Need Help: Trading-Up Domain Names..

[holdem8]

Hi all!

My name is Al and I recently relaunched Zuho.com, the domain name swapping marketplace.

I need some advice/feedback from the NPers here, so I hope that you can help.

Zuho.com aims to make domain name barter trading a mainstream productive tool for all to benefit from, so we are trying our best to collect ideas from everyone.

Today, Zuho.com has all the necessary features we can think of and we are starting a drive to make people use more of the swapping portal.

1. Is there anything that can make potential domain traders REALLY want to use the platform?

2. Can anybody think of ways to benefit members at Zuho.com..such as competitions, give-aways, etc?

3. Remember OneUglyDomain ? There was so much excitement then, when it launched and it took off so well. Why did it die off and how to prevent this from happening at Zuho.com?

4. If Zuho.com were to start a few "trade-up" listings, just like OneUglyDomain, is it a good idea?

5. What will make members at Zuho.com start their very own OneUglyDomain listings and promote them?

I hope I can generate some participation here and thanks in advance for your help, sincerely!

Cheers, Al.

 

[AussieDomainer]

I think the ability to find a name and then display your complete portfolio as a potential swap to the owner of the domain you are interested in instead of just 10 names would be a great benefit. This would allow the owner of the name you are interested in to pick his/her favourites from your portfolio and begin negotiations from there rather than you choosing 10 that you think they may be interested in and finding they may or may not be interested in those domains whereas they may have loved some others in your portfolio that you did not list.

I hope this makes sense to you. Please let me know if you need me to explain it better.

 

[DotWeekly]

I think for Zuho to really work, Zuho needs to be the middle man due to trust issues.

When the two parties agree to a swap, both must push there domains to a Zuho account, and Zuho then acts as an Escrow and pushes the domains to the new owners. This will stop the, you push the domain first thing and take out the worries if you are really going to get the swapped domain.

I would trust the service a lot more if there was a process like this in place and I would use it more.

 

[Pred]

I think for Zuho to really work, Zuho needs to be the middle man due to trust issues.

When the two parties agree to a swap, both must push there domains to a Zuho account, and Zuho then acts as an Escrow and pushes the domains to the new owners. This will stop the, you push the domain first thing and take out the worries if you are really going to get the swapped domain.

I would trust the service a lot more if there was a process like this in place and I would use it more.

i agree. i assumed it did this already, no? i am a member but have done no transactions yet. the concept (formerly snapnames of couse) has HUGE potential imo, as we all love changing our portfolios around and saves keep accumamlating all time. also we're all into different things

 

[newdomainer.mobi]

The idea is a great one, escrow is essential..... I have lots in certain niches that I'd trade to strengthen other niches that I have... so I'd be interested...

Not a 5 minute job though that's for sure.... I haven't looked (yet) but what are the costs (I assume the site isn't a charity?)

Regards

Gary

 

[Alex]

I subscribe to what Aussie said. For example I want to focus on holding smaller amounts of domains rather than hundreds. I would love the ability to offer more $xx names for a better $xxx name, and I am sure there are people who would like to do the reverse.

On another note, maybe you can disable the feature in which it is shown how many times a domain was offered for swap. That discouraged me sometimes to make a swap offer, because when somebody sees that I made 20 swap offers with the domain xxxx.com, then they get the idea that I am desperate to get rid of that domain, and this may not be the case. I just love swapping. But do not disable the feature by which is shown how many swap offers did a domain receive.

Best of all with Zuho,

Alex

Edit: Subscribe to what Yofie and Pred told too. That would be more work, but would make Zuho a lot better.

 

[Gregory]

Im loving the idea and the escrow idea is one that would be needed. You'd need to build a steady reputation however for this to work aswell. Would you transfer a domain to a website you'd just found on google?

Competitions are a good idea, they always attract attention.

Lots of potential but lots of little things you'll need to look into aswell.

 

[VURG]

I lost interest in dn swapping when I found out that the offers were public. I can see the benefit in public offers but I don't like them personally. If other people think that I made a bad or good swap, I don't want their feedback.

Good luck. It's a well made site.

 

[holdem8]

This would allow the owner of the name you are interested in to pick his/her favourites from your portfolio and begin negotiations from there rather than you choosing 10 that you think they may be interested in and finding they may or may not be interested in those domains whereas they may have loved some others in your portfolio that you did not list.

I hope this makes sense to you. Please let me know if you need me to explain it better.

This makes sense, absolutely! You can actually use the "description" part, where you can also copy n paste the link of your entire portfolio for him/her to choose from. If more requests of the same kind comes about, we will definitely code this feature into our next update...thanks!

I think for Zuho to really work, Zuho needs to be the middle man due to trust issues.

When the two parties agree to a swap, both must push there domains to a Zuho account, and Zuho then acts as an Escrow and pushes the domains to the new owners. This will stop the, you push the domain first thing and take out the worries if you are really going to get the swapped domain.

I would trust the service a lot more if there was a process like this in place and I would use it more.

mmm....I am going to consider making a FREE swap escrow as a trial run. If this really encourage more swaps, then we will charge a very small fee later, in the tune of 2-3 dollars to test out the market. Anyone else think that this is a great idea (swap escrow)?

Hi peeps ...

I am really thankful for all the suggestions! Anyone think that a OneUglyDomain kind of campaign is interesting? I am thinking of starting the ball rolling with a few domains, each for a different "trade-up" campaign but not to $1,000,000.

Probably just for kicks, trading up to $2,000, $3,000 or $5,000 for a start. But all these campaigns will use Zuho.com as the trading platform and the transfers will be handled by Zuho, free of charge.

Any supporters for this idea?

 

[Alex]

Maybe to create a personal page for all members where they can trade up their domains?

Well this would be a great idea, since members would promote your site implicitly, and new members would come.

If you make it make it in a way in which it is easy to promote for members.

And please also pay attention to the privacy issues what me and VURG described earlier. It will encourage people initiating more swaps.

Swap escrow? Yes, a good idea? Would I pay for it? Yes, a small fee, if the domains swapped are wort t pay. So, maybe it is best to let users decide if they want to use the swap service, thus encouraging also small swaps, and larger swaps.

 

[holdem8]

Maybe to create a personal page for all members where they can trade up their domains?

Well this would be a great idea, since members would promote your site implicitly, and new members would come.

If you make it make it in a way in which it is easy to promote for members.

Ok...lots of programming to work on, so I am going to launch a few small campaigns first to get a feel if this can take off.

And please also pay attention to the privacy issues what me and VURG described earlier. It will encourage people initiating more swaps.

Will definitely look into this!

Swap escrow? Yes, a good idea? Would I pay for it? Yes, a small fee, if the domains swapped are wort t pay. So, maybe it is best to let users decide if they want to use the swap service, thus encouraging also small swaps, and larger swaps.

Another good idea...will test out free swap escrows first.

Need more support for the "domain trade-up" campaign (just like OneUglyDomain) Any one?

Al.