desperation hits a new level

[Edwin]

Does anyone here actually list other people's domains on their domain name list sites, in exchange for some commission if they sell? This seems like a straightforward process. I'd be happy for others to list my domain names in exchange for 10-15% commission if sold. I know Sedo etc do this but if 10-20 of us did this with each others domains, surely that would drive your chances of a sale? You could just added "Third party domain names for sale" or something at the bottom of your page.

You still have to take into account how the traffic arrived at the site in the first place: it is extremely likely to have been as a result of the user typing in a particular domain name into their browser's address bar (by and large portfolio sites don't "work" well for SEO, so they're unlikely to have come via a search engine).

As such, the best use of that precious visit (very few domains can boast large numbers of type-in visits) must surely be to devote 100% of the available sales copy to sell the virtues of the particular domain that the user has already effectively "expressed an interest in" by typing it in.

 

[Blossom]

arguements that amount to 'well that just the way it is' simply are not good enough and not the way they think in America which is why they control all the most popular webs.

It's actually in my favour to be the way it is now because I'm an end-user. Prices being driven up aren't particularly what I want to see, although I do think there are advantages to domains becoming more mainstream because of the additional benefits linked to services I offer and projects I'm involved in.

The US has so many different advantages - much more investment into the web, angel programs, a different culture, .com/.net/.org having global rather than just local advantages, the world's best universities which have spawned all the tech we see today, a bigger population, more support.

But on the flip side, you'd think it would be even harder for Germans because you have to learn English to even code a website - yet they're doing so much better than us with domain names.

You don't need the worlds biggest economy to invent facebook do you? An the UK could actually offer a two tier domain approach, utter premium for the hoarders, but a vibrant lower tier domaining market which encourages mass participation at a cost no different to someone going out and buying some clothes which they end up not bothering to wear but which certainly doesn't put them off going and doing it again for the rest of their lives does it?

I think it's possible to do this with lower tier domains which are a less risky bet than scratchcards, betting shops etc which people routinely p'ss money up the wall on. Maybe it's our job to actually make this happen rather than simply accept this boring market.

I like this, I think it could work very well. The mentality is 'what's the most I can get for this domain?' at the moment. The problem is that, as far as I can tell, a lot of it is in the seller's attitude and/or pitch.

 

[Nova]

You still have to take into account how the traffic arrived at the site in the first place: it is extremely likely to have been as a result of the user typing in a particular domain name into their browser's address bar (by and large portfolio sites don't "work" well for SEO, so they're unlikely to have come via a search engine).

Thanks for the feedback Edwin. I'm still a newbie and learning the ropes and appreciate your expertise. I am involved in another business where the items for sale are unique (similar to domain names) and some sellers offer other sellers products on a commission based sale.

If someone lands on one of your domain names for sale by directly typing it into their address, could you not add a link with a tag like "our other domain names for sale" on the page, directing them to the list of other domain names you are selling? and add other peoples domain names at the bottom?

You could still try SEOing your list sight but most of your sales might still come via direct type-ins.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is do people that buy domain names just buy the one they are after, or if they see a list, are some tempted to buy one or two more?

 

[Edwin]

I guess what I'm trying to ask is do people that buy domain names just buy the one they are after, or if they see a list, are some tempted to buy one or two more?

In my experience, it's mainly just the one. I always try and supply a list of related names from our portfolio, but 8-9 times out of 10 the buyer only goes for the original name they entered.

 

[WalkinDude]

Amazon.com do it, re. shifting other websites gear, in fact it's just basically an informal affiliate network, tried and tested everywhere except the domain industry it seems.

 

[cc976a]

Amazon.com do it, re. shifting other websites gear, in fact it's just basically an informal affiliate network, tried and tested everywhere except the domain industry it seems.

What your explaining is pretty much Sedo. They have the traffic looking for domains, so people use it as a market place to sell theirs - and then pay commission to Sedo.

Very similar to Amazon, EBay etc....

 

[WalkinDude]

err... no Sedo is a bad example imho. Even business is about the customer experience. It's more like good examples of affiliates and Amazon do it well cos it's completely not in your face. How you do it is just as important as if you do it.

Sedo's partnerships with GD etc are an utter mess, the customer experience and complexities of their system is utterly rediculous. Amazon can sell you any product from any corner of the planet from any provider without the slightest bit of stress involved for the customer, to get on top of Sedo you need some sort of Degree in how not to get hustled.

 

[Edwin]

Amazon.com do it, re. shifting other websites gear, in fact it's just basically an informal affiliate network, tried and tested everywhere except the domain industry it seems.

Sedo, Afternic, etc. There are plenty of existing sales platforms to list your names on if you have your heart set on doing so...

In fact, here's a blog post from the beginning of last year that lists 30 free places to list domains for sale... I expect there will be even more sales opportunities now as such sites seem to sprout up like kudzu, though most fall down on the same fundamental "but where's the traffic going to come from" question that I don't see answered in this thread.
http://www.dotsauce.com/2011/01/24/28-free-places-domains-for-sale/

Bottom line, good domains (eventually) sell themselves (but the process might be speeded up if you put in the effort to list them here, there and everywhere). Bad domains never sell (regardless of where you list them) as nobody wants them.

 

[WalkinDude]

Sorry no cigar, 30 odd sites listing our domains is no comparison to an infomal system where thousands of domaineers list their favourite domains other domaineers are selling. Basic network theory proves this beyond dispute.

 

[Edwin]

Sorry no cigar, 30 odd sites listing our domains is no comparison to an infomal system where thousands of domaineers list their favourite domains other domaineers are selling. Basic network theory proves this beyond dispute.

There aren't thousands of domainers with decent inventory, and those with names that attract no traffic contribute NOTHING to the picture you're painting.

How do you address the elephant in the room: where's all the TRAFFIC coming from? You need shoppers in order to sell stuff!

 

[WalkinDude]

Answered that, it's an INFORMAL system, inherently democratic. If I think your domains are rubbish I don't promote them cos it will make my website look bad. Only the best domains will get the best promotion. You and others have tunnel vision on the issue. For a start it would only hurt those attempting to overcharge in teh first place, secondly trying something new is always a good idea as long as there's no obvious way it can do harm and third who says only promote on domaineering sites. Why not every site who fancies joining in. If sites can fill their own webspace up promoting facebook,twitter and a dozen other utterly homogenous white elephants what's your big issue with this in principle? How much facebook and twitter activity serves any real purpose? Yet it's everywhere.

Isn't even like going to happen anyway, but the idea is sound.

 

[WalkinDude]

My lost post was to Edwin.

Invincible your arguement is the equivalent of Tesco saying they don't need a store in Bromley cos they already have one in Croydon mate. Ta.

 

[WalkinDude]

No it isn't. Analogies like that don't actually answer the specifics. You've got this idea so please, genuinely, explain how you think it would be implemented.

Hmmm the how is info i'm debating with myself as to whether to keep classified for now, how is fairly obvious to me.

 

[Edwin]

Every few months somebody raises the idea of a "domain sales collective" - over the years, I've probably seen the same ground raked over twenty times or more. Some initiatives have progressed a little more than most, but all have foundered over the fact that those with decent portfolios have never seen enough incentive to take part, no matter how the reward/revenue share structures have been posited...

What remains after the key portfolio holders step out of the equation is like roping together a group of individuals, none of whom can swim, then suggesting that's all it takes for them to collectively swim the channel. Real life just doesn't work like that.

But good luck to you if you want to try it!

 

[WalkinDude]

Yes Edwin the 500 failed social networks that sprang up and died before Facebook is reason enough why Zuckerburg was right not bother. The what is it 2000 prototypes for the lightbulb.... well i'm sure i've made that point now...

 

[WalkinDude]

It might be obvious to you but since you've said "i'm debating with myself as to whether to keep classified for now" I am going to assume it hasn't been detailed in this thread already. I have stated one obvious way (i.e. the banner ads) that you might have meant in this thread but you haven't responded to that specifically so I will also assume that isn't what you have in mind.

If you believe that you have a great idea then either go implement it yourself or find people who will implement it for/with you. Coming into a thread and putting your arguments across but not being prepared to explain how your way of doing things would actually work isn't productive for any of us.

I'll level with you up to a point as i've found some of your views the most constructive so far. Try this analogy. Do people with 20million quid pads in Belgravia advertise their homes for sale on Rightmove? Err no.

So as I posted earlier that ends the debate about top domaineers being involved in something like this. Though funnily enough if it got big enough as with Facebook and Twitter the A-listers soon find a way to turn after all.

 

[WalkinDude]

Invincible cont...

Second issue who wants average domains. Most of what society spends it's money on is average so that's no barrier in my view. Making someone desire something is an issue of marketing not a reason not to bother. In addition people often spend on average things with the belief/hope etc they can make greater use of it. Most of the time they are wrong of course but doesn't stop us trying.

Thirdly and folloing on from point 1 now we've got rid of the domaining A-listers, the rest of us need the promo, it would be free, there's infinite webspace out there, only a plonker would put porn domains for sale on a Gardening website, financial incentives are easily implementable, and the technology already exists to construct a workable system.

When I see people like myself and i'm far from alone struggling to sell perfectly decent domains for a tenner whilst being continually sneered at by the 'pros' rather than accept it I think to myself hmmm maybe there's a system that can cater better.

So here I am trying to sell a pair of cheap trainers in 'belgravia'... err no good. I need to be in the bootsale up the road don't i? Loads of foot traffic higher chance of a sponteneous sale from buyers who may only spend that tenner once they see the actual domain advertised at a tenner. This is the essence of my point.

Also i don't think it's genius like some do to judge every domain purely by it's exacts simply cos no one can be arsed to develope anything anymore.

So one environment for the 'exacts' purists, another for the market stall holders, pile them high, sell them cheap, who knows if they are any good.

No takers for "PetsXXXl.co.uk" [sorry realise can't put up domains on this thread so edited the domain] at £10, gimme a break. Put it up for a tenner on say Guardian website and it would be gone within seconds.

 

[WalkinDude]

Finally the system some like me are proposing generates the sort of foot traffic by sharing the promoting load amongst many.

 

[Edwin]

No takers for Petschool.co.uk at £10, gimme a break. Put it up for a tenner on say Guardian website and it would be gone within seconds.

Except that even if you handed over every penny of that £10 over to The Guardian, it still wouldn't compensate them for the opportunity cost of the ad space they'd have to devote to selling the name. You've got exactly the same problem on the advertiser side of the equation as you do on the domainer side: the major sites, with decent demographics, aren't going to want to make a few pence CPM on some domain-selling version of Adsense...

 

[WalkinDude]

You keep trying Edwin, but read rest of the post first, and finally could even be done on Guardian, with technology and yes for £10 per domain mate. Think about it.