Domain Lesson from Clarkston, Michigan

Elliot Silver
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I caught a news article on ClarkstonNews.com about the website for a small city in Michigan, and the City Manager shared a valuable lesson all municipalities and businesses should heed: Set up a single email address to receive important emails, such as domain name renewals.

The domain name that is home to the website for the City of the Village of Clarkston (also known as Clarkson) expired, and apparently someone from the previous administration was listed as the registrant. As a result, the domain name expired, rendering the website unreachable since it was in pending renewal status. Fortunately, they were able to get in touch with that person, and it appears that the website is now operational again.

Had the domain name been registered to

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Don’t Let Someone Talk Negatively After a Domain Sale

Elliot Silver
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4

As hard as I try to be nice when completing a domain name purchase or sale, I have been a participant in what you might call “challenging” negotiations. Regardless of what is being discussed, negotiations can become contentious. I think domain name negotiations can be even more contentious than usual because some people think aftermarket domain names are overpriced, and they don’t like the fact that people buy domain names as investments. Put simply, some people do not like dealing with domain investors.

I am sure there have been plenty of negotiations that ended with one party not being happy with the other party (or the domain broker who represented a particular party) after a deal is transacted. I can’t help but think of this article posted by Andrew to illustrate a case where one side of a deal was unhappy with some part of the transaction. Sometimes people keep this to themselves, but other times, they want to express how they feel to as many people as they can.

With that being said, once a

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New Leadership May Mean New Opportunity

Elliot Silver
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1

There have been quite a few times where I’ve been negotiating with a prospective buyer, and I can tell the company wants to buy a particular domain name but we were unable to come to terms on the price. When this happens, I let them know they can contact me in the future if their offer changes, but until then, I will keep the domain name and possibly find another company to buy it.

As time passes, new leadership may enter the company. Perhaps a new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) takes a position at the company. The change in leadership, especially if it involved the counterparty in a negotiation, may bear fruit for your negotiation. This new executive may have a stronger interest in the domain name, and the company may be more willing to buy it at a price that is closer to the initial asking price.

This may not

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You May Get Only One Chance to Buy a Domain Name

Elliot Silver
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There are quite a few ways to try and purchase a domain name in private. A buyer can negotiate directly with the owner, an anonymous offer can be placed on the domain name, a broker can be engaged to negotiate, or a domain name can be purchased through a domain marketplace. Despite all of the great options, buyers need to know that they may only get one good chance to buy a domain name.

When a prospective buyer inquires about a domain name, the domain owner may begin doing research on who the buyer is and why the buyer wants the domain name. He will also determine the value of the domain name, and a major factor is the demand for the domain name.

Continued efforts at acquiring a domain name may end up increasing the price of the domain name. A domain owner may sense desperation by the prospective buyer, and the price may be adjusted accordingly. Similarly, if the inquiries were made privately, the domain owner may assume more than one prospective buyer is interested in the domain name, and the price may also rise as a result of the perceived increase in demand.

Domain buyers should realize

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Get Attention from a Press Release

Elliot Silver
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3

When a domain broker or domain brokerage takes an excellent domain name under exclusive listing, it’s a smart idea to distribute a press release to announce that the domain name is for sale. The broker will want to share information about the domain name, why it is special, and perhaps include some pricing information. The idea is to let as many people possible know the domain name is on the market.

In my opinion, the release is important, but getting it in front of the right people is even more important. I think there are four types of people who should receive the press release, directly from the broker:

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My Thoughts on Phone Negotiations

Elliot Silver
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18

I have never really enjoyed chatting on the phone. This sometimes goes for chatting with friends, but it almost always pertains to domain name negotiations. There are some times when a phone conversation can be fruitful though, and I thought I would share some thoughts on phone negotiations.

When I want to inquire about a domain name as a buyer, I will usually send an email and follow up with a phone call if it could be fruitful. For instance, if the domain owner seems willing to sell the domain name and we need to come to terms on the price, I might give a phone call. Some people will brush off my call and stick to email, but others are more chatty, and we can finalize a deal quickly. I like the fact the I can speed up a discussion rather than extend it hours or days with email.

When someone randomly calls me to discuss a domain name,

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