Domain arbitrage experiment, wishing for 25-50x ROI

The Great Combinator

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Yesterday I was talking privately with @rocknrollchef about my recent purchase of one word domain in ALT extension. I was telling him that same word .COM is for sale over $100k and .CO for $10k and that I that my acquisition at registration cost was a steal and that I will be registering another domain extension for that name as well The domain was purchased for a startup and not for resale but during overall research process I've done some abstract thinking and I think I see potential for arbitrage. I will not disclose full details and will be very broad in my explanation but everything is very straight forward. I cannot reveal juicy parts because that is what separates my approach from plain domain arbitrage of trying to offer existing businesses similar domain names. I am not targeting niches, I am not targeting extensions, I am not targeting businesses and instead I am hunting for universal dictionary one word domains that are available for registration and after finding them matching them to business.

Domains - 11 one word domains which are considered premium by registrar and cost $100 to register (price is rounded off on average)

Cost - $1100

Method - I've identified great one word domain in ALT extensions and before registering I've performed research on who I can offer it. I've made a list of 10 leads to whom I will offer to buy it, if first one doesn't get it I move down the list. What makes my approach different is that I was able to identify domains that can be used by many businesses. I essentially find businesses with the same name in different areas. Since its one word the businesses that I am contacting don't necessarily own .COM and typically owns long tail keyword domain. I've also discovered some that don't even have a website (yes in 2021 and these are physical business with dozens of employees) and they would be offered chance to buy domains. To those that don't have a website the domain will be presented as opportunity to have one word premium domain to create new website. For those that have website already it would be a chance for them to upgrade to a better domain. I will explain that having multiple domain names is like having multiple business cards and this is their chance to have a new premium business card. To justify my prices for domain I will show them that there are 10+ other extensions that already registered for this word and their prices. I found few comparable one word domains in this extension listed for sale with minimum bid of $5000. I will use that as example of how much other sellers are selling similar domain names for and ask them to invest into their brand. If they're not interested I will say OK no worries I will offer this domain to their competitor or offer it to them to lease for $100/month.

Example - POSEIDON, lets say I found 5 DJ Poseidon and 3 rappers using this name and they all have various websites, some have domain, some just soundcloud, some just FB, etc. I register POSEIDON.HIPHOP and offer it to them and to justify such price I will show them how much other extensions cost for POSEIDON & at the same time show them that NEPTUNE.HIPHOP has minimum asking price of $5000 and I offer it to them for $3000 and accept $2500.

Goal - wishful thinking is to turn each $100 domain into $2500-$5000 purchase. Most of the domains I think would be in $3000 asking price range when I will show them similar listed for $5000 minimum and 1 or 2 might pull of me asking for $5000 for them (they have a lot more other extensions already registered). One domain I am taking the biggest gamble and I will ask for $25,000 and have limited number of whom I can offer it. What supports my evaluation is $50,000 asking price for similar domain in this extension. I am just providing prices to them and convince them to make investment & secure the name for themselves.

Next steps - I will do nothing for next few days and work on my other projects. After that I will start contacting businesses and offering them domains to purchase. When there are sales I will post here to keep track.
 
Interesting different project from what is usually posted in journey threads.
Nice idea op. Will follow to see how it goes.
Best of luck with your project.
 
Update:

So I've bought and let idle first batch of 11 domains. I already had leas who to offer them and nothing changed. I've been busy with other projects and as well as evolving this idea more.

As I bounced between few projects since OP I've put in some hours to find more alt gem domains. I've discovered several alt extensions where I can grab sweet one word originally and now I've expanded it to two words and have been finding even more opportunities. I've also changed my future approach to contacting leads from offering them domain to buy and instead will only offer it for rent. I expect higher response to cold emails when offering something $100/month versus $5000/purchase.

My Global Entry membership is expiring and to get it renewed for free I've signed up to credit card that offers a decent sign up bonus and I need to spend $3000 in 90 days. The card didn't arrive in time to pay for ROUND 1 domain purchase so now I have to spend money on other rounds. I plan to offer domain rentals for around $100/month for my top bangers and $50/month for my low end bangers.

For renting domains I've changed my approach where I will be comparing my premium ALT domains as premium VANITY phone numbers. I will be telling business that they missed out on .COM like they missed out on 1-800-DOMAIN and when other phone area codes appeared 888 / 877 / etc appeared there were businesses that jumped and grabbed new area code and in my case alt domain name. Perception is what matters. I'm confident I will get them rented, maybe not contacting first customer on the list but it will happen. CPC for these specific niches that I've finding can be upto $5+ and my narrative will be take it or leave and that I have others to offer this too.

Currently I'm exploring few new alt extensions:

1) $250+ to register premium domains, found few bangers with one word at discount $90 when same word at alt extension sold over $20k. $250 banger with same alt extension sold for $25k+. So far as entry point I'll grab these and few smaller domains I found here at absurd $9 registration

2 top bangers I will offer at $100/month to rent and smaller names that I can get for $9 I will try to push for $50/month

ROUND 2 BATCH 1 investment - $90 banger 1 + $250 banger 2 + few undecided $9 jr bangers to test rental opportunities in this space, total maybe around $400

2) $150+ to register premium domains, found $10 discounted banger and one regular priced

ROUND 2 BATCH 2 investment - $10 + $150 = $160

3) $50+ to register premium domains, one bargain at $9 and one at $50

ROUND 2 BATCH 3 investment - $9 + $50 = $59

Total ROUND 2 investment = ~$400 + $160 + $59 = $519

I am betting on ability to find random alt extensions that still have premium names that are not taken because of high cost of registration and using arbitrage to offer them. I am obviously not finding gems in famous alt extensions where many people before me took all the good names. I'm finding obscure not well known names where registrars still qualify certain names to be premium.

#3 this round is a niche I would never bother approaching but because I found one word jr bangers I'll give it a shot where 2 months rental for 1 domain would pay for acquisition cost of both domains

I have more in my budget to buy more names and I'll update with other rounds of new extensions I'm finding and grabbing few gems. I found many opportunities but don't want to jump in and buy too many domains.
 
Shiiii this is great. Following keep us posted. This stuff better than bitcoin lol
 
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