Contacts are important -- moreso if you're in the market to buy/sell $XXXX+ names. Sedo, Snap, Afternic, etc are fun, no doubt... But I wouldn't consider them anything other than an additional platform (re: opportunity) to buy/sell names on. Usually you'll be able to get better sales if you know the right people (and I don't mean knowing the guy who places the bid on your Sedo listing!).
Two very different ways domainers can make very large amounts of money domaining (okay, there's probably 100 more ways, but these are probably the 2 most straight-forward). Someone like Sachas or Spade in example looks for premium quality names (that might be LL, LN, NL, LLL, dictionary words/verbs, etc) in good extensions (.com, .net, .org for the most part). Alot of work goes into buying a $XXXX+ name with a quick flip/substantial markup in mind. You really have to know what you're doing before you start offering $XXXX+ on names, especially in markets that don't have very established "aftermarkets" (eg. LLL.coms are an extremely safe investment if you keep your offers on names in for example, the 6-8k range. Even if you overpay, it'll be like you underpaid within a few months.).
Rather than look for undervalued names or names whose value is ready to explode, I prefer to look for extensions or letter patterns (eg. CVCV, VCVC, LLLL, etc) whom I believe are undervalued or whose value is ready to explode as a whole.
Rather than buying 1 name for $10,000, I'll buy 50-1500 names for $10,000. Either method can become quite profitable.
I bought 1546 LLLL.coms between August and the LLLL.com buyout for a total of about $11,000. I could very easily quick flip (as in flip everything within an hour) my collection for $20,000-$25,000 today.
If you go this route, make sure you spend within your means. That 11k renewal fee comes back each and every year, potentially cutting drastically into any profits a LLLL.com seller may have realized otherwise.
dannbkk said:
This is an inspiring thread, can i ask where you can sell your domains to really profit? Would you say your real success rate for selling would be through Sedo or SN, and how long do you wait until you turn these domains over?
Thanks in Advance