Advice on Selling a Domain Name

June 13, 2005 12:28 PM

I have a domain name for sale. I need advice on determining the selling price.

A year ago, I snapped up a 4 character dictionary word, .com, appealing and commercially useful name when my former employer declined to renew it. I recently put up a "this site is for sale" page. An online, free appraisal valued the name at 35,000US. The free appraisal, of course, may be worth exactly what I paid for it. I don't mind revealing the name, but don't want to be shilling MeFi.

I have gotten quite a few inquiries, of varying seriousness. A guy who runs a domain name parking ad business has called me several times, and his offer is now at 10,000US. The money is not urgently needed; I can wait to get a better price.

Has anybody used a domain name valuation service they trust?

Anybody have experience selling a domain name? thanks.

posted by Mom to Computers & Internet (14 answers total)

What's the domain?
posted by null terminated at 12:48 PM on June 13, 2005

Also, how much traffic are you getting?
posted by null terminated at 12:49 PM on June 13, 2005

I had manual.com "appraised" at a quarter-mililon and up. The only legitimate offer I got was $10,000, from a Danish company. I advise taking the money and running.
posted by kindall at 1:02 PM on June 13, 2005

Luna.com? Not quite a dictionary word, but close enough. Wish I had it, but wouldn't pay 10k for it. Then again, I'm probably not your target audience.
posted by fvw at 1:03 PM on June 13, 2005

As a general rule of thumb, 10k in hand is worth 35k in the bush.

Some things you can do:

- Counteroffer $20k.
- Sell it on eBay.
- Sell it to someone who will actually use the domain.
posted by mkultra at 1:18 PM on June 13, 2005

This company might be interested in luna.com ...unless that's your former employer.
posted by me3dia at 2:06 PM on June 13, 2005

10K to just park crap there seems high, are you sure he doesn't know something you don't about who might be interested in it?

If it does just get that much traffic by chance maybe you want to slap google ads up there or something.
posted by phearlez at 2:43 PM on June 13, 2005

These guys might also be interested.

A 10% finder's fee is customary.
posted by Wet Spot at 6:10 PM on June 13, 2005

Also try these guys: Luna Bar
posted by cyniczny at 7:44 PM on June 13, 2005

Uh...how did we discover that the domain is "luna.com"? Did I miss something?

And if I was offered $10K, I'd counter once with a higher figure, and if they don't bite, then I'd settle for the initial offer.
posted by davidmsc at 7:50 PM on June 13, 2005

Uh...how did we discover that the domain is "luna.com"? Did I miss something?

It's sort of linked on Mom's userpage. Look for a live period.
posted by me3dia at 9:07 PM on June 13, 2005

I sold "soup.com" for $50,000 back when domain names were hot. Best Foods bought it for their Knorr brand (they've since been bought by Unilever), and when they contacted me initially I had no idea what the domain might be worth; I asked for $50,000 and they said "OK"... aaargh! I have no idea what their limit might have been. On the other hand, it was free money - I'd registered it back in the '80s when all it took was an e-mail to the InterNIC.
posted by nicwolff at 12:05 AM on June 14, 2005

Response by poster: I've read that approaching various businesses w/ Luna in the name, and there are quite a few, could be a problem. They can accuse you of squatting, and take the name.

I think I'll make a counter-offer.

Thanks, everybody.
posted by Mom at 10:43 AM on June 14, 2005

You might also consider leasing the domain. Depending on your traffic, you should be able to get at least $1000 per month from someone who wants to use it for advertising. You'd retain ownership, so you can sell it later.
posted by hartsell at 2:05 PM on June 21, 2005