For many investors, performing outbound domain sales is an important part of their business. To create cash flow, it's sometimes advantageous to seek out sales opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you. Domain name brokers regularly market domain names to end users on behalf of their clients, using their skills to find the right buyer.
In this edition of Expert Exchange, we ask our panel of top domain name brokers:
@Joe Uddeme, Founder of NameExperts LLC
@Jen Sale, COO of Evergreen.com
@Bill Sweetman, CEO of NameNinja
George Hong, CEO of @GUTA
@Giuseppe Graziano, CEO of GGRG
Kevin Fink (@iHaveThisIdea), COO of Starfire Web Holdings
@Dave Evanson, Senior Broker at @Sedo
@Hobi Michalec, Co-founder of Lumis Group
These responses have been edited for clarity.
In this edition of Expert Exchange, we ask our panel of top domain name brokers:
What is your advice for domain investors looking to practice outbound sales?
@Joe Uddeme, Founder of NameExperts LLC
Do not become emotionally attached to your asset(s). If you do, don’t personally market the domain name for sale. Most domain investors think they have the best domain names and they are extremely valuable. If you really want to make a sale, you need to remove the emotion and realistically set your pricing expectation.
@Jen Sale, COO of Evergreen.com
Do your research and create a highly targeted list of prospective buyers. Find the right person at the right company. This takes time and resources, but it is well worth the effort.
@Bill Sweetman, CEO of NameNinja
Do your homework and focus on the quality, not quantity, of your potential buyers. It's better to identify and nurture a relationship with 2-3 really qualified potential buyers than to send hundreds of spam emails to a bunch of folks who are never going to buy the domain name. Use a laser, not a shotgun!
George Hong, CEO of @GUTA
Be patient and prepared to work hard as outbound sales take time and effort. Target qualified buyers, perform in depth research to find candidates, and then filter out candidates that are not suitable for the domain name.
@Giuseppe Graziano, CEO of GGRG
Be selective in your outreach, and please do not spam people!
Kevin Fink (@iHaveThisIdea), COO of Starfire Web Holdings
Michael Cyger’s DN Academy lessons on this topic are something we recommend.
I would add: focus only on assets that would be beneficial to your potential buyer. Not just “catchy” and “brandable,” but something that actually makes sense for their brand.
There are tools that are immensely helpful, like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, which allows you to pinpoint who the best decision makers are to reach, and other plugins mentioned in this article, whether the tool tracks email opens to help gauge when to follow-up, or it just helps you organize your prospects in your inbox.
Be courteous in your outreach but also smart and intuitive – you only get one chance to make a solid introduction. Ask yourself if your pitch would make sense to someone in their position and make sense to a company in its position.
@Dave Evanson, Senior Broker at @Sedo
I advise domain investors who utilize outbound sales not to reinvent the process. They should talk to brokers, domain investors who have experience reaching out to sell their own domains, and read domain blogs. They should also set realistic expectations and target their outreach effectively. Since credibility is important, using a professional vs. generic email address, and a website with a good domain name can go a long way.
@Hobi Michalec, Co-founder of Lumis Group
Don't give up. Sending only one or two emails is a drop in the bucket. It takes on average seven contact attempts to get a reply and most people give up after five. Also, don't rely on email alone. A voice to a name separates you from the spammers.
These responses have been edited for clarity.