Wanted: Domain Appraisal virginads.co.uk

[Helmuts]

Hi

I own virginads.co.uk and it looks like the time has come to sell it.

I am running a classifieds site there and it ranks#2 in Google after the keyword "uk classifieds".

Note: there is no such a trademark (virginads or virgin ads) registered in the UK (nor applies to the UK).

What is the realistic amount I could get?

If anybody wants to resell it (I have sent 2 offers for possible resellers) - call me: 01634 823337

thank you,
Helmuts

p.s. I will update this post in case of changes

p.p.s please don't be harsh (blush)

 

[Lovekraft]

Im not a fan of this personally, although there may be no trademark for the exact term "virginads", i cant see any end user wanting to go with this name as virgin could probably still UDRP this if they really wanted to so too much of a risk. But even without considering that i just don't see the value in this name.

Seeing as this is an appraisal for the domain, £0 value for the domain IMO.

However it does seem like a reasonably well established site so that would probably help you sell it based on the content and established customer base but i couldn't really hazard a guess at how much.

Sorry thats probably not really helped you much but it is in the domain appraisals section!

 

[Helmuts]

Im not a fan of this personally, although there may be no trademark for the exact term "virginads", i cant see any end user wanting to go with this name as virgin could probably still UDRP this if they really wanted to so too much of a risk. But even without considering that i just don't see the value in this name.

Seeing as this is an appraisal for the domain, £0 value for the domain IMO.

Thank you foe your review.

My lawyer suggested to me to drop the project. He said that from the moment when I will register the trademark - within 1 month I will receive a letter from Virgin to stop my project.

That is the reason - why I want to sell it - don't want to invest more in it..

Still, the domain is very well ranked after this competative keyword and that can't mean, that the value is just £0.

However it does seem like a reasonably well established site so that would probably help you sell it based on the content and established customer base but i couldn't really hazard a guess at how much.

* I would not go for an option - selling customer base! ... in this case I would lose respect towards myself

I agree that the value would grow, if buyer gets the system as well.

Domain (with this content) can be used for:
1) building backlinks
2) provind your clients that:
2.1) you have decent sites in pocket;
2.2) you are good as seo specialist
3) promoting your own products and services
4) establishing contacts with new customers
5) making ££ with affiliate programs
a.o.

---

any other suggestions? or maybe you've been in similar situation..?

 

[djbw]

Could you not just rebrand as something else and 301?

 

[namestrands]

If you have built up a bonafide business with the name then why sell it? why apply for a trademark? do you have intellectual property to protect? the .com is registered and parked.

I cannot comment on the site content as our firewall has it marked as hosting malware, its also blocked by Malwarebytes. (85.15.231.93)

Your lawyer is mistaken, because it would be likely that Virgin would dispute the registration as soon as you file, not after the trademark is registered.

First thing is sort out the malware issue.

 

[Helmuts]

Could you not just rebrand as something else and 301?

Thank you for this advice. I think - I will go for this option.

If you have built up a bonafide business with the name then why sell it? why apply for a trademark? do you have intellectual property to protect? the .com is registered and parked.

1) wanted to register the TM to be safe from Virgin
2) .co.uk applies to the UK market - i'm not going to expand, so i'm not worried about .com

I cannot comment on the site content as our firewall has it marked as hosting malware, its also blocked by Malwarebytes. (85.15.231.93)

I have opensource Gnupanel on my servers - thank you for this information (I am on my way to sort it out)

Your lawyer is mistaken, because it would be likely that Virgin would dispute the registration as soon as you file, not after the trademark is registered.

Over here in the UK we have a law called "Pass By" - created for similar cases (when small busineses partly use big brands). It will not cancel my TM nor will take away my domain - simply, after the court case I will not be able to use the domain and the name :/