Expedite a Domain Name Transfer

I don’t know about you, but I find it particularly annoying when a registrar domain transfer takes far longer than it should. In my opinion, if a domain name is transferred to another domain registrar, it should take no longer than a day to complete as long as all approvals are made by the transferring parties. Unfortunately, it can take up to 5 days for a transfer to be finalized.

Some domain registrars make it very easy to transfer domain names. I’ve transferred names from Enom to GoDaddy in just a few minutes. Unfortunately, I’ve found that some domain registrars seem to make it difficult, and it takes the full 5 days to go through. Perhaps they think that a customer will change his or her mind during that time period or maybe there are other reasons, but it’s frustrating to wait when I know it can be done more quickly.

If you sell a domain name and are awaiting the successful transfer to get paid or if you are consolidating your domain portfolio at one registrar and want it done more quickly, here’s a tip to speed up the domain transfer process.

Memorial Day Weekend Updates

One of the nicer things about this business is that I can take a day off whenever I feel like it. Yesterday, I decided I would do some of the easier landscaping stuff around the house (mulching). I bought 5 cubic yards of mulch, a wheelbarrow, and a pitch fork. I am totally regretting it today. My back is sore, my arms are sore, and I didn’t even finish the job. There is a first and last time for everything.

If you’re in the US, I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and don’t forget the meaning behind the holiday. Here are some updates, thoughts, and a bit of advice for good measure.

  • Michael Castello published an article on DomainInvesting.com that I think is worth a read. I appreciate that Michael shared

Using CrunchBase to Find a Domain Buyer

There are many ways to find a buyer of a domain name. I’ve discussed how to use LinkedIn to find a domain name buyer, and I also think CrunchBase could be a helpful tool to identify prospective buyers as well.

Generally, I use Google the most regularly to find a domain name buyer. I search the keyword term in Google, and I can usually create a list of companies to target. If I was interested in selling EventManagement.com, I could search Google to find companies that would describe themselves as event management companies or find prospects that offer event management software. This has been most effective for me in finding companies that may have an interest in buying domain names.

CrunchBase can be searched for these prospects in a similar fashion, and it gives me additional reference information like funding, company creation date, and founder information. One of the biggest advantages to CB is that I can see how much money a company has raised and when the funds were raised. A company that is newly flush with cash may be more likely to acquire a great domain name in the aftermarket than a company that isn’t profitable and hasn’t had a funding round in years. I can also see what other products and services the company offers, and do additional research to see if the company tends to be acquisitive when it comes to domain name assets.

One limitation to CrunchBase is that

Know Your Asking Prices

There are many ways a person can inquire about a domain name. I have found that many buyers visit the landing page and inquire directly after seeing a “for sale” message on the page. Many people also have success selling domain names via marketplaces such as Afternic and Sedo. When you quote a price, be mindful of the buy it now prices you’ve set elsewhere.

Buy it now pricing is encouraged at domain marketplaces. It makes it easier for a buyer to complete a purchase, and it is faster for all parties. It probably makes buyers more comfortable knowing that the price is set and it is not going to increase based on who they are (how much money they have). One issue I face on occasion is when I quote a price on a direct inquiry that differs from the buy it now price elsewhere.

I don’t have a great pricing system. I have started to put

Tips for After a Domain Auction

Most people who are active in the domain industry spend a considerable amount of time and money bidding on domain name auctions. After I win a domain auction there are several things I do to ensure that the domain name is set up properly and possibly listed for sale under my accounts.

I want to share a few tips and steps you might want to take after winning a domain auction to make sure everything on your end is in order.

Discussion About Domain Names on Active Rain

There’s an interesting discussion about domain names in an Active Rain blog post that was written by Kathleen Daniels, a real estate broker in San Jose, California. In the article, Daniels briefly discusses her interaction with a domain broker regarding a domain name she is interested in buying. Daniels seeks feedback from others regarding the $14,000 asking price.

I’ve done several deals with real estate agents and companies in the real estate business. I have been a buyer and seller of US (city)RealEstate.com domain names and am still buying and selling them when great names are available at great prices. Because of my involvement in this vertical, I thought this article with over 75 comments is a great look into the minds of  real estate agents regarding how they view domain names.

The first thing I noticed is that many people told Daniels that $14,000 for the domain name is