showcase First domain sale over $1,000?

[kaz2]

Hi, we are a mix of domainers here - some experienced, some not so experienced. What I'd love to know is who, if anyone, sold their FIRST domain name for over $1,000 and how much was it sold for?

I'll kick off by saying that I sold my first name for $11 so way below a grand - however, it was a thrilling feeling nonetheless.

It would be interesting to see who, whether by beginners luck or shrewd domain trading, had a first sale of over $1,000.

Look forward to hearing from you!

 

[DomainVP]

My first $x,xxx sales were 5 months after I started, and within a week of each other. One outbound sale sold for $4,500 (Purchased for $300), the other was an inbound on an incredibly crummy DN for $1,500. I say incredibly crummy, because it was one out of the first 10 domain names that I purchased that wasn't even close to passing the 'radio test'.

Can't be lazy in this game friends. Everyone waiting for a sale... go out and make it happen.

 

[kaz2]

1. .com, .net, .org (in this particular order)

2. I do a lot of experimental stuff so to be honest, I try everything that comes to mind, because it's just about changing few lines, digging some data, and cross checking against some defined rules. Sometimes I check short domains, like five letters, six letters, pronounceable schemas, sometimes geos, keywords and combinations, sometimes just random made up words. Depends on my mood

3. I'd say 95% BIN, make offer just for the top 5% of my domains (like names on which I received good offers before, or so). Majority of inquiries (and sales) come from these venues.

Nice one vital, great post.

(1) the script you have to filter domains - is it web based or do you use excel?

(2) interested to know that you have most at BIN - is this at all different sales platforms or do you have BIN at all sales venues? My worry about this is that a domain could sell at 2 venues but I suppose this is pretty unlikely. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks vital!

 

[kaz2]

a) To be honest I rarely do hand regs nowadays.
One of the things I do to find (soon to expire) domains is use the Estibot drop lists. Then I use my own custom filters to find the best ones. This process takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour (not doing it every day though). I will then try to catch those filtered domains using backorders on Namejet, Snapnames, Pheenix..etc.

b) I rarely send emails to potential buyers but to sell my domains I do the following:
- I make my own landing pages for all of my domains. They are all priced with a BIN and I also offer a payment plan and the possibility to lease the domain.
- I list my domains on my own portfolio site.
- I list my domains on as many marketplaces/domain auction houses as possible to maximize exposure.
- I make sure my WHOIS isn't private and make sure that for example the second address field in WHOIS has the text “this domain is for sale".

Thanks Bram, really informative post. Very interested to know that you have your own portfolio site. I take it that:

(1) when you list your domains at 3rd party marketplaces you do not park them there - you just list them?

(2) how do most of your buyers find your domains - is it from the 3rd party market places or do they navigate directly to your own landing page?

(3) do you incorporate escrow integration in your BIN or do you just redirect buyers to Paypal for example? I was just wondering how you deal with trust issues for buyers who do not know you.

Thanks Bram, really appreciate you taking time to look at this.

 

[Bram C.]

Thanks Bram, really informative post. Very interested to know that you have your own portfolio site. I take it that:

(1) when you list your domains at 3rd party marketplaces you do not park them there - you just list them?

(2) how do most of your buyers find your domains - is it from the 3rd party market places or do they navigate directly to your own landing page?

(3) do you incorporate escrow integration in your BIN or do you just redirect buyers to Paypal for example? I was just wondering how you deal with trust issues for buyers who do not know you.

Thanks Bram, really appreciate you taking time to look at this.

(1) Yeah I normally don't park them at marketplaces, I simply list them.That said, I do have a few domains parked at DNS, basically the ones that are making good money parked. But 95% of my portfolio is not parked and just uses my own landing pages instead.

(2) I'm pretty sure most buyers find me through the landing pages on my domains, not the marketplaces. But that doesn't mean they will buy through my landing pages. Some find me on my landing page and then buy the domain for example on Sedo (I assume for an added level of security). But I have a decent amount of yearly sales on my landing pages.

(3) Yes, Both Escrow and Paypal are integrated on my landing pages (for example http://miniskis.com/ ). So a buyer has the option to choose.

 

[kaz2]

(1) Yeah I normally don't park them at marketplaces, I simply list them.That said, I do have a few domains parked at DNS, basically the ones that are making good money parked. But 95% of my portfolio is not parked and just uses my own landing pages instead.

(2) I'm pretty sure most buyers find me through the landing pages on my domains, not the marketplaces. But that doesn't mean they will buy through my landing pages. Some find me on my landing page and then buy the domain for example on Sedo (I assume for an added level of security). But I have a decent amount of yearly sales on my landing pages.

(3) Yes, Both Escrow and Paypal are integrated on my landing pages (for example http://miniskis.com/ ). So a buyer has the option to choose.

Thanks Bram, really good post, learnt alot from it.

(1) Do you put analystics and tracking on your landing pages?

(2) Checked out the site you gave as an example - wow, what a fantastic landing page, one of the best I have seen for a domain name and better than alot of landing pages that the marketplaces provide. Well done! Did you have the page designed for you or do it yourself?

(3) What I am really curious to know is if the sort of site you showed us (ie generic product keyword) is still selling well to end users? Also, do you have direct or type in traffic from potential buyers for this type of domain name? I was asking as it has under 600 monthly searches on Google.

Thanks Bram!

 

[vital]

Nice one vital, great post.

(1) the script you have to filter domains - is it web based or do you use excel?

(2) interested to know that you have most at BIN - is this at all different sales platforms or do you have BIN at all sales venues? My worry about this is that a domain could sell at 2 venues but I suppose this is pretty unlikely. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks vital!

1. I use scripting languages (php, bash) for processing. Once it's tested, I run it on server, so I don't have to turn on my computer every time it's being executed.

2. I go with my gut feeling when pricing for the most of the time, so when I am adding domain to a different platform, it's likely priced at (more or less) different price point. I know, that's not ideal practice, but it's my way of handling it. I've never look at what price I have something priced here and there unless I received an offer. I always check all venues and adjust the price accordingly before I counter to an offer.
Chances of selling domain at BIN on two different platforms at the same time are slim to none. If something like that ever happened to me, I'd try to stay fair and apply first come first serve rule.

 

[kaz2]

1. I use scripting languages (php, bash) for processing. Once it's tested, I run it on server, so I don't have to turn on my computer every time it's being executed.

2. I go with my gut feeling when pricing for the most of the time, so when I am adding domain to a different platform, it's likely priced at (more or less) different price point. I know, that's not ideal practice, but it's my way of handling it. I've never look at what price I have something priced here and there unless I received an offer. I always check all venues and adjust the price accordingly before I counter to an offer.
Chances of selling domain at BIN on two different platforms at the same time are slim to none. If something like that ever happened to me, I'd try to stay fair and apply first come first serve rule.

Thanks vital, that's great. Regarding a site like your miniskis.com domain name do you get direct or type in traffic from potential buyers for this type of domain name? I was asking as it has under 600 monthly searches on Google.

 

[vital]

I do not own miniskis.com or what do you mean?

 

[Bram C.]

Thanks Bram, really good post, learnt alot from it.

(1) Do you put analystics and tracking on your landing pages?

(2) Checked out the site you gave as an example - wow, what a fantastic landing page, one of the best I have seen for a domain name and better than alot of landing pages that the marketplaces provide. Well done! Did you have the page designed for you or do it yourself?

(3) What I am really curious to know is if the sort of site you showed us (ie generic product keyword) is still selling well to end users? Also, do you have direct or type in traffic from potential buyers for this type of domain name? I was asking as it has under 600 monthly searches on Google.

Thanks Bram!

(1) Yup, analytics/tracking are integrated.

(2) Thanks! It's build on bootstrap but I designed it myself (I'm a web designer).

(3) (I'm seeing 720 monthly searches on the Google keyword tool (global exact monthly searches). According to estibot it's 595 but that data is often not up to date).
There's definitely still a market for it. I'm selling a good amount of generic product domains still (of course less than in the past). To answer your traffic question: The domain gets some type-in traffic. I had it parked for a while as well as it was making me around $5/month.

 

[Bram C.]

I do not own miniskis.com or what do you mean?

I think he meant me.

 

[kaz2]

I think he meant me.

Yes, sorry vital, I meant Bram!
Apologies to both again, it's been a long day here in London.
Got to thank both of you Bram and vital, for the time both of you have taken to provide real quality advice - it will be invaluable to people learning the ropes like myself.

 

[frostify]

When I was just 16 years old I found nup.com listed at a $250 BIN price on GoDaddy auctions, I thought it was an error of some sort but none the less I decided to pay the $250 assured that I would get my money back when the domain doesn't go through. Sure enough I DID get the name and I sold it on Flippa.com through Shane Bellone's "Almost Inc" for $25,000 (I received $21,000 after all the fees).

 

[NetworkPearl]

When I was just 16 years old I found .nup.com listed at a $250 BIN price on GoDaddy auctions, I thought it was an error of some sort but none the less I decided to pay the $250 assured that I would get my money back when the domain doesn't go through. Sure enough I DID get the name and I sold it on Flippa.com through Shane Bellone's "Almost Inc" for $25,000 (I received $21,000 after all the fees).

Lol how old are you now?

 

[peace800]

This is an excellent, inspirational thread.

It is clear that with careful investing and education Domaining can definitely lead to a full time living. Would I be correct in saying this? Would like to hear from the excellent posters in this thread.

It is also clear that keyword domains are very popular and selling extremely well, would this also be an accurate comment?

I feel that for businesses, end users and others that keyword domains are still valuable and extremely beneficial to end users and investors alike.

 

[vivaldi]

It is clear that with careful investing and education Domaining can definitely lead to a full time living. Would I be correct in saying this? Would like to hear from the excellent posters in this thread.

You will need a lot of time and capital to invest as well.

 

[frostify]

Lol how old are you now?

19 years old

 

[Aspiring Billionaire]

(1) Yeah I normally don't park them at marketplaces, I simply list them.That said, I do have a few domains parked at DNS, basically the ones that are making good money parked. But 95% of my portfolio is not parked and just uses my own landing pages instead.

(2) I'm pretty sure most buyers find me through the landing pages on my domains, not the marketplaces. But that doesn't mean they will buy through my landing pages. Some find me on my landing page and then buy the domain for example on Sedo (I assume for an added level of security). But I have a decent amount of yearly sales on my landing pages.

(3) Yes, Both Escrow and Paypal are integrated on my landing pages (for example http://miniskis.com/ ). So a buyer has the option to choose.

Nice website and portfolio Bram C., really nice.

 

[AndyM]

(3) Yes, Both Escrow and Paypal are integrated on my landing pages (for example http://miniskis.com/ ). So a buyer has the option to choose.

That's such a tidy landing page. I'm trying to work out how to do the paypal and escrow buttons but think it's just a little above my knowledge just now. Very nice though Bram.

 

[Webliquids]

interesting one....

 

[Colombialicious]

My first sale over a $ 1,000 was " mobilecasino.co " for £ 1400 ( around $ 1,700 at that time ) in August 2014.
Handregistered in july 2010 for $ 29,95 during the general availability of the " .CO " extension.

 

[elevator]

It looks like your domain was purchased by a domainer who in turn looking for an end user buyer.
Cheers.

.

Cool stories. All of my early sales were $xxx each on hand-regs and I was contacted by the buyers to sell the names. They were not posted for sale as far as I can remember. Simple whois lookup then money came rolling in. Easiest money I ever made (up until that time.)

Forgot to add, one of the names I sold is still parked to this day. I kept checking it each year to see if it was developed and what it would look like. If it gets dropped I'll reg it again!

 

[TiffanyCo]

This is so interesting to hear people's stories. Mine was a three word hand reg. that I sold for 4,XXX. They found me via Whois. It turns out they were nearby so we met at Starbucks and I pushed it for cash in hand.

 

[GangDoan]

This is so interesting to hear people's stories. Mine was a three word hand reg. that I sold for 4,XXX. They found me via Whois. It turns out they were nearby so we met at Starbucks and I pushed it for cash in hand.

cool, sounds good and looks easy deal

 

[TiffanyCo]

cool, sounds good and looks easy deal

It was probably too easy for a first sale!

 

[Shams]

My first Sale over $1000 was $3XXX and it happened very fast in my earlier days of domaining,,,That's the sale which changed my mind about domining...