After reading an excruciatingly long thread on DNForum that deals with allegations of scamming, stolen domain names, missing funds…etc, I wanted to share some general advice when buying and selling domain names. The advice I give is only based on how I personally do business, and I recommend using an attorney if that makes you more comfortable.

Before I purchase a domain name, I always check the Whois history to make sure the name looks like it is free and clear of problems. Frequent changes in ownership, different/inconsistent email addresses or phone numbers, and incorrect-sounding information always ring bells in my head and requires further checking. I also like to search using Google and the domain forums to see if the name has ever been in a dispute or had “issues.” Because I mostly Read More »

I received an email from Pete Lamson, Senior VP and GM of NameMedia this morning announcing that Afternic was launching a pre-expiry domain auction service. This is good news for the domain business, as Afternic has extensive experience in the domain auction vertical, and all of the NameMedia properties have strong customer and technical support in place. It will be interesting to see which registrar(s) will be partnering with Afternic on this venture.

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NameMedia Launches Domain Auction Sales Platform

New Service Will Feature Exclusive Domain Inventory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2007 Waltham, MA—NameMedia today announced the launch of Afternic Auctions on the company’s award-winning AfternicDLS domain sales platform.  With this launch, NameMedia expands AfternicDLS’ suite of products to include exclusive pre-expiry domain auctions.  These daily auctions will allow buyers to purchase domain names from among thousands of names that have not been renewed by their owners prior to expiration.

“We are pleased to further enhance our marketplace by operating exclusive, daily domain name auctions,” said Pete Lamson, senior vice president and general manager of NameMedia’s marketplace. “The Afternic Auction platform, backed by Afternic’s personalized service and flexible bidding options, gives domain buyers another source of premium domain names.”

The Afternic Auction platform, launched after extensive customer usability testing, includes the following product benefits:

•    Simple search functionality and bidding interface
•    35 day “Preorder” period, followed by extended 5 day auction
•    Individually prepared Domain Appraisals available for every auctioned name
•    Personalized bid management system including:  Bid Increase Alerts, Domain Watch Lists, Closing Soon Reminders and more
•    Capability to download the inventory of upcoming auctions to facilitate analysis and bidding strategies
•    Secure domain escrow process

“Customer reaction during beta testing was very positive, particularly with respect to the platform’s search technology, bidding interface and bid management summary,” said Adam Gross, product director for NameMedia’s domain marketplace.  “We look forward to this launch of another new service for our customers.”

For more information, visit www.Afternic.com

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For Press Inquiries, Contact:
Libby Levinson
781-839-2809

For Business Development Inquiries, Contact:
Tom Murphy
Vice President, Business Development
781-839-2871

About NameMedia

NameMedia operates a leading targeted online media business and a leading online marketplace for domain names. Further information is available at www.namemedia.com.

From the Afternic DLS Blog, and brought to my attention by Dan:  If you are looking to sell your domain names, NameMedia might be interested in purchasing them.  I am frequently asked by my readers for advice on selling domain names or locating potential buyers.  I frequently suggest that they auction their names, as that tends to yield competitive bids. However, many people are interested in getting cash now rather than waiting for an auction, then waiting to see if their names sold in auction, and then waiting some more to be paid if the names sold.

If this is the case, and you are looking to close quickly, it may be better to deal with a company who is willing to pay for your names without any hassles. I don’t know what types of names they are looking to acquire, but my dealings with NameMedia properties have all been positive, so now might be a good time to connect with them. It is always easier to approach a buyer with his wallet opened!

PS: If you email Pete (per the blog’s request) tell him I send my best!

Heary congratulations to the folks at NameMedia, who according to Reuters and a post on DomainNameNews.com filed with US regulators to raise up to $172.5 million in an IPO.  The company plans to list its shares on the Nasdaq market under the highly appropriate ticker symbol “NAME.”

This comes on the heels of great growth in the domain space.  Some of NameMedia’s better known properties include Afternic, BuyDomains, and Smart Name among others.  The company also recently announced strategic partnerships with leading companies such as Network Solutions and Register.com.

And also, courtesy of Sahar’s Blog, the filing can be found here:

NameMedia Announces Strategic Marketing Partnership with Network Solutions

The morning, NameMedia announced a new partnership was formed with Network Solutions. When a customer searches for an available domain name on the Network Solutions platform, a number of “Premium Resale Domain Names” will be listed in addition to the results of the query. For example, when I searched for the availability of BritishNews.com, the following appeared:

“britishnews.com is a Premium Resale Domain and can be purchased for $5,000″

This should be a good partnership opportunity because people who are willing to pay $34.99 for the standard one year registration at Network Solutions (vs. $9.99 at Godaddy) are probably more inclined to spend more to buy a premium domain name. This is a win for all parties, including the customer, who will have the opportunity to upgrade.

Looks like there’s a new entrant into the world of domain blogs! Launched on September 18, the Afternic DLS blog will provide “news about Afternic, BuyDomains, and AfternicDLS, the world’s largest domain listing service.” These Namemedia properties have been growing over the past year plus, and I hope the blog will offer some industry perspective from some of the sales leaders.

BuyDomains.com is one of the best partners I have in the domain business. They are one of the larger NameMedia properties, and they own somewhere around 800k domain names. When I first got into the business, I thought they were over-priced, and I never bought domain names from them. They were selling domain names at prices that I would sell domain names, consequently outpricing me and not allowing me to buy from them. Over the past few months, my opinion has changed, and I believe they can provide a good value to domain investors.

About a year ago, I found a few keyword domain names of interest. After inquiring about them, I was introduced to an Account Manager who was able to give me more competitive prices than what was listed. Since this original transaction, I believe I’ve purchased some great names from them at great prices, and I imagine they are happy with the business I have given them.

Just as any other business, cultivating relationships is essential. My Account Manager knows what types of names I like to purchase, and when she finds a name at a good price, she sends me an email with the name and the best discounted price. This saves me the time and effort of searching through their massive portfolio. Frequently, I will inquire about names I’ve found that they own, and I will almost instantly get a response with a price.

I believe domain investors frequently overlook BuyDomains.com when searching for domain names. Although their target audience is small business end users, they are happy to work with - and give deals to - domain investors. One tip for potential buyers is to inquire about domain names towards the end of the month. Just as in any market where the proprietor is willing to make a deal before closing, BuyDomains.com is sometimes willing to give the best deals at the end of the month.