There comes a time in the life of a domain when ownership has to change hands. The reasons for selling a domain can vary greatly; maybe the company is no longer in business, or the domain was bought in bulk and never used. If you want to reduce your excessive number of domains for extra cash, or if you have a premium domain name that costs a goldmine, see Step 1 below to learn how to sell it.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Announcing that Your Domain is For Sale
Step 1. Determine the value of your domain
Before you start offering or registering your domain, determine its value so you can get a good price. There are many factors to consider when determining the value of a domain, so if you're not sure, you can contact a company that specializes in pricing a domain. Some of the main factors include:
- Traffic - This is one of the main factors affecting the value of a domain. The number of visitors a domain gets from users typing in its URL, searching for, or coming from a link will have a huge impact on its value, especially if the visitors are making money.
- Top Level Domain - The most valuable website is the ".com" site. It is much more valuable than other top-level domains (.info,.biz,.net, etc.).
- Length and Readability - Names with one and two words in English are the most valuable commodities. These names are especially valuable if they are directly related to an industry (hotels.com, biking.com, etc.), are legible, and easy to remember.
Step 2. You have to be realistic with the price
Rarely do domains sell for thousands of dollars. If you don't have a domain that people are looking for a lot, you're not going to make a lot of money for your domain. Of course it helps to be realistic in the price you want the domain you are selling.
Step 3. Put up a "For Sale" sign
One of the best ways to offer your domain is by posting a simple "For Sale" message on your site. This will allow any visitor to know immediately that the domain is available for purchase and how to contact the owner. There are several ways you can do this:
- Many domain registrars provide a simple free website. Use the provided tools to create a basic page showing that the domain is for sale. You can include a link to a list of domains or include your contact information (beware of spam).
- You can add a page to one of your existing sites and direct all the domains you sell to that sales page.
- Adjust your WHOIS information to indicate that your domain is for sale. You can change your registration information to reflect the fact that the domain is for sale. For example, you can add "Domain For Sale" at the end of the owner's name.
Step 4. Park your domain
If you are not sure whether your domain will be sold soon or not, you can register it with a domain parking service. These sites provide a landing page for your domain that contains a link to an ad, which can earn you money while you wait for a buyer. Most domain parking services include a "For Sale" sign and service.
Part 2 of 3: Registering a Domain
Step 1. Register your domain with a sales service
There are various sales services that will register your site. This service takes a cut on sales, but your domain can get more attention because it's advertised. Some services allow you to add additional descriptions and comments about the domain, which can help increase sales. Popular sites include:
- Sedo
- Flippa
- GoDaddy
- AfterNic
Step 2. Hire a domain broker
There are many brokerage services that will actively try to sell your site. These services usually charge more than standard site registration services, but can give better results.
Always investigate the broker's services before signing any contract. Make sure they are effective and provide a fair price
Step 3. Use an auction service
Apart from registration and brokerage, there are also auction sites. eBay is actually one of the most popular domain name auctions, and there are many other sites too. Many registration services also offer auction services.
Part 3 of 3: Making Sales
Step 1. Respond quickly
If you receive an offer, be sure to respond to it as soon as possible. If you wait more than 24 hours, you could lose a buyer.
Step 2. Use attractive prices
If you end up deciding on a starting price for your domain, use an attractive price to help attract buyers. This is the act of subtracting $1 from the actual price to make the price look more attractive (e.g. changing from $500 to $499).
Step 3. Negotiate your price
If you own a domain that you already know the value of, make sure you don't charge less. Complete with detailed information about the value of your domain, and explain to the buyer why it costs so much.
Step 4. Use the escrow service for direct sales
If you are dealing directly with the buyer, make sure that the money transferred goes through an escrow service. This will ensure that everything is checked properly and that you are not burdened with bounced checks and no domains. Escrow services take a few days to make a sale and charge you a percentage fee, but they can save you a lot of trouble.
