Ask IH: Do you buy domain names?
https://www.indiehackers.com/post/ac0b1e28a7
Hey fellow hackers!
Over the weekend I posted a Show IH (https://www.indiehackers.com/post/ac0b1e28a7) about a side project I'm working on.
Since most of you are also makers building projects and ramping up businesses, I wanted to see if I could collect some data that can help focus and shape my project.
If you are feeling generous and want to help out, take this little survey :) Please comment with your answers.
- Do you buy domain names?
- How many domains do you have?
- Do you only focus on the primary TLDs (.com, .net, .org) or do you care about gTLDs and ccTLDs (.io, .co, .sh, .coffee)?
- Do you host domains on multiple providers?
- What is the most frustrating thing about buying and managing your domains?
If you've got additional thoughts, bring 'em my way!
Thank you!
Do you feel that finding good .coms is purely due to the saturation of the domain ("all the good stuff taken") or is it also a challenge to acquire the .com you want from an existing owner?
Thank you! Your purchase style reminds me of my own. Multiple core service providers (Name/namecheap/etc), getting .com/.io/.app depending on the project.
Follow up question for you:
I too use Cloudflare and Cloudflare Registrar -- do you find that their pricing is always attractive? There are a couple of TLDs I've been wanting to move into CF, but they are higher than a couple of others I use.
For the most part, Cloudflare Registrar seems to be cheaper. Only a few TLDs are more expensive. For example, .io is $32 at Namecheap and $45 at Cloudflare. I don't know how it is cheaper since Cloudflare has no markup. They must have negotiated a lower price or something. But I am considering moving even those domains over to Cloudflare because of convenience/consolidation and better security.
And until Cloudflare starts accepting new domain purchases, I will still use those other registrars for the first year.
Ahh yes, thanks. I've hesitated to bring over my .io's for that very reason. Namecheap does negotiate a lower rate (it's often based on quantity). So while Cloudflare does wholesale, their wholesale rate is still higher. Also, sometimes a provider will take a loss on the registration in order regain later in renewals or upsells (hosting, etc). This is quite common.
Cloudflare's promise to keep at wholesale is definitely alluring.
Your need for convenience and consolidation is what led me to build Domz, by the way. It's not quite there yet, but it's one of the leading needs.
Thank you!
Follow up question:
What do you mean by another domain to become available in the near future? A new gTLD, or a specific domain name that you're hoping will become expired?
Sorry for the delayed reply.
Yes, there are a few specific (already registered) domains I really want to own.
Trying to get in touch with the owner and acquire it, through DomainAgents, led nowhere. I am now waiting for them to expire.
I hope that helps!
Thanks @woorap.
Thank you!
Follow up question:
Which 2 providers do you use?
Currently moniker.com and inwx.de, but I manage the DNS via Cloudflare
But in the long run I want to bring all of it together
Thanks!
That's one of the goals of Domz... to bring it all into a central management dashboard, but still allow you to register/renew/transfer on a variety of providers.
Thank you!
Follow up question:
What are you currently doing to find buyers?
Thank you!
Followup question:
What do you currently do to find a buyer?
Well, had them on fFlippa, Go daddy and I even made a website to sell one of them...bit I am new to this, been doing it around a year or so..
Congratulations, sounds like you've done moderately well even though new to it. Did you have any luck on Flippa?
Nothing, at all, that's why I have less now domains now...
Oh I see. So you let them expire?
Yep, all the way..
I am about to let go one more, actually I removed the auto renewal a couple of days ago
Thank you!
Followup question:
What about finding domains that are available is a challenge for you?
A lot of times the domain will be taken.
What do you typically do when it's taken? Make a bid on it direct with the owner? Or do you just find an alternative domain?
I just find an alternative domain.
Yes
I used to have ~500 now around ~20
.com and .co
No
Remembering to renew
Thanks @SEOguy ... out of curiosity, why did you reduce from 500 to 20?
Only 20 were making money
Makes sense! What are you doing to make money on them?