Domain Sales Letter Examples

[WhiteLion]

Domain sales letter example

Hi there,
I was wondering if some of you could give some examples of your domain seller letters that you send to partys you think might be interested in buying them.

Dear ......

etc etc


I am interested in how some of the more experience domainers here pitch their product. In our case domains.

 

[FedPrimeRate.com]

I owned the domain and possesed the rights years before the company's conception...

Did you develop the domain name and attach a "TM" symbol to the name on your pages? Did you file an intent-to-use or a trademark application? Did you setup a business with the name, and use the name on letterhead, rubber stamps, etc? If not, then someone else can legally take your name and use it, and even file for a registered trademark.

AmCy

 

[domainMarket]

Nope, sure didn't. But just because I didn't do that how do they have any right to take over a domain I got fair and square and paid money for? They solely could have saw that the domain was for sale based their name on that then come after it. I am going to go for it anyway. I was just wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how verbiage to diffuse the situation yet put myself in the position to sell the domain as well- that was all. I wouldn't want to start a TM debate in this post.

 

[Stewart]

My Approach

This may seem to be somewhat of an unconventional way of approaching a domain sale, but in all cases, getting your potential buyers attention is your first priority. Next, applying how it relates to them as soon as you can, then leaving them wanting more should be your close.
Note: some of you believe that giving your asking price in an intro letter is essential. I cant help but think this may be your view because you are in-the-business of buying & selling, and if the price is not listed, you wont waste your time.
Depending on how closely your domain-for-sale fits their activities, I would let THAT question fuel their interest, and be a way for you to “test their buying temperature”.
____________________
Hello So-n-So,
When we were kids we used to taunt each other with; "Your dog is so ugly, that if you looked up the word ugly in the dictionary, it would simply display your dogs picture.”
It may seem silly at first glance, but that exact way-of-thinking applies a thousand-fold on the Internet, only with a much more positive application. For example; What would you reasonably expect to find at "FlowerVendor.com"? (an obvious no-brainer).
Due to the fact that the main focus of YOUR business is to sell Internet traffic, we wanted to share with you that the domain name SellInternetTraffic.com is about to be sold to the highest bidder.
If your company is interested in being where people will fully expect to locate your service, and participating in acquiring this unique Internet gem, please forward any questions you may have to [email protected] by “such-a-date”. We would be happy to give you more information regarding this sale.
Sincerely,
Blah-Blah-Blah

 

[jlw]

Fair Use Letter

Nope, sure didn't. But just because I didn't do that how do they have any right to take over a domain I got fair and square and paid money for? They solely could have saw that the domain was for sale based their name on that then come after it. I am going to go for it anyway. I was just wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how verbiage to diffuse the situation yet put myself in the position to sell the domain as well- that was all. I wouldn't want to start a TM debate in this post.

I've seen this happen three times, and have made a different response each time. Once, I had a good case for having my own fair use. Once, I had no case at all, if it came to a legal process. And once, their claim was questionable but so was mine. Each time, I wrote a very different kind of response. I'll go find the three responses, and then post them here.

In any case, the problem is that defending against a lawsuit (even against a meritless lawsuit) costs more than the names are worth. So the initial response to the challenge is very important, even when you are in the right. You want to make the OTHER side WANT to be nice to you in any case.

---J.

Here's the first of my three very different situations. The registrant's name and the domain name have been changed:

Hi Jordan:
I got this email late today.
Looks like I registered a domain which is trademarked?
I registered “OilPaintingSupplies.com”. I just thought it was a good combination of generic words.
Their stock sells over the counter @.13cents a share.
If it is so important to them, why didn’t they register it way back when!
Have you ever gone through something like this?
How would you handle it?
Any chance of making a few dollars or should I just transfer the domain?
Thanks for any help you might provide.
---Harry
--------------------------------------------------
Here's the letter "Harry" got, including the text on the masthead of the letterhead:

Oil Painting Supplies, Inc. (OTCBB:"OPSI")
www.OilPaintPro®.com
Extrusion Engineering & Artistic Technology Partnerships...by "OPSI"

DATE_REMOVED, 2006

Mr. HARRY
[email protected]


Dear Mr. HARRY:

It has come to my attention by my internet hosting company that you registered oilpaintingsupplies.com as a domain today.

Our Company has traded under this name and has treated this as a trademark for eleven (11) years and we consider your use of this name to be a serious federal trademark infringement.

Therefore I demand that you immediately relinquish this domain to my registrar who will be in touch with you by email.

Your immediate action may prevent legal action against you.


Sincerely,

Here's what I wrote to "Harry":


I can't give legal advice, and anything you do is your sole decision and responsibility. If it were me, I would send a polite reply saying that:

I was heretorfore unware of your existence specifically, and also was unaware of anyone's use of those words in any business except as a generic descriptive term, which is what I understood the phrase to be when I registered the phrase, and which is how I understand these words and feel most others would understand them. I'm also surprised to hear any business claim that it has been around for eleven years but has never registered its own name, despite having an internet presence, and that at a different domain name (OilPaintPro.com). "OilPaintPro" is, of course, quite distinctive, memorable, and brandable.

Nevertheless, I am just starting out planning my business, have not invested much in infrastructure dependent on my choice of name, so I can easily choose another name for my small enterprise.

Harry, you should be aware that if your sole intent in registering the name was to sell it to someone, either to them or to anybody else who is in their same line of business, you don't have a prayer of winning any legal battle. It's not enough that the words are generic (which they are). You would also have to prove a legitimate use for them that had nothing to do with that company's field, for otherwise "your" trademark is sufficiently confusing with theirs. (For example, if the generic phrase had a meaning in two completely different fields you might have a chance.)

So all you are trying to do is to save face, to NOT appear to have been a cyber-squatter, so that they will WANT to sympathize and help you; by paying you something for your trouble in having to invest time to find a new domain name for your planned sole proprietorship business.

You don't have to admit that they would win at law. Instead:

I want to help both of us avoid frustrating, time-consuming, and costly adversarial processes, with an outcome that can never be 100% certain; and so I am willing to seek an mutually acceptible solution. I propose transferring the name to you in return for $250, so we can put this behind us and get on with more productive activities.

Harry, there is some cost to them to even file a suit, and your asking price is WAY WAY WAY below that. On the other hand if they sue and win, you'll likely have to pay them back all their recovery costs. On the other hand, no legal process is ever a 100% sure thing, and they ought to have better things to to with their precious time and attention than to sue you just to save $250. Other other hand, that depends on their not WANTING to screw you to make an example. That's why you have to approach them so that they will LIKE you and WANT to do the easy thing, and not feel like they have been raped by a cybersquatter. You have to be a legit person with a use for it, but readiness to find a better name for your planned business.

Good luck in whatever you decide. I accept no responsibility for decisions and action and their consequences. Your temperment, comfort with legal processes, ability to sustain the costs of a defense and even of a loss, and persuasive abilities, may all differ from mine; and your judgement of what to do is solely your own. I am trying to be helpful, but you have no recourse to me for any undesired result. Good luck.

---J.

 

[jlw]

My second situation is completely different:

I saw a name at Enom's Pre-Release auctions that I simply could not believe was available! It was a celebrity's name. Short, and exactly correct just as everybody in the world uses it, and no other connotations to it. There are plenty of ad-bids on the name, all selling relevant merchandise, and very good overture type-in. This is clearly a name that could be taken away in a heartbeat should the celebrity wish to do so. Anybody typing in that domain name would expect to arrive at that celebrity's official site; no other interpretation is possible.

I bought the name for very little, and then wrote to the celebrity. My letter expressed my familiarity with, and appreciation for, the celebrity's work. I explained that I had bought the name to give to the celebrity as a thank you for the pleasure I've enjoyed from the celebrity's work, and requested instructions for how to transfer. It was a personal letter that mentioned how much my family would enjoy meeting the celebrity some day.

Perhaps I'll get a personally autographed thank-you note back; perhaps I'll get some free tickets for the family; perhaps I'll get a statement that the celebrity doesn't care about the domain name and I can keep it. (This celebrity has been famous for more than twenty-five years, so it's surprising to me that he didn't already have the domain.) In any of the above scenarios, my investment would be financially successful.

Perhaps I'll hear nothing at all, or I'll only hear from lawyers anyway. At least I have my letter on file to show good faith in any future communication. In the meantime, I have redirected the domain to the official website of the celebrity's employer, so there's good faith being demonstrated by me.

Even I don't get one of the favorable responses above, I'll have done a favor for someone I respect, I'll have done the right thing morally and legally, and I get a good story out of the experience; all for next to nothing in time and money.

Now I just wait and see...

---J.

My last scenario was one in which I knew I had a fair use for the name, and I actually still do not understand what the complainant was even talking about. He found the name parked at Trafficz, and entered a bid of $0 in order to cause Trafficz to send me his note:


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ---REMOVED ---
> Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 2:51 PM
> Subject: *** Request for: salanter.com ***
>
>
> Congratulations, you have received an offer/request on a domain name that you have parked with TrafficZ. Below is the
> information that the user has submitted.
>
> ===============================
> Inquiry Type: information
> Name: ---REMOVED---
> Email: ---REMOVED---
> IP Address: ---REMOVED---
> Domain Name: salanter.com
> Offer: $0
Memo: Do you have the rights to www.salanter.com if so are you sure you want it challenged at the UN just like Madonna successfully re-claimed her name from a cybersquatter, or do you think you might consider reliquishing your illegitimate claim on this website name?

> ===============================
>
> Thank you for using TrafficZ.
>
> Best Regards,
> The TrafficZ Team

--------------------------

Here was my response to him:


Hi. What are you talking about?

I have many domain names devoted to Jewish subjects, and I develop Jewish educational websites to go with them. See for example www.Siddur.org or www.Rashi.info or www.Malbim.org or www.SagesSimcha.com or www.LearnersMinyan.com or www.Rashbam.com or www.Ramban.com or www.AdamsStreet.org ...and many, many others.

R.' Salanter was the founder of the Mussar Movement, which emphasized ethical development and self-improvement as the main expression of divine service. He is a major figure in Jewish history. He was the most important inspirational thinker of the 18th Century; and arguably of Jewish history since then.

I intend to build a site about him, similar to the sites I've built to honor other great Jewish sages, such as Rashi, Rashbam, Ramban, and Malbim (cited above).

I do not personally know of anybody else with the name Salanter, although it is a common surname possessed by many Jewish families whose lineage can be traced back to Salant (a town in Lithuania), which is the derivation of the name.

Who did you have in mind for it, and why are you so upset?

--- Jordan Lee Wagner
[email protected]


-------------------------

I never heard back from him.

---J.

 

[wordplay]

A deal sweetener for your sales letter -

Here's a tip for those with seven letter domains.

Go to:
http://businessesales.att.com/products_services/tollfreeproduct_cataloglookup.jhtml
...and find out if there's a toll free number available with your domain in it... ie, BrainRx.com would be 866-BrainRx. If it's available, and your name is worth it, grab that number (you'll have to pay a certain amount per month). If you're iffy about the name, don't. Either way, include something like this in your letter:

"FYI, I also own the toll free number 866-BrainRx, which I will transfer to you, along with the domain purchase, for no additional charge. The combination of BrainRx.com and 866-BrainRx would be a powerful marketing tool for your company".

Or, if you didn't buy the number:

"FYI, as of this writing, the toll free number 866-BrainRx, is available for you to obtain from any provider... but please grab it right away, as it could be taken at any moment. The combination of BrainRx.com and 866-BrainRx would be a powerful marketing tool for your company". -End of letter.

Odds are, the number won't be available... but it's worth a shot. As you're likely aware, one cannot sell toll-free numbers, but you can certainly give them away.

I've sold a couple this way, and always check toll free for my seven letter names. Best of success!

Edit: Another thought: you could also try your 8 letter domains that start with P, Q, R S, T U or V, (the numbers on the 6, 7 and 8 keys) ie, Regrowth.com would be "87Regrowth". Get it? The odds against this
kind of situation being available are pretty steep, however.

 

[domaindevelopers]

sample mail format i use

Hi,

My name is <<ur name>>, and I am the owner of the internet domain: DiamondBourse.net (ur domain)

I am writing to you because I am offering the domain name for sale. I am convinced that the domain would be an important marketing tool, and a valuable asset of eletronic property for <<Company Name>>. E-business is dominant in diamonds trade and this generic domain name attracts lot of visitors which could be forwarded to <<target domain name>>, meaning more visibility and authoritative online presence resulting into additional business. Kindly note that all other extensions of name DiamondBourse like .com, .org, .info, .biz are already booked.

Please feel free to contact me if you have interest in acquiring this domain, or if this information sparks any questions.

Thanks for your attention, I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards

Gorav Bhootra
[email protected]
<<contact no.>>
India


If this correspondence has arrived at the wrong department, please pass it on to the appropriate staff member and if this matter is of no interest to you, I appologise for this unsolicited email.

(plz dont hesitate to send some np$ and rep

 

[makroz]

Congartularions for all people, this is a great thread. I bookmarked.

 

[Kenny]

I thought I'd bring back up an oldie but goodie from '04. As a n00b at the time I got more out of this "how and why" than any of the "what" examples.

This is the step by step/add your own content, and has worked well under different variants for getting a reply.

As ever, even back then, Badger teaching us to fish while feeding us.

Have posted this before.... Bit late I know and for those who have read it, sorry.....

1. First up introduce the name and a strap line i.e. - "RE: XXXX.com -- 400 visitors a day -- A one off rare sale of this unique web name" (do not use domain, to a non internet junkie 'domain' wont mean anything)
2. Next, a hard one, get past what in marketing is called 'the gatekeeper'. That person who filters the approaches made their organistaion yet holds little power. You might like to put something along the lines of - "I am sorry this letter goes without a recipient but this is an important and rare opportunity for your business and you should pass this onto the person responsible for gaining new business for your organisation". Again, this sentence is very dependant upon the size of your prospect, nature of domain, industry, value of domain etc etc
3. Next is the hook, heres where you have that short period of time to tell them why they need your name. "I am sorry for this crude and impersonal approach, but I have recently acquired the rare and generic web name XXXX.com. This web address alone receives 400 customers (again, do not use the words 'type ins' or 'hits') a day from people all looking for the kind of service your business provides. That equals 2000 potential new customers a week, 9000 a month".
4. Ok, they can now imagine the potential. Now you must now give them the benefits - though do give them too much here for you dont know their business. Maybe a question like "What would you pay for a salesman who could generate that kind of business for you?"
5. Now you must take away their internet industry concerns and this is more important than you might think. You must give yourself status and kudos and show that youre bonafide and not as a chancer looking to make a quick buck from an unsuspecting and naive company - for this will be your prospects fears - Something like, "I have been trading in web names for over 5 years now [this gives you stature], I only trade in valuable and generic names [kudos] and I target my marketing only to select organisations likely to be interested in acquiring such names ['big up' the prospect]".
6. Next, give them a bargain and be considerate and slightly self defecating. "This name has been independantly valued at $$$$$" or "names very similar to XXXX.com have been sold recently for $$$$$ (give examples)", "though, as I am sure you are aware, a name is only as valuable as what someone is prepared to pay for it"
7. The close. "Therefore from xyz date, I am taking offers for the lease of this name starting at $$$$ per annum or, if you would like to buy this name outright including all current and future rights, I will accept bids over $$$$$"
8. Where to next. "At the moment this name is exclusively being marketed to a limited number organisations and I reserve the right to remove this offer and sell this name elsewhere at any time. In the meantime, if you see value in owning or leasing this name and if you wish to discuss this offer further either by telephone or by email, my contact details are listed below".
9. The end "If for any reason this offer is not of interest to you, I thank you for your time, yours etc etc etc"
10. In the UK we are always urged to write "Without prejudice, no contract given or implied" at the bottom of such correspondences.

Hope this helps and good luck folks

Ian Collier
BA(Hons) MCIM

This may be the 3rd read for some of you, but you dont need to explain that to me. I knew it when I posted it. This would be for those that may not have seen it yet. Right? Thank you. Plus I enjoy embarassing Badger.

Peace,
Cyberian

 

[Damion]

Thanks for the reminder Cyberian, i noticed something that i actually could do potentially wrong (The hits and Type in reference) so...:tu: Thanks

Reading through these points i can't stop thinking that following these steps makes the email somewhat long.
What are peoples experiences with "Long" approach letters?


Another question i find important to ask is how to approach end users by phone?
I myself am not that used to talk English on a daily basis so if i get stuck, i really get stuck and will do the opposite of the benefit a personal phone call could potentially provide.

Therefor it's important to get the approach right first, to build a little confidence for yourself in the first minute.

So i wanted to ask Ian - Badger due to having a educated background when it comes to Marketing, some opinions on this and of course from others as well who manage to bring their message across in a manor that brings the benefit of a personalized call instead of the opposite of a benefit.

The main issue is to reach the decision maker and or to bring the domain under the attention of the right people and get past the "gatekeeper" - to know your proposal has been properly reviewed and there is just no interest and you can move on without any after thoughts.

So any suggestions - info - advice is very much appreciated and i am sure i don't speak for myself alone on this one

 

[plaieu]

i only have a look

 

[amarsinha1987]

let me know

guess everyone has them cos I do too - so if the other guys run out and you want let me know.

Pretty good short and sweet, i will put it to the test

Laskos

 

[Ronald Regging]

The following is the template that I use and I have had a lot of success with it. I like to be as vague as possible in order to create an air of mystery, but also add an element of personalization so that I can connect with the end-user. There are 5 elements to a proper domain sales letter and I will cover them below.

1. Title - I use the following because I think it appeals to everyone on a basic core level of human longing.

Your Good Fortune!

This approach implies that the contents of the email are about good fortune. Not just good fortune in general, but rather their good fortune. I ask you, who among us is willing to pass up the opportunity for good fortune?

2. Greeting - I want to use a greeting that catches the users attention and lets them know that this email is specifically for them.

Hey, you there! No, don't look behind you, I'm talking to you, the one sitting right at the computer reading this. I am genuinely glad to make your acquaintance.

As you can see, this gives the user a profound sense of inclusion and they will derive a feeling of great importance and personal validation from knowing that I am speaking directly to them and no one else. Also, they will feel warm and fuzzy inside, because I am genuinely glad to be talking to them. None of that fake, lip-service BS.

3. Pitch - This is where I like the mystery to come into play. I don't even tell them specifically what I am selling. All they know is that there is a domain involved and a possible exchange of money.

I you have domain. Give me money NOW!!!

Notice how I intentionally made a sentence structure error in order to add confusion? I, you... They're not sure if I have the domain or if they do. However, I seem to be adamant about not having been paid. This works, especially with large companies, because one department never knows what the other is doing. They may think there is a possibility that an accounting error has occurred and are likely to inquire further about which domain I am referencing.

4. Signature - Now this is where you really step it up a notch and add a lot of personalization.

Your BFF,
htimS nhoJ
I said FOREVER!

Notice how I state that we are Best Friends Forever? Obviously, your best friend wouldn't try to steer you wrong, so this instantly helps you to gain a level of trust with the user. But, just in case they may have their doubts, I signed my name backwards. The capitalization is at the end of each name, so they are likely to catch this and figure out that my name is actually John Smith. This will undoubtedly make them feel intelligent and it will give them a sense of personal accomplishment. Immediately, they will connect this feeling with John Smith and this will help to reinforce the fact that you are indeed Best Friends. Then I go a step further with the positive reinforcement angle, by declaring once and for all, that friendship and loyalty are valuable to me and are forever.

5. P.S. - Now that we've connected with our user and have clearly invested in our friendship, I like to ask them to reciprocate this sentiment.

P.S. Please send this email to 10 of your business colleagues or you will break the chain and have bad fortune.

Nobody, I mean absolutely nobody, wants to have bad fortune. Even if you might be arrogant enough to pass up the opportunity of good fortune, no one is daft enough to willingly invoke the wrath of bad fortune. This adds a viral element to our marketing approach and ensures that our offer of friendship and demands for money will be heard the world over.

So altogether, it looks like this.

Your Good Fortune!


Hey, you there! No, don't look behind you, I'm talking to you, the one sitting right at the computer reading this. I am genuinely glad to make your acquaintance.

I you have domain. Give me money NOW!!!

Your BFF,
htimS nhoJ
I said FOREVER!

P.S. Please send this email to 10 of your business colleagues or you will break the chain and have bad fortune.

 

[anon22339]

Shirley, you must be joking.

 

[DaddyHalbucks]

The chances are your email recipient is not the right person to make the decision.

Then, your next problem is that the decision maker probably is not knowledgeable about domain names.

Just keep those things in mind!!

 

[AlexanderC]

Thanks for all these examples. It's helped me out a ton.

 

[Blue24]

Hello!

What about replys to sale letters?

Well, i need to say: your offer is small and i still wait and are open for more offers and so...

Thanks!

 

[alunk]

The following is the template that I use and I have had a lot of success with it. I like to be as vague as possible in order to create an air of mystery, but also add an element of personalization so that I can connect with the end-user. There are 5 elements to a proper domain sales letter and I will cover them below.

1. Title - I use the following because I think it appeals to everyone on a basic core level of human longing.



This approach implies that the contents of the email are about good fortune. Not just good fortune in general, but rather their good fortune. I ask you, who among us is willing to pass up the opportunity for good fortune?

2. Greeting - I want to use a greeting that catches the users attention and lets them know that this email is specifically for them.



As you can see, this gives the user a profound sense of inclusion and they will derive a feeling of great importance and personal validation from knowing that I am speaking directly to them and no one else. Also, they will feel warm and fuzzy inside, because I am genuinely glad to be talking to them. None of that fake, lip-service BS.

3. Pitch - This is where I like the mystery to come into play. I don't even tell them specifically what I am selling. All they know is that there is a domain involved and a possible exchange of money.



Notice how I intentionally made a sentence structure error in order to add confusion? I, you... They're not sure if I have the domain or if they do. However, I seem to be adamant about not having been paid. This works, especially with large companies, because one department never knows what the other is doing. They may think there is a possibility that an accounting error has occurred and are likely to inquire further about which domain I am referencing.

4. Signature - Now this is where you really step it up a notch and add a lot of personalization.



Notice how I state that we are Best Friends Forever? Obviously, your best friend wouldn't try to steer you wrong, so this instantly helps you to gain a level of trust with the user. But, just in case they may have their doubts, I signed my name backwards. The capitalization is at the end of each name, so they are likely to catch this and figure out that my name is actually John Smith. This will undoubtedly make them feel intelligent and it will give them a sense of personal accomplishment. Immediately, they will connect this feeling with John Smith and this will help to reinforce the fact that you are indeed Best Friends. Then I go a step further with the positive reinforcement angle, by declaring once and for all, that friendship and loyalty are valuable to me and are forever.

5. P.S. - Now that we've connected with our user and have clearly invested in our friendship, I like to ask them to reciprocate this sentiment.



Nobody, I mean absolutely nobody, wants to have bad fortune. Even if you might be arrogant enough to pass up the opportunity of good fortune, no one is daft enough to willingly invoke the wrath of bad fortune. This adds a viral element to our marketing approach and ensures that our offer of friendship and demands for money will be heard the world over.

So altogether, it looks like this.

:tu: i got the point. thanks

 

[PHATnames]

what do you think is better a personalized letter or mass mailing

It's been awhile, lets see if any new ideas get shared in the mean time, Here's the ?

Do you think that a personalized email to a few people in one company is better than a mass mail of say 250 people in a few different companys in the same nich. Of course you'd bcc all the emails I would think.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[DomainSoko]

Hi,

My name is <<ur name>>, and I am the owner of the internet domain: DiamondBourse.net (ur domain)

I am writing to you because I am offering the domain name for sale. I am convinced that the domain would be an important marketing tool, and a valuable asset of eletronic property for <<Company Name>>. E-business is dominant in diamonds trade and this generic domain name attracts lot of visitors which could be forwarded to <<target domain name>>, meaning more visibility and authoritative online presence resulting into additional business. Kindly note that all other extensions of name DiamondBourse like .com, .org, .info, .biz are already booked.

Please feel free to contact me if you have interest in acquiring this domain, or if this information sparks any questions.

Thanks for your attention, I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards

Gorav Bhootra
[email protected]
<<contact no.>>
India


If this correspondence has arrived at the wrong department, please pass it on to the appropriate staff member and if this matter is of no interest to you, I appologise for this unsolicited email.

(plz dont hesitate to send some np$ and rep

Thank you @ domaindevelopers. After all these years I still found your mailing format appropriate and straight to the point. Would definitely put to good use.