One of the most time consuming things I do is evaluate domain names that are for sale in auction. Every day, tens of thousands of domain names come up for sale via domain auction platforms. I primarily participate in auctions on NameJet, GoDaddy Auctions, and DropCatch.com. I spend quite a bit of my time reviewing lists of names to determine what I want to bid on and how much I am willing to spend.
Jen Sale, CEO of Evergreen.com, is a top domain name broker who has been in the business of domain investing for even longer than me. Jen is a regular guest on Domain Sherpa, and she was on the most recent show this week. In a 13 part Twitter thread, Jen summarized some of the tips and tools for domain auction bidding that were shared on the last Domain Sherpa episode. I think the advice is valuable, so I posted the thread below.
Letβs #recap:
A few tips & tools to evaluate #domains coming up for auction @namejet (or for sale) re: wholesale+retail value/chance of resale/risk assessmentβ¦
Src: @DomainSherpa πΊ https://t.co/k1TY1Q5JRo βΆοΈ39:10
Cc: @J10enbaum π§Ό @AmmarKubba π¨π½βπ€ @BradenPollock π€‘𧡠1/13
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
1. Review EstiBot & NameJet data
β What is EstiBotβs appraisal?
β How many backorders are there?
β How many days left until the auction?
β What is the min. bid?π https://t.co/2K3HDkIwEi / @estibotcom
π https://t.co/IYJOO8WjJt / @namejet𧡠2/13 pic.twitter.com/bp97QUM37j
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
2. Check https://t.co/rSG20QsjH6
β What, if any, was the past-use/history over time?
β Are there any red flags that may affect a future brand, the value and/or resale?π https://t.co/mIdtpgAeLG / @internetarchive
𧡠3/13 pic.twitter.com/ltzyTXiAi2
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
3. Check Ahrefs
β Scroll down to the footer and work through the Free SEO Tools β e.g. Backlink Checker, Website Checker, etc.
π https://t.co/uXaCAfav92 / @ahrefs
𧡠4/13 pic.twitter.com/WZlp0uTY7p
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
4. Review WHOIS activity
β Previous/current owners? Any red flags?
β If currently owned by a domain investor, why are they dropping this name?
β The domainβs creation date (age)?π https://t.co/6FM7YY1dHp / @domainIQ_com
π https://t.co/oygMKEfpc0 / @DomainTools𧡠5/13 pic.twitter.com/0wWh3wJnV3
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
5. Check SERPs
β Are there any exact match results/companies (chance of resale/pool of prospective buyers=demand)?
β Review past news articles/mentions/trends (positive vs. negative)π https://t.co/wqb0VNRrGM / @Google
π https://t.co/bgUNKVcAIf / @bing𧡠6/13 pic.twitter.com/9YGRg7qe9f
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
6. Check Crunchbase, LinkedIn & GitHub (+social media)
β Search for exact match companies/handles
β Review founders, funding & revenue
β Check @GitHub for new projectsπ https://t.co/XUVng2ZxMf / @crunchbase
π https://t.co/1PTp013az0 / @LinkedIn𧡠7/13 pic.twitter.com/Gu6Fs9PvdE
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
7. Check NameBio
β Has the domain sold previously? When, where & how much?
β Review comparable sales for potential resale value e.g. length, extension, category, patterns, etc.π https://t.co/NcNgVlVC9h / @NameBio
𧡠8/13 pic.twitter.com/BHceph8ISy
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
8. Setup Google Alerts
β Monitor the exact match domain name/keyword(s) (positive vs. negative news, new prospective buyers, specific industry trends)
π https://t.co/75HrBuMHUA / @Google
𧡠9/13 pic.twitter.com/1visz8pynD
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
9. Check trademarks
β Assess if a trademark(s), similar or identical to the domain name, already exists
π https://t.co/BDlIRaGieL / @WIPO
π https://t.co/kGm9rp4JsB / @uspto𧡠10/13 pic.twitter.com/c2pbYUyX63
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
10. Check alt extensions
β com/net/org/co/ai/io/xyz, ccTLDs, blockchain, etc?
β Status check (parked, for sale, developed, coming soon, not resolving)
β @Google Wildcard Search e.g. site:keyword.*π https://t.co/nv1glnZtIY / @instantdomain
𧡠11/13 pic.twitter.com/ZybFzO7K7c
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
11. Phone-a-friend
β Discuss a potential acquisition (or sale) with a trusted and experienced colleague in the domain name space
𧡠12/13 pic.twitter.com/tv4xHl0NlR
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
12. The gut check
βAt some point you need to be able to develop your own *instinct* and I would use the (above) tools to test that instinct.β β @AmmarKubba π¨π½βπ€
𧡠13/13 pic.twitter.com/YSCr1yI0AX
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
I hope youβve found this 𧡠of some βactual valueβ.
Disclaimer: βNone of this is financial advice.β β @J10enbaum π§Ό
βοΈ @JenSale AKA Sandy π
β Jen Sale (@JenSale) November 3, 2022
#11…you can contact BullS and will give you the professional domain or life advice. I can be your personal life coach.
#12.. have been saying that all the time, hand reg domains and sell for easy peasy money.
Born to have success instinct
I definitely need a personal life coach. Where do I sign up?!!
@Jen- Just go to BullS contact and one of my agent managers will get in touch with you.
Clients have to meet our business, mental and most importantly financial requirements to be accepted. We don’t take any John/Jane Doe(s). It is one on one personal concierge relationship and caters to our high valued clients anywhere in the world.
Can I pay for your consulting advice in dogge coins? Will I get rich and healthy?