Is it just me...

[Jake]

or is 2011 proving to be a great year for domaining?

I've sold more domain names this week than I sold last year, and there are no signs of slowing down.

 

[Name Trader]

I think it's just you

 

[HostMantis]

There are typically a lot of new startups during this time of the year, so domain sales should be decent during the first quarter.

 

[RJ]

2011 will be good year to be a domainer. As the economy improves, more money flows into internet industry and opportunities will abound for those who look.

 

[ff89]

it's just you......

 

[SpareDomains]

I don't sell a ton of domains in any year but the handful or 2 I let go each year generally fall in 1-10k range. Based on the amount of offers/leads received in January I have a good feeling that 2011 is going to be a better year than 2010 as starting offers this month seem to be higher than normal and I am receiving more of them from all angles, my own site, parking page inquire links, Sedo and a few other sources. Debating a sale now for 5k on a 3 year old hand reg. Little early I suppose to judge the whole year but early activity seems promising.

 

[Jake]

There are typically a lot of new startups during this time of the year, so domain sales should be decent during the first quarter.

I agree. I'm sure quite a few domain names are changing hands for this reason. However, nearly all of the domain names that I've sold have been geo's that were difficult to sell last year.

2011 will be good year to be a domainer. As the economy improves, more money flows into internet industry and opportunities will abound for those who look.

Not only is more money flowing to the internet, users are flowing as well. Local businesses are finally starting to realize the value of domain names.

I don't sell a ton of domains in any year but the handful or 2 I let go each year generally fall in 1-10k range. Based on the amount of offers/leads received in January I have a good feeling that 2011 is going to be a better year than 2010 as starting offers this month seem to be higher than normal and I am receiving more of them from all angles, my own site, parking page inquire links, Sedo and a few other sources. Debating a sale now for 5k on a 3 year old hand reg. Little early I suppose to judge the whole year but early activity seems promising.

I don't blame you. You still probably make more than most of us do in a year. I move a lot of names, but they are mostly in the $300-$500 range, with a few breaking $1k.

--

And to everyone else, put yourself out there. I've always marketed my domain names to end users, but I never had a good response rate until now. Like I said above, it seems like many business owners are realizing the value of domain names.

 

[SpareDomains]

I don't blame you. You still probably make more than most of us do in a year. I move a lot of names, but they are mostly in the $300-$500 range, with a few breaking $1k.

I generally don't approach end users as I find when you are approached first the sales prices are higher so I focus more on the finding the best domains I can find (mostly expired and a few hand regs here and there 99% .com) and getting them into a few sales channels where they will be found as I really don't have the time to email people even if I wanted to due to the domains/sites I am running/building.

Nothing wrong with $300-$500 sales as profit is profit just different business models. Low Margins/High Sales Volume versus High Margins/Low Sales Volume. The domain name itself will determine if you should unload it cheap or stick it in the vault and have some patience on it.

A domain name is worth whatever the right buyer values it at and what a domainer is willing to let it go at. Luckily I have been able to shoot back some high prices mid to high xxxx on $7 names here and there and my gut feeling was good and they sold as it doesn't matter what ya paid for it but what value it has to the business that desires it. For every decent sale I make I blow at least 1-2 as well but I'm okay with that. The best position to be in is one where you don't really need the money as patience can be your best friend if the domain quality warrants it.

If you are making profit that is all that matters. Whether you sell wholesale or hold for the perfect end user whatever business model you find that works best for you run with it. I'm a more patient seller because I don't have time to email end users (have done it a few times) and I generally get enough leads to keep me busy without soliciting and because it's not as easy as the old days to replace a gem if you sell it too cheap.

Good luck with your 2011 sales. :sold:

 

[Jake]

If you are making profit that is all that matters.

I couldn't agree more with everything you said. But I especially agree with what I quoted above.

Good luck to you as well!

 

[cache]

just you.
I think the end of a year is better than the start of a year.

 

[John Baron]

You just cant know what tomorrow will bring ... lets hope you are right

 

[Name Trader]

For every decent sale I make I blow at least 1-2 as well but I'm okay with that.

You have a 33% success rate with this high margin approach? That's very impressive, imho.

 

[SpareDomains]

You have a 33% success rate with this high margin approach? That's very impressive, imho.

key phrase being "at least 1-2" as sometimes it's 3-4. Success rate is generally higher as I only sell to end users that approach me first. When someone approaches you first it's already decided that they want the domain so the only thing left is making the numbers align for both parties which will have a higher success rate then cold calling as I don't have to explain anything about why they need the domain as they came to me first so the decision they want it has already been made. Never had an end user ask for traffic stats and most hand registered or expired $7 domains I have sold in the 1-10k range basically made 0 parking income.

I use to respond to every offer but the longer you are in this business you tend to ignore lowball domainer offers so sometimes I don't respond to those or I purposely shoot high to blow those deals as I'm not looking for low margin sales. I am only interested in end user sales and have the patience/cash flow to wait it out.

This thread must be good luck as I got another solid lead today from a startup business, this one is a 2 year old expired $7 pickup and I will probably shoot for somewhere in the 2.5-5k range, not decided yet as I still gotta do more research on the buyer which is one reason I don't like anonymous auction houses as you have no clue who you are dealing with, just gotta see if our numbers align to make it happen. Whether it happens or not end user inquiries definitely seem to be higher than normal as I usually do the best at the end of a year so this amount of activity in the first month of the year seems rather strong. Hope this is a good sign for the whole year but probably a little early to judge based on 1 month.

 

[domainbartender]

Sales haven't improved much for me. Expecting much better results in 2012

 

[Seo Lover]

Its just luck mate . Your luck is good and this year is good for you .

 

[garptrader]

Personally 2010 sales were much stronger than 2009 so I anticipated a solid January - didn't happen but sales are always sporadic. I have attempted email marketing periodically but have never found it to be effective. Like another poster mentioned, if someone contacts you they are interested in the name and the issue is price. If you try to sell someone a home or car who already has one, it is a bit more challenging to make a sale as the general public does not value domains the way domainers do.