When you reach out for outbound domain sales you are contacting a business that may find value in owning a domain from your inventory. Ideally, you are not squeezing random companies for a quick buck. You are finding a real good match. If a business operates as GetBrand. com, BrandApp. io, or http: //localstatecountry.city they might appreciate an easier to remember URL that cleanly matches their brand. Your email should read like an asset notification rather than spam.
Finding Your Buyer
Look for companies that already use the core word that’s inside one of your domains.
Seedlist startup databases, funding news, registrar-created company lists, LinkedIn and regular search engine results. Target companies that prefix, suffix or already use a weak extension. These brands have already picked your domain’s brand but may not own the shortest url.
Make your outreach list small. Five good companies are better than a list of 500 random Leads.
Reach out to a founder, marketing manager, or person responsible for the brand. A public contact Us page or a white listed LinkedIn profile is great. Nobody likes being scraped or receiving duplicate emails.
Don’t be pushy and only follow up once if it makes sense to do so.
Communicating Value To The Decision Maker
Busy executives don’t care you like the name.
Pitch how it upgrades their business. Perhaps the shorter address reduces confusion, sounds more memorable when told via phone, enables cleaner email addresses, or allows them to consolidate their branding in the future.
Promise nothing. Make no guarantees about search placement, conversion rates, or advertising costs. Present a potential value and let the seller consider the opportunity.
The less you say the better. A sample message might look like:
Subject: Domain for sale: Brand.com
Hello [Name],
I own Brand.com and your company uses a longer domain to do business. Brand.com is for sale and could be a shorter branding alternative when you market your business or create email addresses.
If you are interested, I’d be happy to sell Brand.com for [Price]. Payments and domain transfer would be held by a reputable escrow company.
Let me know if this helps you.
Best regards,
[Name]
Send a polite
follow up if it makes sense. Maybe the buyer didn’t see the message in a
cluttered inbox.
Avoid Trademark Owners
Don’t contact a company and demand money because you bought a domain name that matches their brand.
International domain owner protection under ICANN’ s UDRP rule requires the complainant to establish three elements: confusing similarity, no rights or legitimate interests, and domain name registration and use was in bad faith.
Trademark law in the United States covers cybersquatting too. Under ACPA liability applies to registering a domain with “bad faith intent to profit from the mark.”
Rule of thumb: If you’re reaching out to a business then make sure your domain is not infringing on their trademark. Search the USPTO Trademark Search tool and WIPO Global Brand Database for obvious conflicts before you mail anyone. A simple search isn’t a substitute for attorney advice but can help identify early risks.
Professional Email
Commercial email like outbound outreach is governed by the FTC’ s CAN SPAM law.
You must include your real info in the email. Don’t trick people with misleading subject lines. Provide a physical address and tell people how to stop receiving future messages from you. Stop emailing anyone that asks.
Escrow
Agree to the sale terms in writing. If you are not using brokers then domain sales between two parties is simple.
Escrow.com has published a buyer and seller guide that breaks the process down into five steps. The buyer and seller agree on price, the buyer sends payment to escrow, seller confirms receipt of funds and securely transfers the domain, the buyer confirms they can control the domain and funding is released.
NEVER give someone your domain because they sent you an email and a screenshot that says they paid you.
Workflow Recap
1. Screen for trademark risk.
2. Locate five companies that would benefit from your domain.
3. Determine who will make the purchase decision.
4. Send one concise email.
5. Record who replies and opt out at the request.
6. Escrow every transaction.
If your domain complements an existing line of business then your offer is solving an actual problem. Be factual, brief, and make it easy for anyone to say no.
