Holding Domains Longer Than Planned

Noahclarke

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Have you ever purchased a domain with a certain idea in mind, only to keep it for years because the timing didn't seem right? How do you choose when to let go at last?
 
Put it up for sale or let it expire. I don’t think there’s many other options unless you want to give it away maybe?
 
Have you ever purchased a domain with a certain idea in mind, only to keep it for years because the timing didn't seem right?
more times than I'd like to admit :(

How do you choose when to let go at last?
when I can't afford renewing it, or when I make important decisions about my business (ie. quit doing SEO)
 
Put it up for sale or let it expire. I don’t think there’s many other options unless you want to give it away maybe?
Yes, it usually boils down to those decisions. Do you base that choice only on market demand and renewal costs, or do you also consider whether the name still has potential?
 
more times than I'd like to admit :(


when I can't afford renewing it, or when I make important decisions about my business (ie. quit doing SEO)
Changes in life and business undoubtedly compel those choices. When that occurs, do you typically try to sell them first or let them expire?
 
Changes in life and business undoubtedly compel those choices. When that occurs, do you typically try to sell them first or let them expire?
I always let them expire because I was too stupid to figure out that I could sell them...

But from now on I'll try to sell them for sure, especially since I almost always buy cool / short / catchy / interesting domains, so they do have value :)
 
Yes, it usually boils down to those decisions. Do you base that choice only on market demand and renewal costs, or do you also consider whether the name still has potential?
I put my domains up for sale when I know I’m not actually going to use them. I sold one for $21k in 2021 that I had used for 9 years prior to that. Just the domain no website. So if the domain is brandable in any niche then absolutely put it up for sale.

For anyone who is curious a mushroom coffee company bought my brand name and now sell the coffee under it.
 
My portfolio is basically a graveyard of great ideas that never saw the light of day. I only let go when the renewal bill arrives and I realize I still haven't even installed WordPress on it
 
I put my domains up for sale when I know I’m not actually going to use them. I sold one for $21k in 2021 that I had used for 9 years prior to that. Just the domain no website. So if the domain is brandable in any niche then absolutely put it up for sale.

For anyone who is curious a mushroom coffee company bought my brand name and now sell the coffee under it.
That is an excellent illustration of the long term importance of a powerful, recognizable name, it truly paid off to hold it till the ideal buyer appeared. Did the buyer come to you directly, or did you aggressively market it for sale?
 
That is an excellent illustration of the long term importance of a powerful, recognizable name, it truly paid off to hold it till the ideal buyer appeared. Did the buyer come to you directly, or did you aggressively market it for sale?
I just posted it for sale with an asking price of $25k through afternic
 
Hi three,

What usually delays a sale isn’t uncertainty about the name, but uncertainty about the market context around it.

At some point, either the domain no longer fits how the market is actually evolving, or the opportunity cost becomes clear, meaning the capital or attention tied up in that name would work harder elsewhere. It’s less about losing faith in the domain and more about reallocating conviction.
 
either you need to find time to implement the idea for which the domain was purchased, if it is really worthwhile, or resell the domain before it expires
 
You should always have all your domains listed on Afternic with "Make Offer". Afternic is the biggest domain marketplace and you only pay (yes, a high commission) if you accept an offer. At least this gives you the chance to sell a name rather than let it drop
 
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