discuss Why hasn’t anyone found a way to sell to businesses?

[uglydork]

You would think after all these years that one of the huge brokerage companies would have developed the secret sauce.
How do you get companies and businesses to go to a single point website to buy domain names?
Yes, outbound works but it’s fractured- nobody has taken over a B2B clearing house to sell domains. We don’t have a dominant go to website for business to browse names for sale.
I think about it all the time but I am a little fish - I don’t have the resources to pull it off

I build a clearinghouse site to list names for businesses - it is well known like a Google or Apple - we pay to list our names on that site. Seems like a simple idea but our community has too many sites (undeveloped,Uniregistry,brockets,flippa,sedo,Afternic) they need to be aggregated into one monster site that is well publicized.

Damn I should be rich!

 

[Steven McEvoy]

Why do domainers think that businesses can't wait to buy a domain name and tell their moms and dads?

The fact is, no one other than domainers cares about domain names. If they really want a name, they will find you. Worst case scenario, they will find something on brandbucket.

I sometimes see domainers mocking someone that they didn't want to pay $50,000 for a domain name as if they were selling them a cancer cure. It's sad.

Spot On!

 

[Brands.International]

People are playing lot of games when they contact you, you can never know really who is your buyer.

I recently sold one of my names. Buyer was contacting me under some name, which I googled, etc, and I got some idea about who the buyer is. All parts of puzzle fitted perfectly into one picture. At least this is what I thought....

We negotiated, we made a deal, so I opened escrow.com account and submitted buyer's details there as well (name, surname, email, phone)..and ...voila...buyer was not able to get through identity verification process by escrow, so in order to continue with our transaction, they had to admitt their true identity ...and it was someone completely else comparing to what was previously presented to me....initially it seemed like very average person, after reveal that was a succesfull person very well known in certain circles...

So...it was pretty embarassing to buyer, as I think they were not aware they will have to verify their indentity in later stage

 

[DomainBarracksRob]

Trust me if facebook comes knocking and I know its them I am adding a few hundred k to the price.

As a general rule (if you follow Rick Schwartz) a good domain name is worth a small percentage of the business value. Domains should, and do, sell for more to larger more profitable companies. Anyone that turns that away did not follow some of the bigger sales like daimler.com. It was priced for a large corporation and the owner was very smart. He could have sold it a number of times but he knew who the end user was going to be. His planning and patience paid off big time.

What did daimler.com sell for ? I can’t find any info on the sale or who sold it. Interested in knowing more (it did lead me to the sale of RideScout however)

 

[golan]

I may well have not thought about this deeply enough, but the idea that a company should pay more for a domain name if they are large and/or profitable seems wrong to me. I mean when companies buy technology or paper or real estate for that matter, they pay (at most) the going rate. Why should they pay more for a domain than some other company?

It seems to me if I am selling a domain name I set a price based on what it is worth in my opinion, my costs associated with it and my whole portfolio, and what amount is enough to make bothering with the sale worthwhile for me.

My simplified thinking.

Bob

I agree with you, Bob. To me this practice smells somehow socialistic. Rich must pay more. I hate it.

While from business point of view it all may well make sense, from ethic point of view it smells little bit nasty. WTF.

 

[MapleDots]

I agree with you, Bob. To me this practice smells somehow socialistic. Rich must pay more. I hate it.

While from business point of view it all may well make sense, from ethic point of view it smells little bit nasty. WTF.

HeHe.... and those corporations have great ethics and they smell like roses. They never take advantage of their clients and they make sure all your information is protected at all times. They would never sell your information without your knowledge and they will contact you on the up and up when negotiating for a domain name.

 

[lock]

I will tell you the secret and it isn't really a secret.
The buyer types in the exact name they want and sees the site for sale. They might type in a second choice if budget is enough. All the marketing with third fourth and fith choice domains aren't worth a brokers efforts. What a broker will do is just what you were to lazy to do they will search the keywords in engines and find sites paying for traffic offer them the first choice domain that they would have typed in anyway as their first choice and offer it. If they are moderatly successful then they will see the avantage of the domain.

What a broker does have is a do and don't of what to and what to never say. They will control conversations keeping the scripted pathline in order to gain commitment. They will invite the buyer to submit offer. Buying and selling are seperate art forms i watch skillful domain buyers give away domains and see others that can buy and retain margin. Start scripting your own my influence is based on car sale training and overcoming objectives of phone calls. You need to start scripting how to ask for offer how to reply to inbound email how to create urgency. When to pull out your aces eg: previous keyword sales history etc. As long as good domainers make a dollar the mugs will have a go to and also waterdown the marketplace. You just need to do the work and learn not to burn.

What there needs to be is a better solution to parking not just whitelabelled more advanced development with profit sharing.

 

[frank-germany]

I list my names on Tumblr: CEOs.me

Show attachment 107137

and will develop The-Businesses.com marketplace

put an index.php at your domain

Index of /
Name Last modified Size Description
cgi-bin/ 2018-12-03 08:14 -

 

[ThatNameGuy]

You would think after all these years that one of the huge brokerage companies would have developed the secret sauce.
How do you get companies and businesses to go to a single point website to buy domain names?
Yes, outbound works but it’s fractured- nobody has taken over a B2B clearing house to sell domains. We don’t have a dominant go to website for business to browse names for sale.
I think about it all the time but I am a little fish - I don’t have the resources to pull it off

I build a clearinghouse site to list names for businesses - it is well known like a Google or Apple - we pay to list our names on that site. Seems like a simple idea but our community has too many sites (undeveloped,Uniregistry,brockets,flippa,sedo,Afternic) they need to be aggregated into one monster site that is well publicized.

Damn I should be rich!

Uglydork...i see your name is Richard too, and that makes for too many "Dicks" here on NP's Now back to serious stuff. I was tasked by a former marketing guy and friend now living and working in Florida to explore why there isn't a single source for domainers and "end users" to go sort of like MLS is to real estate? Verisign, much to the chagrin of traditional domainers recognized the need for such an entity back in November. Whatever the entity, it doesn't have to be run for profit, but to the benefit of all concerned. I'll be in Vegas a week from today, and I intend to stir things up in a couple of areas where I'm seeking answers to several of my questions. Regardless...thanks for starting this thread, and I hope it will lead to positive changes for domainers and consumers.

 

[TCK]

Seems like a simple idea but our community has too many sites (undeveloped,Uniregistry,brockets,flippa,sedo,Afternic) they need to be aggregated into one monster site that is well publicized.

The problem with mainstream marketplaces that you mention is that there is TOO MUCH JUNK. Aggregating them would just exacerbate the problem to a new extreme.

Let's say you are selling real estate and have a site. How many listings of Florida swamp land would you like to go through before you just give up.

The problem our community has is that there are TOO FEW sites with mostly quality domains.

 

[garptrader]

We still have the pervasive issue of end users uploading massive amounts of content to social media profiles to generate followers and potential leads but seeing no reason whatsoever to pay for an aftermarket domain.

 

[TCK]

We still have the pervasive issue of end users uploading massive amounts of content to social media profiles to generate followers and potential leads but seeing no reason whatsoever to pay for an aftermarket domain.

So true. End-user education has to improve. But the price reporting sites (such DNPric.es) are not helping at all. Say you purchase a great domain on auction for $40 because you saw value where other bidders did not. You get an offer and the buyer says "It sold for $40 on auction so my offer of $200 is a good deal". My time responding to your emails just ate up the $200. Hey, stop reporting these auction sales, DNPric.es, and other similar sites.

 

[xynames]

Closed comparable sales always shape market prices whether you like it or not.

But then so do asking prices on what is available.

You must always assume that potential buyers are going to look at what sold and what else is available before making a decision to buy.

 

[TCK]

Closed comparable sales always shape market prices whether you like it or not.

But then so do asking prices on what is available.

You must always assume that potential buyers are going to look at what sold and what else is available before making a decision to buy.

Closed comparable sales can be much much higher than the recent sale of the domain in question, that's the problem. That's the frustration.

 

[Jv1999]

Wat is brockets

 

[xynames]

Closed comparable sales include the sale of the domain itself. Recent or not.

 

[lock]

So true. End-user education has to improve. But the price reporting sites (such DNPric.es) are not helping at all. Say you purchase a great domain on auction for $40 because you saw value where other bidders did not. You get an offer and the buyer says "It sold for $40 on auction so my offer of $200 is a good deal". My time responding to your emails just ate up the $200. Hey, stop reporting these auction sales, DNPric.es, and other similar sites.

Actually we need end users to know nothing. The end user has set the keyword pricing allowing the high margins. If they knew they wouldn't see a high return they would pay a lot if end less. If domainers knew the end users profit they would develop.
If end users knew about domains then they would be registering more hand regs and buying less second hand.

 

[frank-germany]

don't fix stuff that ain't broken

imagine you would have to rely on uniregistry or sedo to sell your domains

if you don't get it
you are a newbe

 

[xynames]

In sale of all goods the buyer is able to figure out what sold for what before. And going market prices are based on what’s been sold before and what is available for sale now. This is the way it’s always been going back to the dawn of civilization.

If you want to sell your house you can’t complain about that the price you paid for it is public record.

 

[uglydork]

I have been offline for a while and I can see that this thread has some legs and really good conversation

Im going to use me as an example - I will be gentle, I am really trying to tone down:

I am selling Pacemkers.com. I have been out bounding the name for months to the usual suspects in the industry. I either get a rejection without ever discussion of price - a really low ball offer or no response at all. I track my emails (as most of us do) and they are getting read and passed around but nothing materializes.
What if I am massing someone who doesn't understand domains?
What if I am missing a huge buyer - in fact, I am sure I am. I am not a full time guy and I'm sure I am missing an opportunity to sell this name.
Just because we understand the value doesn't mean a entrepreneur or CEO knows or cares.
What if we had a website that is well known for selling quality domains? Like a Ferrari dealership - no junk allowed. It may not be something you buy often but you know it exists and you know where to find it.
We have well known brokers but outside of us, they are not well known. Media Options is a giant but who knows Andrew by name except people who deal in domains? @MapleDots - I know and respect you but honestly, would anyone know you sell domains? In fact, I have to explain it to friends and family and they just stare at me like "Thank God you have a real job in IT".

Im not saying I am right or wrong but I would like a one stop shop that gets well known outside or us and opens up the rest of the world to domains. Remember - we are just squatters to most people.

 

[ThatNameGuy]

I have been offline for a while and I can see that this thread has some legs and really good conversation

Im going to use me as an example - I will be gentle, I am really trying to tone down:

I am selling Pacemkers.com. I have been out bounding the name for months to the usual suspects in the industry. I either get a rejection without ever discussion of price - a really low ball offer or no response at all. I track my emails (as most of us do) and they are getting read and passed around but nothing materializes.
What if I am massing someone who doesn't understand domains?
What if I am missing a huge buyer - in fact, I am sure I am. I am not a full time guy and I'm sure I am missing an opportunity to sell this name.
Just because we understand the value doesn't mean a entrepreneur or CEO knows or cares.
What if we had a website that is well known for selling quality domains? Like a Ferrari dealership - no junk allowed. It may not be something you buy often but you know it exists and you know where to find it.
We have well known brokers but outside of us, they are not well known. Media Options is a giant but who knows Andrew by name except people who deal in domains? @MapleDots - I know and respect you but honestly, would anyone know you sell domains? In fact, I have to explain it to friends and family and they just stare at me like "Thank God you have a real job in IT".

Im not saying I am right or wrong but I would like a one stop shop that gets well known outside or us and opens up the rest of the world to domains. Remember - we are just squatters to most people.

Richard...you're just driving home the point I've been saying all along. This industry has been hiding behind the curtains similar to the wizard in the Wizard of Oz. A few days prior to you starting this thread I was asked by a friend and former employee why a clearing house similar to MLS for the real estate industry doesn't exist for the domain industry? He was adamant about it, so I told him that I was headed to NamesCon next week and I'd try to get some answers. btw, he'd never heard of Uniregistry, Sedo, Afternic, Flippa etc. just like every person (business and non business) I've asked since I learned about this industry a year ago.

Remember this from Verisign just a few months ago; "Flipping domain names or warehousing them to create scarcity adds nothing to the industry and merely allows those engaged in this questionable practice to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and businesses."

Richard, you and my friend and former employee have inspired me to inquire at NamesCon WTF? The first person I intend to speak with about this is Jon Nevitt the new CEO of Public Interest Registry and the registry for .ORG. It seems to me since PIR is already non profit, who best to run the Domain-MLS?

Anyone else interested in Uglydorks idea....see me in Vegas

 

[frank-germany]

I have been offline for a while and I can see that this thread has some legs and really good conversation

Im going to use me as an example - I will be gentle, I am really trying to tone down:

I am selling Pacemkers.com. I have been out bounding the name for months to the usual suspects in the industry. I either get a rejection without ever discussion of price - a really low ball offer or no response at all. I track my emails (as most of us do) and they are getting read and passed around but nothing materializes.
What if I am massing someone who doesn't understand domains?
What if I am missing a huge buyer - in fact, I am sure I am. I am not a full time guy and I'm sure I am missing an opportunity to sell this name.
Just because we understand the value doesn't mean a entrepreneur or CEO knows or cares.
What if we had a website that is well known for selling quality domains? Like a Ferrari dealership - no junk allowed. It may not be something you buy often but you know it exists and you know where to find it.
We have well known brokers but outside of us, they are not well known. Media Options is a giant but who knows Andrew by name except people who deal in domains? @MapleDots - I know and respect you but honestly, would anyone know you sell domains? In fact, I have to explain it to friends and family and they just stare at me like "Thank God you have a real job in IT".

Im not saying I am right or wrong but I would like a one stop shop that gets well known outside or us and opens up the rest of the world to domains. Remember - we are just squatters to most people.

you obviously need to go to godaddy/afternic for that

- no recommendation

 

[Bob Hawkes]

A lot of insights in this thread - thanks to all. It seems to me that we do have two MLS type (although incomplete, just like MLS for property) services being the Afternic network and Sedo MLS. If Undeveloped's DAN takes off it also would represent a single source with many listings from multiple sources.

As has been noted in this thread a few times, the issue is not so much that there are not sources with lots of domain listings, but rather that they have so many (and some search tool weaknesses) that finding what the person wants is challenging. While I do understand the wish to be more selective to make finding good domains easy, this is such an inexact science that it would be hard to separate out weak domains (not that some listed could not be eliminated I would think).

I think the big players (like HD) have found success because they have a one source shop with a lot of names and total control over the presentation. It is, I would argue, tougher to be successful as an individual investor these days because of the rise of the huge domain houses.

Buyers' brokers essentially provide a service navigating the sources and representing buyers in negotiations, and that is one method that works for some end users (mainly the high end).

The brandable sites offer another service that I think works well for most. If you want a brandable domain name you can search a site with only those. The price levels may not work for the tiniest (single person) startups, and most of them do not offer options other than .com, but they are efficient I would argue.

So do we possibly need more fragmentation. For example a source for just a specific country code (I know some exist), a source that only handles domains suitable for bloggers (i.e. low price end of market), a source geared to non-business identities that would be strong in .org, .ng./.ogn, .eco, and some of the new extensions, etc.

Undeveloped, in my opinion, seem to be the rising experts in customer response and great landers and technology that seems to work. Can they improve their search so they become even better source for end user navigation?

Re the key issue raised by the OP, I have mixed feelings re a monopoly that would be highly efficient for end users. Probably end users would be better served. But eventually monopolies are usually (always) bad. I admit when I buy most products I first go to Amazon, more times than not they have what I want at a great price, I trust them to efficiently deliver it, they make it fast for me to order, they show me lots of options with prices specs and reviews. I think many more domains would be sold if there was a single similar source for buying domain names.

Anyway, jmho in early morning musings.

Look forward to seeing some of you at NamesCon2019!

Bob

 

[uglydork]

you obviously need to go to godaddy/afternic for that

- no recommendation

Why is that obvious? I have the name on all platforms, but again, to the point of my email. Not everyone knows to go to any domain seller platform like we do. In fact, they may not know that want my name,maybe something similar and find mine? Maybe they hear about this new platform that sells major domain names to businesses?

 

[Larion]

if I understand correctly, you are looking for something like greatdomains.com was in the past ?
They only had listings of top-quality domains.

This website is gone, but here is an archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20050223014314/http://www.greatdomains.com:80/

 

[uglydork]

if I understand correctly, you are looking for something like greatdomains.com was in the past ?
They only had listings of top-quality domains.

This website is gone, but here is an archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20050223014314/http://www.greatdomains.com:80/

Yes, but advertised to the public. They we need some sort of campaign to push it out beyond domainers.
Namescon - amazing domain names that the public has no clue exists - seems like a miss/waste of 95% of the population.