April 20, 2020

Are You A Domain Buyer? Here’s How It Works

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

Are You A Domain Buyer? Here’s How It Works

Domain Buying Guides

Name Experts provides premium
domain service to:

MAX
MAX
MAX
Hope Channel
MAX
MAX

Whether you want to buy names to sell straight away or hold them in your portfolio, there’s a lot to learn if you want to be a big-hitter in the domain buying and selling world. Domain name expert Joe Uddeme shares his top tips for domain buying success.

 

Both buying and selling domains can be an exciting adventure – and it can even be a profitable endeavor. If you’re trying to get into the domain-buying game, or are simply looking for someone to buy a domain you want to sell, you need a little more information about how it all works.

The actual odds of you cashing in big amounts of money from your domain aren’t high (unless you’re sitting on a desirable two- or three-letter domain name that isn’t currently in use). But if you have no idea what you’re doing, you might also be wasting time and money.

If you want to make it big, you need a tried and true process to help guide you. This post covers our top tips to help you find a domain buyer or to be a domain buyer – and insert yourself into the domain buying and selling game the right way.

Key Takeaways

  • The importance of research when buying and selling domains
  • Understand your audience
  • Promote your domains to attract the right buyer
  • How a domain broker can help

Domain Buyer Tips

Though the internet isn’t very old in real terms, there are already millions of domains already registered. And yet there’s still an endless amount of combinations available to register. That’s not even including the hundreds of new domain name extensions available (think .net, .club, .ai and so on).

Do A Little Research – Get Focused

The first thing we recommend is to do a little research before you get started. If you’re looking to buy a domain, start with what you already know. What are you already an expert in?

Buying the right domain is much easier when you have a knowledge of the industry so that you choose something that will 1) actually sell, or 2) be a great domain for your business.

If you know fishing, for example, you’ll know just the things your fellow marlin hunters will be searching for. Is there a domain name available that fits?

Start your domain name search based on keywords related to the things you’re familiar with. If you KNOW it’s going to be valuable, it will be much easier to sell. Check the strength of a keyword with tools like Google Trends or Keyword Planner or similar SEO tools.

We highly recommend working with a domain broker who knows the marketplace. They’ll be able to give helpful suggestions and help you avoid costly mistakes.

We do NOT recommend targeting a prospective domain buyer based on their potential economic status. Targeting a certain demographic that you don’t know anything about could be an expensive error.

You might also be missing specific rules associated with the industry you’re going after. The bottom line is, you won’t make any money if your buyers can’t use the domain you bought.

Know Your Audience

If you understand your audience, you’ll be able to really generate sales of domains you buy. If you’ve got a great domain, you can hold onto it for years and probably make a decent profit.

Maybe you’ve already monetized the domain with an active website and put in some great SEO efforts – things that can help make your domain worth a lot more to a potential domain buyer. These types of well researched domains can end up paying for themselves.

Talk to a domain broker. The industry’s big-hitters will have the knowledge you’re looking for and be able to steer you in the right direction for domains that will actually benefit the buyer.

Wealthy-looking young man sat on a deck typing into a computer. Next to him is a bottle of Champagne.

Domain Seller Tips

Evaluate Your Domain

It is so important that you actually have access to domains that would be a valuable asset to domain buyers. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Would the domain name you’re selling actually be beneficial to a business or organization?

Similarly, if you’re the one buying, have a domain broker assess the value of the potential domain. Would having this domain make it easier for clients to find you?

Will having that particular domain make it easier to rank higher on search engines?

Would your profits increase based off of this particular domain name? Don’t buy anything without knowing its true value.

Get Your Domains Out There

There are many different avenues for getting your domains out to potential domain buyers. Again, we suggest doing a little research. If you’re using a respected source, you’ll have a much better chance of getting your domains sold.

The best suggestion we have is to work with a sell-side domain name broker who knows the market. You can also use a distribution network to make sure you’re getting the right domain in front of the right buyer.

Maybe you already know who might benefit from the domain name? Start a conversation and convey that you already understand what the domain is capable of achieving.

However, if you don’t already have a place to show off your domain, partnering with a domain buying and selling brokerage business will take the pain out of everything and increase your chances of a profitable sale.

Choosing the right broker

If you’ve purchased one or more premium domain names and want to sell them, why leave anything to chance? Working with a broker who spends every day in the market is the way to go.

Not only do they buy and sell millions of dollars worth of domains every year, they also have a network already established. They might have a long list of buyers and sellers lined up before you even set up a meeting.

Domain brokers are able to accurately assess the value of potential domains, and also help negotiate on your behalf. They also know all the paperwork and legal processes that come with buying and selling domains, which means that you don’t have to worry about any of it.

Look for one with a strong track record, ideally one that can demonstrate experience in high-level transactions. Global experience can be helpful, too, especially if you want to secure the international TLDs for a specific name.

 

About the author

Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Contact us at: [email protected]

Subscribe for More Domain Buying & Selling Advice

Related posts

Celebratory shot of the monday.com team after the relaunch of the business and the acquisition of the domain name they needed
How We Helped Monday.com Secure the Perfect Name for their Rebranding

Discover how Name Experts’ premium domain buying service played a key role in the rebranding of Monday.com. As the business goes from strength to strength, Monday’s rebranding is a testament to the power not just of a world-class brand name but of a powerful, memorable domain name, too.   We’ve all heard of Monday.com. They are one of the biggest project management tools on the market. But that was not always the case. Before Monday.com was Monday.com, they were daPulse, a name that ultimately was a hindrance to their growth. The daPulse name was out of sync with the project management business and limited their ability to scale. Changing to Monday.com was a sound decision that contributed to the company’s massive success. It demonstrates how naming a brand is as essential as product development to any technology business. I was approached by the two founders, Eran Zinman and Roy Mann, to pursue a rebranding project. They wanted to buy a domain name that was both generic and memorable. One that ended in .com and could be used as a solidified brand. One of the names that stuck early on was Monday.com. After contacting the owner, the domain name negotiation and engagement was flawless, and ultimately, Eran and Roy were ecstatic with the result. Early on, however, I remember some of the feedback was, “What the heck is Monday.com?” But, with fantastic brand marketing, the team has done an exceptional job at growing and scaling the company. As with most great business ideas, it all starts with the foundation or a solid domain name asset to help build a brand. Here’s the story… In 2012, a group of Israeli entrepreneurs launched a company named daPulse. daPulse launched as a platform for enterprises to organize project management and collaboration between their workers. Though it started in 2012, daPulse didn’t launch commercially until 2014 after significant product testing and development.
Businessman (face not seen) holds iPad horizontally. It has a glowing blue screen.
Stealth Acquisitions Domain Name

Some domain acquisitions are straightforward, but others are less so. Joe Uddeme, Director of NameExperts.com, explains what happens when a client wants a domain that seems out of reach – and they want to keep their name out of the picture, too.   As a buy-side broker specializing in stealth acquisitions, it’s our job to dig deep and find the rightful owner of a domain name while protecting the identity of the buyer. The problem is that some domain owners make it very difficult to reach them. What’s the psyche behind this rationale? For a start, not all domain name owners are equal; some just don’t want to be contacted or have zero interest in selling their domain name. Or perhaps it’s just a case that their whois information is out of date – making it difficult to decipher the current domain owner. GDPR is another major change. Many countries now adhere to stricter policies related to domain name owner privacy, with many whois entries now redacted for owners’ privacy rights. But all is not lost. Quietly tracking down “unreachable” domain owners and securing them for anonymous clients is what we do best. And we can do it for you. Key Takeaways What your broker needs to know to get started Buying a domain name – what you need to know How to choose a stealth acquisition broker Stealth acquisitions – what to do first Stealth acquisitions represent an opportunity for a buyer to be protected by complete anonymity. You should understand this before reaching out to a broker, as you need to have an idea of what will happen next. Try and answer these questions BEFORE making contact: Have you completed a relevant trademark search around the keyword in question? Have you established a budget to complete this potential acquisition? Have you established a timeline for this potential acquisition? Are you familiar with aftermarket domain name valuations? Have you thought about viable alternatives if your target might not be available? What type of barriers do you see in this potential acquisition? Buy-side brokers need to understand the full story about why you want this domain and anything you have done so far to try and get it, including previous acquisition attempts. They will then attempt to drill down into the fine details and identify – and contact – the rightful domain name owner. The buy-side broker should also be able to act as a buffer between buyer and seller and remove any emotion from a potential deal.   Buying a domain name – the steps involved Here are the basic steps to acquire a domain name: Identify ownership and research if the name is available Submit an offer to the owner Negotiate Agree on the price and complete paperwork (if applicable) Set up Escrow for payment Registrar transfer via push or authorization code Confirm control of the name Release funds Tools to try if you’re trying to track down an owner yourself: Check the DNS and see where the domain is pointing to. Is there a website, or is it undeveloped? Whois history is a valuable tool to understand the true history of the domain name. Check the Wayback Machine to see what other properties have been developed on the URL in the past. If working with a buy-side broker, they should offer the following upside for any stealth acquisitions: Negotiate with YOU in mind; no dual agency in this scenario. Provide contracts that protect ALL parties involved. Typically save you time and money. Allows for a third-party (non-biased) approach towards the acquisition. Coordinate necessary contractual paperwork between parties. Facilitate and handle smooth transfers of domain names. Offer transparency and full disclosure. Non-disclosure where applicable.   How to choose a broker for your stealth acquisition Start by researching suitable candidates to help with your domain name acquisition. Don’t identify the asset unless you are sure you have found the buy-side broker you’re certain you want to work with. Ask the broker for information about their service and a few names they recently acquired for clients. Find out how your broker can add value to your potential acquisition; always do a Google search to learn more about the broker you are working with. Take the time to find an expert that can properly assist you with all of your acquisition needs. Ask lots of questions and make sure you feel aligned with the broker. Hold the broker accountable and require status updates so you aren’t left in the dark as they progress. In most instances, your stealth acquisition needs to be completed right the first time. Most domain name acquisitions only have one chance to secure the domain name target without leaving extra money on the table. Stealth acquisitions should only be performed by a seasoned domain name buy-side broker, so choose your broker carefully. You should understand if the broker has certain strengths or weaknesses. Some buy-side brokers don’t have the tools or knowledge to find the rightful domain owner. Or they lack rich relationships with industry veterans. Other buy-side brokers are excellent at managing the acquisition but terrible at the details. Details are key when it comes to any domain name acquisition. Contracts and paperwork can take months to pass through the legal channels, so it’s important to find a representative that is fully vested and can assist you with all aspects of the buy-side domain name acquisition process. Finally, when selecting a buy-side broker, make sure you ask for referrals so you get a feel for how they work. Once you have faith in your broker you can instruct them to make contact with the rightful domain owner and secure the perfect domain name for your brand.   About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Stealth acquisitions are his specialty. Contact us at: [email protected]
Default alt text
Startup Domain Names: Buying the Right Domain Name

Choosing a brand name for your startup? Need a great domain name to match? NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme shares his top tips.   Having the right domain name for your startup sounds like common sense. However, it can be a challenging endeavor. Your organization’s name might not translate into a good domain name. Or maybe everything suitable appears to have been taken. Regardless of the challenges, it is absolutely essential that you have a fantastic domain name so customers can find you. It can also help increase brand awareness and the long-term success of your business. So how can you actually buy a good domain for your startup? Let’s investigate. Key Takeaways The power of brainstorming The golden rules of a great startup domain name Do your research Consider alternate endings (TLDs)   Brainstorm Your Startup Domain Name When acquiring a domain, you need to start by doing some brainstorming. Consider: What’s the name of your business? What services or products are you selling? What industry are you involved in? Develop five terms or phrases which can best answer those questions and can describe the domain name that you’d wish to acquire. For instance, if you wanted a domain name that involved “advertising,” you could use related terms like “online marketing,” “digital marketing,” “advertising,” or “sales marketing” as a starting point. While this may sound obvious, you also need to remember that your domain name ought to be related to your organization. For example, if your company name is Joe’s Electronics then you would want a domain name to reflect that name. If the website was called joesawesomewebsite.com, clients would not know that it was really an electronics site, which means you’re losing out on business because customers can’t find you.   Keep Your Domain Name Brief, Unique and Easy to Remember While brainstorming domains, you also wish to bear in mind that the shorter the better. Shorter domain names aren’t just easy to type, but also easier to remember. If you heard the domain from a friend or on the radio, would you be able to spell it correctly? Try and settle on a domain that’s unique. The last thing that you need is for your domain to get confused with another site. This will also ensure you won’t encounter any ownership issues.   Research your Startup Domain Name Now that you’ve found a domain that fits your brand, you need to be 100 percent sure it is available. One option would be to explore checkdomain.com, Domjax or copyright.gov. The best-known names are usually .com domain names – these are widely accepted. It also means that they are likely to have a premium cost to them if you are looking to purchase them. Check the whois information on the domain you are trying to buy, or reach out to a seasoned domain name broker who will have years of experience in sourcing owners and negotiating deals.   Add Modest Words Before or After Your Domain While you should keep away from pluralizing or hyphenating words, as that will create confusion (“best” or “top” are also a little overused, too), there could be some minor alterations to make your domain stand out. Let’s say you have a car rental business located in Phoenix. You could search for a domain name that was on the line of phoenixrentals.com.   Use Other Domain Extensions/Endings Ideally, you would like to secure a .com domain. It’s the best option for branding and type-in-traffic, which is essential for any site. However, there are other endings or extensions (TLDs) that could benefit your brand as well. Take the .info extension for example. It could be an alternative if you are running an informational site. Another choice is to localize your own domain. If your site is based out of the United Kingdom, you would want to utilize the .uk or co.uk extension. Not only does this open the door to additional possibilities, it differentiates you from an international website. A website like name.com is an excellent resource for searching for domains and extensions.   View Auctions for Domain Names You can also hit auctions to purchase a domain name which was/is previously owned. There are numerous sites that have been acquired by investors as a means to monetize a site. They will purchase a domain and fill the website with lists and links to other sites simply for lead generation.   Contact A Domain Broker There are instances when somebody had a domain and did not do anything with it – or the business didn’t work out and the domain name has expired. In cases like this, the domain name is now available for purchase. If your preferred domain is not up for auction, you could work with a domain name expert or broker to contact the current owner. If you decide to go it alone, make sure you gather any information that can assist you in ultimately determining if this is the right asset for your brand. If the owner is considering selling the domain, you’ll want to do a little investigating to learn how much it’s worth. Our domain broker services can complete a professional domain name appraisal to determine how much traffic is visiting the website. It may not be the only element in determining the site’s value, but it’s a powerful indicator. Another thing we’ll look at is sale prices of comparable doman names. Some great names, such as Cars.com, have gone for astronomical sums.   About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Contact us at: [email protected]

Why Work with Name Experts

Name Experts offers personalized domain brokerage services, assisting clients in buying or selling premium domain names with expert appraisal, negotiation, and complete transaction management while ensuring confidentiality.

Free Consultation

Some of our most
successful stealth acquisition and sales

Aid.com

Fit.com

Mine.com

GLD.com

Jeff.com

Fora.com

Nori.com

Secure.com

Guitar.com

F*ck.com

Radian.com

MetaData.com

Prize.com

Link.com

Loop.com

Programs.com

Claim.com

Quince.com

Hook.com

QXO.com

NQ.com

Rest.com

Humani.com

Max.com

Need help buying or selling premium domains?