When it comes to selling domain names via outbound marketing, credibility is very important. If a prospective buyer receives an unsolicited and unexpected email about purchasing a domain name they’re interested in buying, the first thing they’ll most likely do is check to see who the sender is. Without a having a presence online, you could look less legitimate and prospective buyers may be apprehensive about buying your domain name.
One of the best ways to establish trust is by having a professional website that explains who you are and what your business does. For instance, my corporate websites (TopNotchDomains.com and Embrace.com) ensure prospects can see that there is a real business behind my email. Both websites outline my experience and the company background. They also show that I’m not hiding behind a free email address, and I am a real person. They should be able to surmise they can safely do a deal with me/my company.
In addition to a website, a social media presence can also be helpful. Buyers often look to platforms like LinkedIn or X to identify who the email came from. I think a corporate website shows legitimacy a bit more than social media does, but a social media presence can be supplementally helpful. Notably, I think social media profiles should be totally professional because having too much personal and/or political content can be offputting.
Some third party platforms (like Efty and Atom.com) allow sellers to have white label websites. There are plenty of WordPress or html templates that can easily be used for a website. GoDaddy and other domain registrars have various tools to help users set up simple websites. Even setting up a condensed website on Carrd with information about the business can be helpful in making yourself appear legitimate.
In short, the domain name aftermarket can still appear to be opaque, and having a clear online presence can make a big difference when a prospective buyer is interested but hesitant to move forward with someone who reached out with an unsolicited email to sell a domain name.
Thanks for the post Elliot. As I’m building my “portfolio” website, thinking about outbound strategy in parallel. Could you suggest some best practices on how to approach prospects?