uploading a background image and avatar. Both can be changed inside your account settings.

The rest of the content is not changeable. We explicitly have made this choice as we optimize these pages on a weekly basis. This means that we continually track the conversion rates of those pages, and implement new features that attract potential buyers, leading to more buying actions."

Are you sure you can add content to a Dan lander? Perhaps their FAQs are outdated?

 

[Jannes]

Dan says "You can personalize your For Sale pages by uploading a background image and avatar. Both can be changed inside your account settings.

The rest of the content is not changeable. We explicitly have made this choice as we optimize these pages on a weekly basis. This means that we continually track the conversion rates of those pages, and implement new features that attract potential buyers, leading to more buying actions."

Are you sure you can add content to a Dan lander? Perhaps their FAQs are outdated?

Tbh, I haven't used Dan landers for a while, but I just checked that the option is still available (they even encourage it: "What is special about this domain name? Let your buyers know about it! A good description is excellent for better visibility in search engines."). I think descriptions are most prominent on 'Brandable' landers.

Of course that FAQ might reveal that GoDaddy is going to mutilate Dan landers soon.

 

[Palinco]

Seems GD is trying to merge the big players into one GD and take almost 90 to 95% of the market. Killing competition in any way possible.

 

[internext]

into one GD ... Killing competition in any way possible.

We need to stop feeding the gluttonous swine. It can only do these things because we continue to feed it. And now it feels entitled to everything it can devour.

I love Dan, but it is well past time to move out of the GD ecosystem. Even if I can figure out how to leave, it won't matter, Nothing short of a mass exodus will.

 

[Palinco]

We need to stop feeding the gluttonous swine. It can only do these things because we continue to feed it. And now it feels entitled to everything it can devour.

I love Dan, but it is well past time to move out of the GD ecosystem. Even if I can figure out how to leave, it won't matter, Nothing short of a mass exodus will.

Big players (big domain investors) in the industry can break this GD monopoly if they are willing to cooperate and launch a very competent rival.