discuss Time to give up domaining

[doofer]

Time to give up with domaining once and for all. Having had my domains listed here on NP, GD, eBay, promoting them on social media, direct marketing, I've struggled to barely sell any. Despite even reducing the prices to what I consider to be giving some of them away, still nothing. See others selling what appear to be bizzare even worthless names for $XXX or $XXXX, not that I begrudge anyone that, I guess domaining is just not for me !

 

[WhoaDomain.com]

I felt this way a few years back when I first started I didn't make any sales for six months I was ready to quit and one morning I open up my email and there was an offer there. I couldn't believe it. Once I did that deal I did more with the same buyer. Then I started networking and meeting new people and learned a little from each person and molded it all into my domain game. Times are slow right now. But if you haven't made any sales you might need to change your strategy and the way you choose your domains. Network learn from others but becareful you don't follow bad advice. Don't be a quitter. Be a Doer! LOL

Be a Doer? or a Doofer? lol

 

[EmotiveDomains]

There are a lot of .co.uk's in that list. It's always going to be hard to make sales with average or poor quality .co.uk's as there are far less potential buyers than for .com.

 

[Blueforever]

It seems like a few domainers are quitting, urlu is selling his portfolio of good names on flippa and looking to give up domaining, even Michael cyger has stopped his weekly videos, the whole Chinese investments seemed to have slowed down too.
I'm thinking now is the best time to buy names at a good price, as it seems a lot of people have maybe moved there investments into crypto

 

[Kuffy]

You need to step back and look at the reasons for your lack of response. Many will disagree with me, but I think that the fancy extensions are best ignored. "casino" must be one of the best keywords, but I bet there are at least 50 TLDs with the single word unregistered. I'm concentrating on .coms now.

The other thing that it's worth doing is to think about the end users for a name. Take "Bitcoin factories" for example. What is a Bitcoin factory? The only thing I can think of is a large mining operation, and they don't need a domain name to operate. You could use it for a discussion about large volume mining, but that would be better on an html page on a general Bitcoin site.

 

[Donnyd]

Good advice, but domains that are 1/8 of that caliber take a big capital investment these days. The dynamics have changed, instead of having a .co .net or a .org, first time sub 500 buyers have 1000 other extensions to choose. The high end buyer wants the cream of the crop, and many end up paying for it, but with scripts, and bots automating aftermarket deals, it is very hard to get a decent price without throwing out a whole bunch of money, and hoping it comes back one day.

Nobody said domaining is easy, actually starting from scratch today it is extremely hard with the number of people chasing the same drops, good inventory can be hard to accumulate without knowing, a few ins, and outs, and have confidence to hold. You also need lots of capital to acquire, and renew. WIth Huge Names catching anything decent that drops, you basically have to spend $69 to acquire single bets, that may, or maynot pay off. 10 names is like $700, without any guarantee of a sale, even if you sell one for $500-$1000 with a 20% commission you are just breaking even.

Not everyone is cut out for this, if you are buying english speaking domains, and english is not your first language, maybe not a good idea.

The industry will keep supporting, and putting figures out there because they need people to buy the crap, park the crap, attend the conferences etc... sell the dream, just like any other industry.

If it's not working, maybe time to try something else.

I would buy private from owners. Never drop catches or snap, NJ. To much competition. Better off spending a bit more for quality and owning less. Everyone is different. Best off just buying one good domain and spreading the cost over 5 years and starting a real business from that name. IMO

 

[Brands.International]

Maybe do not give it up completely - but try to understand in which areas there is an over-competition, and in which areas of domaining the competition is not that big. It is not always most profitable to go with the mainstream - you can find your own niche, be it .com, ccTLDs or new gTLDs.

Also, you need to decide what domaining should do for you: if your income depends on it, you must go for liquid (learn for example about LLLL .com chips), if it is something else then you have a variety of options.

 

[Kuffy]

Wasn't there a famous actor who said it took him 15 years to become an overnight success.

A few sales will make all the difference, and restore your faith. Try to get as much exposure for your names as you can, and I believe it is worth compiling small collections of related names, and listing thse on your own pages.

 

[DomainVP]

Time to give up with domaining once and for all. Having had my domains listed here on NP, GD, eBay, promoting them on social media, direct marketing, I've struggled to barely sell any. Despite even reducing the prices to what I consider to be giving some of them away, still nothing. See others selling what appear to be bizzare even worthless names for $XXX or $XXXX, not that I begrudge anyone that, I guess domaining is just not for me !

Sounds like it...

Domain investing is an extremely speculative activity that is hard to duplicate week-in and week-out.

You are not alone, most people pack up shop within the first few months.

Best of success in your next venture!

 

[WhoaDomain.com]

Looking at your domains, you probably should.

MSTER.CO.UK
LA-CALIFORNIA.COM
FREQUENTFLYA.COM
FREQUENTFLYA.NET
FREQUENTFLYA.CO.UK
USEDCARSONLINE.CO.UK
SKYFLYA.COM
SKYFLYA.NET
SKYFLYA.CO.UK
EFLYA.COM
EFLYA.NET
EFLYA.CO.UK
CAREHOMECOVER.CO.UK
DISCOUNTPRINTERINK.CO.UK
PERSONALPA.COM virtual assistant
iCLOUDDOWNLOAD.COM
iCLOUDDOWNLOADS.COM
POSTUPNOTES.COM
H7B.CO.UK
H7B.UK
RECLAIMFEES.COM
CLOUDITDATA.COM
FUELSAVECARD.COM
FAREPRICEFINDER.COM
SELLINGMYOWNDWELLING.CO.UK
CABSRANKED.COM
FUNDITISE.COM
PHONEFOOTAGE.CO.UK
LINKEDUPLONDON.CO.UK
PREMIUMPAWN.CO.UK
PREMIUMPAWNBROKER.CO.UK
FUNDIFY.CO.UK
QWIKQUOTEINSURANCE.CO.UK
QUICKQUOTEINSURANCE.CO.UK
MEGABORDELL.DE

Domain investing takes alot of skill. Starts with good names (these are not) and develops into managing a portfolio and much, much more. Then, with solid names, proper exposure, and fair pricing, sales occur.

You didn't stand a chance with these domains. Look at what sells.

Whatever direction you decide to go, do your homework first....thoroughly. No one becomes a doctor, lawyer, or stock trader overnight.

yikes! lol SilentPtnr! that was harsh. lol I wouldn't have posted those. lol tough love! damn! either way good luck to you doofer if you have free account here keep us updated on your next venture.

Best of luck. I'm on my way out too. bout to liquidate all my domains. probably end up with just a few pennies and some lint in my pockets.

no regrets though. shot myself in my own foot. such is life!

I'm reminded of a song now!

 

[frank-germany]

Time to give up with domaining once and for all. Having had my domains listed here on NP, GD, eBay, promoting them on social media, direct marketing, I've struggled to barely sell any. Despite even reducing the prices to what I consider to be giving some of them away, still nothing. See others selling what appear to be bizzare even worthless names for $XXX or $XXXX, not that I begrudge anyone that, I guess domaining is just not for me !

maybe its a good idea to start with a different username



german :
doofer= someone who is "doof"

https://www.dict.cc/?s=doof


and for

MEGABORDELL.DE

yes maybe but I doubt it will sell

 

[Hootsifer]

JK Don't give up but take time off and rethink, rationalize, and study. If this jobs for you, you'll know deep inside. Some thing just aren't for everyone.

 

[The CEO]

Remembering the good time before the Chinese came to scene. Those times that you can usually buy 4L for $20 and $100 just a good 4L pronounceable. The time where the one in auctions here on Namepros are just amazing names. The newbie mistakes was not reading, listening nor researching on names that are easy to sell but instead we rather hand reg of made up names believing that one day they will have their big break. The feeling is great, every time you save some money you registered a new names. Months had passed and non of your names were sold, and you will just say " just a little more time" the renewal date came and now you have renewed all your domains, imagine 500 of them or 1000 names. Year 2 approached and your still positively believing that the names will sold but non of them happen. and you will start asking yourself how the guru's manage to sell their non worth names for a huge margins, how they easily manage to sell names without much effort. Then you will find the clear answer that the business requires a lot of work and connection. I have not seeing the old timers here on Namepros, they are all good sellers and buyers and they will give you advice when you need so. Now that shifted out and those people slowed down as well. I have seen some of them every once in a while and I am wondering if they all retired.
Learning needs time and I learn a lot of things, there is no word such "easy money". I have slowed down as well, keeping my 100 names intact, i buy some and sell some but I am concentrating on Development.
Thank you Namepros, Eric and all the Moderators, all the members that will give you honest opinion.

 

[Steven McEvoy]

China really destroyed domain industry.... Specially with 4L.coms

 

[WatchDogue]

Domaining is very easy to " get into " and very easy to leave.

If you have put in what you consider reasonable efforts compatible to your time constraints, your work ethics and, your financial level of commitment all to no avail, you are wise to bow out of domaining.

While you are away from domaining should the domain bug bite again you will be far better educated about " what doesn't work " for you and what new path of domaining you may wish to pursuit in the future.

It is always easy to return and return with past lessons learned and a brighter approach to domaining.

 

[wwwweb]

China really destroyed domain industry.... Specially with 4L.coms

Depends on who you ask, if you ask the people who were holding hundreds, or if not thousands of jibberish so called Chips ZKFJ com, and were able to acquire them for $10-$25 in aftermarket buys, and sell them for $2500, I think they would disagree. Most of the China losses are held within the Chinese buyers who got left holding the bag.

 

[ben pedri]

All in all this domaining was a waste of money and mostly -ucking time ,you can always get back the money,my solution now is to slim down ,keep the best of the best of the BEST.SHOWS like domain Sherpa glorified this game,but even top guys with media advantage ran from the hills. where in too deep all of us ,slim down and try to salvage,its hard to let 15 year renewals go but WTF ,if we can buy better crap now at even reg fee ,with some of the knowledge we attained ,then why keep the crap

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Always have a few backup domains. Domains that you have an interest in them beyond flipping. Domains that you might actually do something with like development or a business interes

This is, IMHO, excellent advice. I realize that realistically most of us only have time and resources to develop a few, but we should not discount this fallback position. If others do not immediately see the value in them we see a route to using them effectively then the financial risk is reduced. I know that development is hard work, but it does potentially make the domain much more valuable for future sale, and generates at least some income in the meantime.

There has been lots of good advice offered to the original poster, and encouragement, in this positive thread. I would echo myself with the don't give up too easily, but perhaps concentrate on finding new ways to promote the names which you feel are most saleable.

 

[saj110]

1. one or two years of domaining is nothing. it's mostly educating time, one way or the other.

2. most success stories and meteoric rises of the last 4 years were made in a full bull market that has crossed many businesses. this means when the tide turns we will see many people naked, and many certainties about the market be turned upside down.

3. domaining is like every other business. it needs time, research, planning, hard work, discipline and making mistakes. luck is very important also. forget the easy money stories. they are just lures and outliers.

4. you need to learn what sells, what can be worth in the future and what can be just hype.

4.a. for that matter, you need to learn how to ride an idiotic trend that is made up by collective delusion, but be aware that you are playing a game and it will end. that is, you should know that it has no long term future but be willing to join the masses and take part of the money on the table while it lasts.

4.b. most of your money should be spent on good domains, that you will be able to identify after point 3. I can give you an example of good segment: short domains. But really short, not the nonsense of 5 letters or more or 5,6 and more digits domains. stick to 2 characters and 3 letters on .com. This is sound investment because human behavior will always be attracted to uniqueness and scarcity, specially when a bull and optimistic market sets up. you need "just" to be careful and understand that everything will go out of fashion in a bear market and money doesn't grow out of trees. So you should not being paying high values even on good and solid domains *today*.

5. most of this business is building a good portfolio and waiting, for several years. flipping is not for everyone, and should be done only as a side tactic to make some money to fund better inventory or pay some bills. most of the flipping opportunities result from point 4.a.

6. trim your portfolio. playing the high numbers game is just for a few. you need to really know what you are doing, have a very good and streamlined process with well controlled expenses. Most of the people that succeeds in this model where people that have been around since "the early days" where they could build big portfolios with good available domains or with a good global average value. the few others where "just" really smart or had some good monetary backing to start it.

7. understand that the buying part is the most important one. it is better to buy low than to buy high, and it is better to buy one good domain than several mediocre domains for the same total amount. this is very obvious and looks like a stupid thing to say but the fact is most are not aware of how important this is and how this is tied to the success of most investment decisions you make. you cannot buy a 2 letter .com domain today for $1k. but you should not also pay $500k today for one. the deal is to buy at a value where you can have some margin to coupe with market fluctuations. how do you do that? by being around in the business for some time, by point 3, and developing a good insight into what is a good value proposition given the current status of the market and the foreseeable future (for what it can be humanly grasped).

finally, giving up is not the solution in anything. at least not before revising what went wrong and what can be done better and then try again.

@tonecas very well said

 

[Bayan]

 

[disaac81]

Hang in there, like others have said.

I used to have over 1,600 names now only have about 380 and that will be trimmed too, but I am purchasing new names too. Funny how when I look back I see hoe much rubbish I bought.

Managed to make a small profit in the last year, just did my return for taxes. Really hoping for a better year again this year.

Just food for thought, 90% of my sales are those I got from the aftermarket \ expiring auctions. Although I was lucky in my first year with a few big sales of hand-regs but they were vr names and a rather lucky name I got before anyone else (pylon/cam dot com).

Good luck.

 

[WhoaDomain.com]

took the words right out my mouth doofer! thank god for my XRP investment! it's like a reset button! lol

I'd say hang in there but looks like you've "gone" already. good luck to you buddy!

 

[Silentptnr]

yikes! lol SilentPtnr! that was harsh. lol I wouldn't have posted those. lol tough love! damn! either way good luck to you doofer if you have free account here keep us updated on your next venture.

Best of luck. I'm on my way out too. bout to liquidate all my domains. probably end up with just a few pennies and some lint in my pockets.

no regrets though. shot myself in my own foot. such is life!

I'm reminded of a song now!

They are already posted. I copied from the ops sales thread.

 

[arjun29]

Don't buy. Don't quit. Take some time. There are a lot of things to learn before quitting.

 

[Furquan]

Don't give up, take some rest, talk to your beloved one, polish your skill, use your brain and namebio sold list. Ask some real pro for some tips.

That's all I can say.