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The $5k Limit

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I have been in a negotiation with a buyer, and it seems like we are close to an agreement on a domain name sale. The domain name is priced at $4,999, and I sent the buyer a GoDaddy checkout link to help expedite the sale. That’s where we ran into a payment snafu.

The buyer needs additional levels of authorization to approve a purchase above $5,000. With GoDaddy and its checkout link, the $21.99 domain name renewal is tacked on to the $4,999 purchase price, bringing the total amount over the $5,000 level. After a phone conversation, I understood the buyer could seek that approval, which would take an unknown amount of time, or the price could be modified. I opted to reduce the purchase price to get beneath the threshold.

No Nameserver Change ≠ Fake Sale

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A few years ago, I privately closed a very substantial domain name sale. Following the sale, the buyer did absolutely nothing with the domain name. The Whois was made private, but the nameservers remained the same as before. To this day, the domain name resolves exactly where it resolved prior to the sale.

Around that same time period, I sold a different domain name for $12,000 via Afternic. Within a few weeks, the domain name was relisted for sale on Afternic for around $15,000. My guess is the buyer chose a different brand name and relisted it for an amount that would make him whole. The domain name is now being used, but I don’t know if it sold again or if that buyer decided to use it.

I generally don’t report my domain name sales for a variety of reasons. Had I shared either sale publicly, some people probably would have claimed that they were fake sale or that the deals were not completed and I didn’t want to provide an update.

GoDaddy to Launch “Premium Domain Marketplace” on DomainNames.com

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The Afternic X account posted a link on X without much context that caught my attention this morning:

Have a Real Presence Online When Selling Domain Names

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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.

2021 vs 2025 – % of .coms in my Portfolio

I don’t closely track the percentage of domain extensions in my portfolio. I could have 75% .com or I could have 99% .com domain names in my portfolio, and the only implication is higher (in general) renewal costs. Because I buy more domain names that I sell, my portfolio has been growing each year, so tracking the increase in renewal costs isn’t really helpful in seeing how the percentage of .com domain names is changing.

I’ve primarily invested in .com domain names since I started my business 20 years ago. I think great one and two word .com domain names are the most desirable assets for businesses around the world, and I have always wanted to invest in domain names like these that sell themselves.

Nominations Open for 2026 ICA Awards

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The Internet Commerce Association (ICA) is now accepting nominations for two domain investing community awards. Domain investors may now submit their nominations for the 2026 Lonnie Borck Memorial Award and the Trailblazer Award.

The Lonnie Borck Memorial Award was named in memory of one of my closest business friends, Lonnie Borck, who passed away at 47 years old in 2016. The award is given to an individual who helps “build a stronger, more connected community.” Lonnie was someone with many friends in this business, and it was always great spending time with him at various conferences and elsewhere. Five of us still have a weekly text message chain we’ve kept going for many years in Lonnie’s memory and honor.

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