What Is a Domain Sale?

A domain sale is the process of promoting a domain name for someone else to purchase it. A person may own a domain name and decide that they do not need it for a variety of reasons. Instead of letting the domain name expire, he may choose to sell the domain name to someone who would have a greater use for it. Many people create and register domain names for the express purpose of selling them for a profit.

Before you consider a domain sale, you must already have determined the minimum value of the domain name. Domain valuation is very subjective. The best way to declare the value of your domain name is simply to figure out the least amount of money you are willing to accept for it. There are free and paid domain valuation services that will compare your domain name to names similar to it. They will then come up with an approximate value for you. However, most experts feel that domain valuation companies are a waste of time. The value of you domain name depends on various factors: length of name, usefulness to target audience, use of prefixes and suffixes, and any other modifications to the domain name. Typically, the more you have to modify a domain name, the less it is worth. Also, longer domain names are worth much less than simple ones. For example, www.treat-yourself-spa.com is worth much less than www.spa.com. Domain valuation depends on the complexity of the domain name.

Once you have determined a value for the domain, you must decide whether to sell it independently or enlist the services of a domain broker. If you do a domain sale yourself, you have two options: link a simple web page to the domain name or create an active website and link it to the domain name. A simple web page only entails stating the domain name for sale and your contact information. An active website requires much more effort, but will be more likely to sell. Potential buyers like to see that the domain name has already generated traffic before they complete a domain sale.

If you do not want to have to deal with the hassle of a domain sale, you can always opt to have a domain broker do it for you. For a small fee, a domain broker will be your domain sale liaison and complete a sale for you. All you must do is sit back and let him complete the technical transfer, sales contracts, and other components of the domain sale. Many domain brokers will park a website for you. Website parking means that the broker actually creates a website for you and parks it on their host server for others to view. There will be links to companies that the domain broker works with. You will earn a few cents each time a link is clicked. Therefore, you will make money while trying to sell the domain name.

Do not get frustrated if your domain name does not sell very quickly. The demand is much lower than supply. Just make sure you are adequately promoting your domain name sale and you will eventually close a satisfying deal.