Should I take an offer of $100,000 on a .net?
I’m .com person. I have looked far and wide to help purchase some of the best generic .com’s in the word. However, there are certain keywords that are extremely valuable even in other extensions. One such phrase is ” Car Insurance”. I own Carinsurance.net. I purchased it a few years back from the winner of a snapnames.com drop. Back in those days, Snapnames did not auction domains. What they did was charge you a small sum, around $69. If no one else had a “snap” on it, you could snap it and hope that they won it for you. a few domainers built their empires on snaps.
I have had various offers over the years, some higher, but have always kept the Carinsurance.net domain due to the large lead gen and SEO possibilities. A few recent offers at the $100,000 range has got me off my motivated into developing it.
What would you do?
Amazing Guest Post by The Purchaser of CookingGames.com – A Must Read
Due to the overwhelming interest in his purchase of CookingGames.com, Bill Kara has prepared the following guest post telling of another amazing generic .com. I hand it to Bill as being a great businessman who knows the power of the perfect generic domain for his areas of expertise. Please read on.
If you think Hallpass Media paid alot for cookinggames.com (350k) then
you might be surprised at what we paid for stickgames.com…
We had been looking for a number of niche game sites for a while, in
the crowded field of online gaming very few things set you apart from
the next site offering virtually all the same games. Having prime
domains is one of the few affordable options we had left. We filtered
out our most popular content areas and stick games were consistently a
top section.
“Stick Games are stick figures doing an assortment of things, most
often blowing each other up in various creative ways.”
I went after the top dog of course which was stickgames.com. It was
parked and owned by one of the hardest, most stubborn and least
motivated sellers on earth. This was not good news for us.
The domain was getting tons of traffic (confirmed between 1000-1500
type in a day) and the owners after our first contact wanted 250k for
the domain, no stats and no revenue figures to be provided. I knew the
domain was making nothing for them though, by using automated parking
technology I could see all the ads were displaying “stick” game type
stuff. Like hockey, skating and ads of this nature. I knew the
disconnect was there and viewers were coming to play games and being
shown hockey ads so the click through rates must have been nil. I
countered offered with a final offer of 100k after a few weeks of back
and forth they relented.
StickGames.com a domain unsuccessfully selling hockey sticks and
skates, with traffic coming from stickmen blowing each other up was
sold for a 100k, a 6 figure sum.
Story continues…
We did our development and quickly gained the number one spot on
google for “stick games”, even though the previous first place was to
a site with SEVEN times our traffic and had been developed for at
leave FIVE years before us. Generic advantage? Perhaps.
http://siteanalytics.compete.com/stickgames.com+stickpage.com/
It was alot of hard work and networking with many more factors then
I’ve been able to list, but the point is a good business plan, hard
work and the right assets in this case strong generic domains have
helped us in a very crowded and competitive market. We are on track to
recover our investment cost in the next 3 months, during one of the
worst recessions of our time. Still deals to be had, still many
opportunities to be had. Best of luck everyone one!
PS when you’re not working, you should be gaming:) More stories to
come in 2010…
www.stickgames.com “Stick Games”
www.girlgames.com “GIrl Games”
www.wordgames.com “Word Games”
www.guygames.com “Guy Games”
www.juegosgratis.com “Juegos Gratis”
www.hallpassmedia.com “Hallpass Media”
Cookinggames.com sells for $350,000 – WTF ?
According to DNJournal.com, the domain name CookingGames.com was sold at NoktaDomains for $350,000. My first reaction was disbelief, however, it was coming from a reputable source so I knew it to be true. Then I looked at the page to see what the heck were cooking games. The site reminded me of DressUp.com. Dressup.com was a name that was sold a few years back and then resold very quickly at a huge profit due to its absurdly high PPC revenue. Since the CookingGames.com site is identical to DressUp.com, I assume the same case senerio. Either way, congrats to the seller.
Drop Guard – Amazing New Registrar Product Never Lets Domains Drop
How many domainers have made the mistake of not renewing a domain? I for one have had it happen to me and I will never forget that I bought it back at auction for over $20,000.
I, like most keep a detailed inventory list along with automatic renewals and check each domain as the renew. However, many domainers leave their domains set auto renew and forget about it. What happens if the credit card that is on your account declines? Maybe you will get another renewal notice? Many registrars aren’t as helpful as they once were since they auction off names that you don’t pay for. What else can be done?
Webmasters.com has the best new domain product that I have seen in a long time. Their DropGuard option which costs an additional $1 per year guarantees that a domain name will not drop for one year after its expiration date if not renewed on time. Expired domains with DropGuard enabled are held in disabled state in the customer’s account, and can be renewed for up to one year after its expiration date. Upon renewal, the regular renewal fee still applies. Basically, the registrar insures against non renewal, and if a domain isn’t renewed for any reason, they pay the renewal fee out of their own pocket until the owner claims it. If the domain isn’t claimed after a year, they take the loss on the renewal fee.
I tested it out and it worked great. I predict that this cool feature will eventually be offered at by others but for the time being it’s only at Webmasters.com
Traffic Las Vegas Partial Inventory List Is Up
There are some very nice names on this list. I’d be curious to see the reserves.
Some of the names that caught my eye are Meetings.com, CarStereos.com, CatFood.com, AntiqueGuide.com and customerservice.com.
Here’s the email blast I received:
Greetings!
TRAFFIC Las Vegas 2010 Partial Auction Inventory List
Atlanta, Georgia USA – January 5, 2010 – Today, Latona’s Domain Brokerage & Auction House released a partial list of domain names that will be hitting the auction block later this month at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas. The Premium Live Auction will be on January 22, 2010. it will start at 4:00pm PST and end at 7:00pm PST. The Latona’s Extended Auction will begin on January 23 and go until January 29.
CustomerService.com
Descarga.com
Hell.com
POS.com
ASP.com
Procurement.com
BF.com
Laid.com
Meetings.com
CamSex.com
Homeowner.com
CarStereos.com
Conservationist.com
Dough.com
Scripture.com
FreePorn.co.uk
ZR.com
Beverage.com
Savvy.com
Handicap.com
Selma.com
tarjetasdecrédito.com
Veggies.com
tarjetadecrédito.com
Clarinet.com
Enlargement.com
Banquets.com
Ceremony.com
CatFood.com
GoFish.com
DMCA.com
Actresses.com
Wrestlers.com
Dietician.com
Dietfood.com
Consoles.com
Astronauts.com
RagsToRiches.com
BeautyQueen.com
Lemons.com
Purification.com
InternationalBanking.com
WebAdvertising.com
SecondJobs.com
Gels.com
Carburetors.com
RealEstate.co.za
CarShopper.com
Fort.com
Enlargements.com
Gadsden.com
LaptopReviews.com
Pizza.us(websiteincluded)
Blessing.com
TheSpecialist.com
TheCompany.com
TheComputer.com
SecondLanguage.com
EquipmentStorage.com
LonelyHearts.com
TheBeaches.com
TheWinery.com
Illusionist.com
Wine.us
eProfits.com
ConsultingFirms.com
Buttercup.com
SoftwareDesigners.com
NewsReporter.com
MyBoat.com
BikeRiders.com
Thrilled.com
BasketballPlayers.com
LaptopPackage
HYB.com
SEU.com
MyGarden.com
WCX.com
UFT.com
EGY.com
Smelly.com
TheAmazon.com
EndlessLove.com
MyPark.com
FootballFan.com
MyCenter.com
DesignExperts.com
TemporaryStorage.com
TheDomain.com
MyPiano.com
SoftwareDesigner.com
Divider.com
Precocious.com
JV.net
Lozenge.com
Gambling.gr
TopMortgage.comandTopMortgages.com
Consensual.com
AdvancedTechnology.com
Wordless.com
Faceless.com
FaceValue.com
ImageSpace.com
SportsPhotography.com
ParkRangers.com
ParanormalEvents.com
AdventureSeekers.com
AutoRacers.com
TheInstructor.com
StampCollectors.com
Sentimental.com
SuperSexy.com
GreatAdventure.com
JeepParts.com
IKC.com
Funds.us
PhotoDiver.com
DeepDivers.com
Indispensable.com
TheGuitarist.com
TheBeginning.com
DoctorLove.com
CoolShirts.com
Prophylactic.com
Antihistamine.comandAntihistimine.com
Meagan.com
LiveSocial.com
ForexExchange.com
BellyRing.com
XXX.us
Avengers.com
ImmigrationService.com
TeenCenter.com
BeautySpa.com
Meg.net
Elizabeth.net
Duplicity.com
Cuckoos.com
Inhibitors.com
Astringent.com
Hexes.com
Reducing.com
Automating.com
Petroleum.net
Encouraged.com
Portland.org
AntiqueGuide.com
MetroCard.com
FindHouse.com
Parables.com
DataTransfers.com
GoldAdvisor.com
CampStove.com
GamblingConsultant.com
FerrisWheel.com
3GPhoneNetwork.com
MedicalPractice.com
StockValuation.com
LegalCounsel.net
LasVegasBrunches.com
iSign.com
WilshireBlvd.com
Interning.com
BikerMagazine.com
NatureSounds.com
Incorporates.com
Reduce.net
Lowcarb.net
Sandra.net
Joan.net
Patty.net
Consequences.com
N.co.za
Paged.com
VegasAirFares.com
Jonesville.com
Institute.net
Stutter.com
BankruptcyLoans.com
Offshore.info
RomanCatholic.it
TheStrip.us
Handsome.co.za
Beautiful.co.za
Electronic.co.za
MarketingPromotions.com
EconomicGrowth.com
WirelessAdapter.com
Aristocracy.com
Otologist.com
USArmy.org
FreeWallpapers.net
RingbackTones.net
LowTaxes.net
Crises.com
Treinta.com
Fifths.com
Washington.biz
Deal.info
SearchByKeywords.com
CreditCardBilling.com
Corporation.info
Bahamian.com
CasinoSupplies.com
PrizeGame.com
RealtyCompany.com
LondonFashion.com
ToasterOven.co.uk/ToasterOvens.co.uk
FileManagement.co.uk
BeardTrimmer.co.uk
SurgeProtector.co.uk
BathTowel.co.uk/BathTowels.co.uk
Hotline.net
Suffocate.com
Motivating.com
Dude.co.za
Dudes.co.za
DrawingContest.com
Guavas.com
Hoodwink.com
Sisco.com
Decatur.net
WeddingCards.net
PopUpStopper.com
BlackDeath.com
Cognac.cm
Suer.com
TheUSPresident.org
eClassicCars.com
UnitedStatesPresident.com
JusticeDepartment.com
STX.net
Flats.info
DemocraticLeader.com
Wyndmere.com
InfluenzaVaccines.org
LanFax.com
Credit.mx
NaturalMeat.com
LosAngelesPersonals.com
LasVegasInsurance.com
PayOffBills.com
VintageCigars.com
Pendulums.net
Sunvisors.net
USBMemoryStick.com
FitnessProducts.net
DinnerMeeting.com
VegasShows.us
Turned.net
CurrencyHolders.com
Kalamazoo.mobi
Referrals.mobi
Surgeons.mobi
Biographies.mobi
Relief.mobi
Uniforms.mobi
Sell.mx
Rent.mx
ASP.mx
PHP.mx
PHD.mx
Waiting.info
Grave.info
USBailOut.com
ItalyRugby.com
TrainedDoctors.com
CorporateEmployees.com
Indian.cm
Flagradas.com
OperaSeat.com
AdoptionLawFirm.info
HebrewStore.com
BetsOnSports.com
eTaxReturn.com
WirelessRingtones.com
DudleyEngland.com
CricketSeason.com
FreshGeorgiaPeaches.com
GayMarriedCouples.com
FrontTires.com
HalfPriceCandy.com
“Just because a name is on this list, doesn’t mean it is guaranteed for the live auction,” said Rick Latona, founder and CEO of Latona’s. “More announcements will be coming soon including reserve ranges.”
Premium submissions are still being considered for the Latona’s Las Vegas event. If you have premium names that you would like to be submit, please submit them to www.ricklatona.com/auctions/submission-form or go to www.Latonas.com to set up an account and su
Leisure.com at 150K Leads Sedo’s Weekly Sales List
Last weeks sales were slow due to the Holiday. Leisure.com topped Sedo’s weekly sales chart at 150K. From the list, I rate the sales of taxspecialists.com at 7 k and find.net at 25k good buys.
Here’s the complete list:
Domain name Price Currency
.Com
leisure.com 150,000 USD
betin.com 10,000 EUR
rbu.com 8,000 USD
taxspecialists.com 7,000 USD
festivales.com 5,600 EUR
clickcasino.com 3,600 USD
books-on.com 3,500 USD
privatejetbroker.com 3,500 USD
propertyiq.com 3,000 USD
autopartsdealer.com 3,000 USD
travelbed.com 2,600 USD
takeoutcity.com 2,500 USD
boldcasino.com 2,500 EUR
vente-immobilier.com 2,490 EUR
superbrains.com 2,388 USD
vdsltarife.com 2,050 EUR
tourlouisiana.com 2,001 USD
woeid.com 2,000 USD
inwego.com 2,000 EUR
ccTLDs
booking.com.ar 14,500 EUR
security.eu 12,010 EUR
bookings.com.ar 10,500 EUR
sms.to 6,700 EUR
bestdeal.de 5,500 EUR
aubergesdejeunesse.fr 5,000 EUR
poolnews.de 4,950 EUR
thringen-online.de 4,760 EUR
singles.us 3,000 USD
spieleindex.de 3,000 EUR
lex-links.de 2,400 EUR
edouard.fr 2,250 EUR
ligue1.cn 2,092 EUR
eap24.de 2,000 EUR
fensterbild.de 1,900 EUR
fhrerschein.eu 1,650 EUR
privateinvestigator.us 1,500 USD
sexylingerie.tv 1,300 EUR
bersetzer.at 1,250 EUR
alert.us 1,100 USD
camshot.fr 1,000 EUR
tink.me 1,000 USD
die-private-krankenversicherung.de 950 EUR
hotelcard.eu 950 EUR
e-green.de 900 EUR
tonerversand.de 801 EUR
creditcardbadcredit.co.uk 800 GBP
sexycam.de 750 EUR
bs.be 750 EUR
kostme.eu 716 EUR
Other
find.net 25,000 USD
remix.org 4,200 USD
rangerforum.net 1,312 USD
luo.net 1,272 USD
motorboot.org 1,190 EUR
geschenk.biz 1,063 EUR
esupp.net 1,000 USD
biggame.info 990 EUR
prinzen.net 835 EUR
online-schooling.net 750 USD
Domainers Divorce Turns Ugly
Divorce seems to be a horrible thing. I just read lynnMann.com . This seems to be a bitter battle for Mike Mann former owner of BuyDomains. Mike, for those of you that do not know, sold BuyDomains many years ago to the company that became NameMedia.
Mike seems to have documented and posted items to lynnMann.com. I believe the site was recently taken down and then put back up. It reads more like a TV reality series than real life. You may want to take a look at it sooner than later, just in case it comes down again for good.
Check Available Twitter Usernames and Domain Names at The Same Time
TechCrunch had an article today regarding a service called Tweexchange. Tweexchange actually started off as a site to sell twitter user names. However that was against Twitter’s TOS. The new site is cool. You can actually type in any phrase and it will tell you whether or not the twitter user name or domain name is available. One features that I like is that the site will also suggest alternative twitter names and domain names and let you know if they are available. There is also a feature that claims if a twitter name is pending delete, it will send you an email if that user name drops (for a fee of $5-) I have not tested this feature but it could be very useful if it works.
Registration Opens For SES New York – Get Free Expo Pass
Search Engine Strategies is hosting their New York show from March 22-March 26th. Domains looking to build sites can take advantage of excellent sessions such as Introduction to Search Engine Marketing, Introduction to Analytics, Search, Where to Next?, New Affiliate Opportunities and Strategies, Link Building Basics and Developing Great Content. For those interesting in a Full Conference Pass, there is currently a $600 off promotion if you book it by January 15th. If you just want to see the exhibits, you can get a free expo only pass if you register before March 22. For the registration page click here
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah ( Chanukah), Festivus, Kwanzaa, etc
This time of year you try and slow down and take a deep breath. However, you have family events, end of year business and lots of football to keep you busy. Hopefully, you will take the time to reflect on the past year and cherish the memories that it brought. Have a happy and joyous holiday.